Want a board game that guarantees laughter and unforgettable moments? Telestrations is the perfect blend of Pictionary and Telephone, resulting in a hilarious, slightly chaotic party game experience. Imagine sketching a word, then passing your drawing to someone else who guesses what it is. This cycle of sketching and guessing continues, with each interpretation potentially deviating further and further from the original word. The result? A chain of hilarious misinterpretations, creative sketches, and guaranteed “wait, what was that supposed to be?!” moments. It’s a fantastic game to strengthen communication, boost creative thinking, and create lasting memories.
But why should you play Telestrations? Because it’s not just fun and social; it’s a unique way to connect with friends and family. Whether you’re a budding artist or a stick-figure enthusiast, Telestrations welcomes all skill levels. It’s an ideal choice for family game nights, friendly gatherings, parties needing an injection of laughter, and even corporate team-building activities that won’t induce groans. If you enjoy games like Pictionary or Telephone, or if you simply appreciate a healthy dose of absurdity and creative expression, then Telestrations is the perfect game for you. Learn how to play Telestrations below and get ready for a night of unforgettable fun!
What You Need to Play Telestrations
The Telestrations box contains everything you need for a hilarious game night for 4-8 players:
- Dry-erase Sketchbooks: These small, spiral-bound notebooks are your canvas for creative (or hilariously bad) drawings. The dry-erase surface allows for endless replayability!
- Dry-erase Markers: Use these to bring your words to life (or at least a stick-figure approximation of them).
- Cleaning Cloths: Essential for erasing those questionable masterpieces and keeping the sketchbooks clean for future rounds.
- A Die: This determines which secret word you’ll be sketching or guessing.
- Double-Sided Word Cards: The heart of the game, packed with words waiting to be misinterpreted.
For Larger Groups:
Have more than eight aspiring artists ready to play? No problem! Telestrations is easily adaptable for larger groups. You’ll need to provide a few extra materials:
- Individual Whiteboards or Paper: Small individual whiteboards are ideal for easy erasing, but standard printer paper or laminated pads work perfectly well, too.
- Dry-Erase Markers or Pens: Match the writing utensil to your chosen drawing surface. Dry-erase markers for whiteboards, pens or pencils for paper.
- DIY Word Prompts: Since the word cards are limited, you’ll need to create your own word prompts for larger groups. Here are a few ideas:
- Themed Words: Choose a theme like “movies,” “animals,” or “jobs” and write down related words on slips of paper.
- Random Word Generator: Use a random word generator website or app for a truly unpredictable experience.
- Pre-Made Word Lists: Search online for “Pictionary word lists” or “Charades ideas” for ready-made prompts.
Having these extra supplies on hand makes Telestrations accessible and enjoyable for gatherings of any size, maximizing the fun and laughter!
Setting Up Your Telestrations Game
1. Word Card Selection:
The Telestrations word cards are double-sided, with a “This Side” and a “That Side”. There’s no difference in difficulty between the sides. Have the group decide together which side to use, or randomly select one. This ensures everyone is playing with the same set of words throughout the game.
2. Distribute Game Materials:
Telestrations is designed for 4-8 players. Give each player the following:
- One dry-erase sketchbook
- One dry-erase marker
- One cleaning cloth
3. Label the Sketchbooks:
Have each player clearly write their name on the front of their sketchbook. As sketchbooks are passed around during gameplay, this crucial step prevents confusion and ensures everyone gets their own book back at the end of each round.
Following these simple steps will have you ready to dive into the hilarious world of Telestrations in minutes!
How to Play Telestrations
A. Round Start: Choosing Your Secret Word
- Roll the Die: Each player takes a turn rolling the die. The number rolled indicates which word on the word card each player will use for that round.
- Find Your Secret Word: Locate the corresponding number on your chosen side of the word card. Write this word secretly in the designated “Secret Word” space on the first page of your sketchbook. Don’t show your word to anyone!
- Special Cases (Word Variations):
- Blank Space: If you roll a number corresponding to a blank space on the word card, get creative! You can choose any word you like.
- Category: If the die roll points to an underlined category (e.g., “Animal”), select any word that fits that category.
- Wild Card: A wild card symbol next to a number lets you choose any word from the entire word card!
B. Sketching: Unleash Your Inner Artist
- Time to Draw: Turn to the first blank page of your sketchbook. Set a timer for approximately 60 seconds. (Using a timer for guessing is optional, but recommended for a consistent pace).
- Drawing Rules: No letters, numbers, or symbols are allowed in your drawing. You also can’t leave the page blank. Try your best to visually represent your secret word, regardless of your artistic abilities.
- Pass to the Left: Once the timer goes off (or everyone finishes sketching), close your sketchbook to hide your drawing. Pass your sketchbook to the player on your left. Important Note: In games with an odd number of players (5 or 7), you’ll pass to the left at the very start of the game and then follow the instructions here for the next steps. The book you will be drawing will contain someone else’s secret word which u will be drawing.
