Telestrations

1 Game Overview

Telestrations is the telephone game meets Pictionary. Each player starts with a word or phrase, draws it in their sketch book, then passes the book to the next player who looks at the drawing and writes a guess. That player passes the book again, and the next person draws the guessed word. And so on, alternating between drawing and guessing until the book returns to its original owner.

The magic is in the reveal: seeing how the original word transformed through a chain of imperfect drawings and guesses is consistently hilarious, even when someone is a great artist. Especially when someone is a great artist and still gets it completely wrong.

Players: 4 to 8 (best with 6 to 8) | Time: 20 to 40 minutes | Ages: 12 and up

2 What's in the Box

• 8 sketch books (spiral-bound with dry-erase or tear-away pages)
• 8 dry-erase markers (or pencils in some editions)
• 8 erasers or cloths
• Word card deck (with two word options per card)
• Sand timer (90 seconds for drawing in most editions)
• Score pad

3 Setup

1. Give each player a sketch book, a marker, and a die (to determine which word on the card to use).
2. Each player rolls the die and draws a word card, using the die result to pick word 1 or word 2. This is their secret starting word.
3. Each player writes their word on page 1 of their sketch book.
4. Determine the direction books will pass (usually clockwise).

4 The Gameplay Loop

The core loop alternates between DRAW and GUESS phases. Each phase is timed (90 seconds for drawing in most editions). The book always passes in the same direction.

1. PAGE 1 (Your word): Everyone writes their starting word on page 1. All players see their own word.
2. Flip to PAGE 2: Everyone draws their word on page 2. When time is up, flip the book so PAGE 1 is hidden under PAGE 2, showing only the drawing.
3. Pass the book to the next player. Each player now sees a drawing with no idea what the original word was.
4. PAGE 3: Write your best guess for what the drawing shows. Flip so only your guess is visible on top.
5. Pass the book to the next player. Each player now sees a guessed word with no knowledge of the drawing before it.
6. PAGE 4: Draw the guessed word. Flip. Pass.
7. PAGE 5: Write your guess for the drawing. Flip. Pass.
8. Continue alternating draw and guess until the book has gone around the table and returns to its original owner.

How many rounds? The book passes one fewer time than the number of players. With 6 players, each book passes 5 times (pages 1 through 6 are used).

Key rule: Each player may only look at the most recent page when they receive the book. You should not flip back to see earlier pages. The chain of miscommunication depends on everyone only seeing one step at a time.

5 The Reveal Round

This is the best part. When all books have returned to their original owners:

1. One player at a time reveals their book to the group, flipping through all pages from front to back.
2. They show page 1 (original word), then page 2 (first drawing), then page 3 (first guess), and so on.
3. The group watches as the word transforms. Sometimes it stays remarkably intact; more often it goes off the rails spectacularly after just one or two passes.
4. Let everyone groan, laugh, and point at the culprit who broke the chain.

The reveal round is worth taking slowly. Each step of the transformation is a story. Let it breathe.

6 Scoring

Clean (Family) Scoring

Players vote on their favorite drawing or guess from each book. The most-voted drawing or guess earns points. This rewards skill and humor in equal measure.

Party Scoring

When the final page of a book matches the original word (the chain stayed intact all the way around), both the original owner and the last person to draw or guess score a point. This rewards successful communication.

No-Score Version

Many groups play Telestrations without any scoring at all, treating it purely as a social experience and laugh generator. This is perfectly valid and often more fun than tracking points.

7 Tips for Great Rounds

Choosing Good Starting Words

• Concrete nouns make better starting words than abstract concepts. "Astronaut" breaks down more entertainingly than "freedom."
• Words that look similar to other words when drawn are comedy gold. "Moon" vs. "