C. Guessing: Deciphering the Masterpiece
- View the Sketch: Open the sketchbook you received and look only at the sketch on the most recent page. Avoid peeking at earlier pages!
- Write Your Guess: On the next blank page, write down your guess of what the sketch represents. No question marks or blank pages allowed! Commit to a guess, no matter how silly.
- Pass to the Left: Close the sketchbook to hide your guess and pass it to the player on your left.
D. The Hilarious Cycle Continues (The “Telephone” Effect)
Repeat steps B (Sketching) and C (Guessing), always passing sketchbooks to the left. As each player adds their own interpretation, the original word will likely transform into something completely different. This chain of misinterpretations is what makes Telestrations so hilarious! Continue the cycle until your own sketchbook returns to you.
The Big Reveal
The anticipation mounts as each player receives their own sketchbook back. Now, it’s time for the best part of Telestrations: the Big Reveal!
How the Big Reveal Works:
- Starting Player: Choose any player to start.
- Sharing the Story: The starting player reads their original secret word aloud. Then, they flip through their sketchbook page by page, revealing each sketch and guess. As they reveal each page, the player explains their thought process behind either their drawing or their guess. The other players will no doubt add their commentary to what is revealed – this is often another huge source of amusement.
- Next Player: Once the first player finishes sharing their sketchbook’s journey, the player to their left takes their turn.
- Continue the Cycle: Repeat this process until every player has shared the hilarious transformation of their secret word. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions – gasps of surprise, eruptions of laughter, and bewildered expressions as “sloth” inexplicably morphs into “hairy vacuum cleaner” over several rounds of sketching and guessing. It is also usual to go completely off the rails sometimes – it is not unheard of for people to deviate from what is sketched and guess something completely unrelated, sending the chain down a completely absurd and amusing path.
This shared experience of creative misinterpretations, fueled by the “telephone” effect of passing information from person to person, is at the heart of what makes Telestrations so special. The Big Reveal is where inside jokes are born, memories are made, and social bonds are strengthened through shared laughter.
Ready for Another Round?
The fun doesn’t have to stop there! Erase your sketchbooks and get ready for another game of Telestrations. Try using different word cards, playing in teams, or even introducing a timer for guessing to keep things fresh and exciting! The replayability is endless.
Scoring in Telestrations
While the heart of Telestrations lies in the laughter and creative misinterpretations, you can add a scoring system to introduce a friendly competitive element. Remember, scoring is entirely optional! If your group prefers to focus on the fun and avoid any point-tallying pressure, feel free to skip this section altogether.
Scoring takes place after the Big Reveal. Here are two scoring options to choose from:
A. Friendly Scoring: Celebrating Creativity
In friendly scoring, the focus is on fun and lighthearted competition. Here’s how it works:
- After the Big Reveal, each player looks through their own sketchbook.
- Awarding Points: Each player awards the following points:
- Favorite Sketch: 1 point to the player who drew your favorite sketch. It could be for artistic merit, humor, or sheer absurdity!
- Favorite Guess: 1 point to the player who wrote your favorite guess—whether it was accurate, hilariously wrong, or unexpectedly brilliant.
- Personal Bonus: 1 point to yourself if the very last guess in your sketchbook matches your original secret word.
This method is perfect for groups who prioritize entertainment and want to acknowledge everyone’s creative contributions.
B. Competitive Scoring: Strategic Sketching and Guessing
Competitive scoring introduces a more strategic element to Telestrations:
- Following the Big Reveal, gather the sketchbooks.
- Guessing Points: Each player earns 1 point for each guess they wrote that correctly matches either the original secret word or the word the previous player was trying to depict. For example, if the secret word was “cat” and someone guessed “kitten,” they would earn a point because it’s related to the original word. If a drawing of a butterfly is misconstrued as a bird, the guesser who wrote down “bird” will still gain a point, as it correctly identified the intended subject of the drawing.
- Sketching Points: Each player also earns 1 point for each sketch they drew that directly led to a correct guess on the following page (as described above). This encourages clear and effective communication through drawing.
- Personal Bonus: Award yourself 1 point if the final guess in your sketchbook matches your original secret word. This signifies a successful chain of communication throughout the round.
This scoring method rewards both accurate guessing and effective sketching, adding a layer of strategic thinking to the game.
Choose the scoring method that best suits your group’s dynamic. Whether you opt for friendly or competitive scoring, remember that Telestrations is all about having fun!
Tips and Variations
Ready to take your Telestrations game to the next level? These tips and variations will add even more excitement and laughter to your gameplay:
1. Adapting to Different Group Sizes
Telestrations is flexible and works well with 4-8 players, but there’s a small adjustment for odd-numbered groups (5 or 7 players). To ensure the game ends on a guess and not a sketch, start by having everyone pass their sketchbook to the left before the first round. Even-numbered groups (4, 6, or 8) can begin with the sketching phase as usual.
2. Timed Guessing: Adding a Dash of Pressure
While sketching usually involves a timer, guessing is often open-ended. However, adding a timer for guessing can prevent overthinking, leading to more spontaneous and hilarious results. Set a timer for 30-60 seconds – adjust as needed based on your group’s preference. This can create a more fast-paced, exciting atmosphere and force players to trust their intuition.
3. Custom Word Cards: Personalize Your Play
Create your own word cards tailored to specific themes or inside jokes. This adds a personal touch and can make the game even more memorable. Here’s how:
- Choose a Theme: Select a category like “movies”, “songs”, “books”, or “animals”.
- Write the Words: Jot down words related to your chosen theme on index cards or slips of paper. Be sure to include a variety of difficulty levels to keep things interesting! You can even use online word generators for more variation.
- Consider Your Audience: Ensure the words are age-appropriate and relevant to the players’ interests and knowledge base.
4. Adapting for Younger Players
Telestrations is a family-friendly game enjoyable for all ages. When playing with younger children, consider these adaptations:
- Simplified Word Choice: Let younger children choose any word from the card, regardless of the die roll.
- Picture Cards (for pre-readers): Use picture cards instead of word cards.
- Collaborative Sketching: Pair younger children with older players to help with sketching or guessing.
- Shorter Timers: Reduce the timer for both sketching and guessing to maintain engagement and prevent frustration.
5. The Non-Dominant Hand Challenge
For a hilarious twist, have players sketch with their non-dominant hand. The results are guaranteed to be unpredictable and abstract, adding a new level of humor to the Big Reveal.
These tips and variations allow you to tailor Telestrations to your group’s preferences, ensuring a fun and engaging experience for everyone. Experiment and discover what works best for your game nights!
Marker and Sketchbook Care
Let’s face it: Telestrations games can get messy. But proper care of your game components will ensure they stay in great condition for countless game nights to come.
Sketchbook Care
Clean sketchbooks are essential for a smooth Telestrations experience. Smudges and leftover ink can make it difficult to see new drawings, hindering the hilarious misinterpretations that make the game so fun. Follow these steps to keep your sketchbooks in top shape:
- After each round, thoroughly wipe down each page of the sketchbooks using the provided cleaning cloths. Use a gentle, circular motion to remove all traces of ink. For stubborn marks, slightly dampen the cloth with water.
- Ensure sketchbooks are completely dry before storing them to prevent mold or mildew growth.
Dry-Erase Marker Care
Dry-erase markers are the lifeblood of Telestrations, so proper care is essential:
- Recap Tightly and Immediately: After each use, immediately recap the markers tightly to prevent them from drying out. A dried-out marker can bring the fun to a screeching halt mid-game.
- Store Horizontally (Recommended): Storing markers horizontally helps distribute the ink evenly, extending their lifespan and preventing one end from drying out prematurely.
Game Storage
When you’ve finished playing Telestrations, store all the game components – sketchbooks, markers, cleaning cloths, die, and word cards – neatly back in the game box. This not only keeps everything organized and prevents lost pieces, but also protects your game from damage and ensures it’s always ready for your next game night.
By taking these simple steps to care for your Telestrations game, you’ll protect your investment, prevent frustration during gameplay, and guarantee countless hours of laughter and fun for years to come.
FAQs
Q: Can Telestrations work for remote teams?
A: Absolutely! Use online whiteboard tools or apps for drawing and screen sharing to adapt Telestrations for remote collaboration or virtual game nights.
Q: How do I make Telestrations more inclusive for mixed-age groups?
A: Adjust word prompts to suit the group’s age and experience level. For kids, opt for simpler words like “dog” or “apple”. For adults, introduce thematic challenges like movie titles or idioms.
Q: Are there ways to play with a non-English-speaking group?
A: Yes! Customize word cards in the group’s native language or use universal symbols and imagery for easier understanding. Visual communication transcends language barriers, making Telestrations adaptable for multilingual settings.
Q: I love the guessing and drawing aspects of Telestrations. What other similar games might I enjoy?
A: If you enjoy the mix of drawing, guessing, and creative interpretation in Telestrations, you might also like games such as Pictionary, Charades, Cranium, Dixit, Codenames, Concept, and Draw What?! If you prefer word-based guessing games, try classics like Hangman, 20 Questions, Scattergories, Catch Phrase, or Trivial Pursuit. For a more theatrical experience, consider games like Black Magic or Zip Zap Zop. There are also mystery and deduction games like Clues that share a similar spirit of playful problem-solving. Finally, while not strictly a guessing game, the Charlie Charlie Challenge offers a similar blend of lighthearted fun and social interaction (though its accuracy as a divination tool is highly debated!). This wide range of games offers plenty of options to explore for your next game night.
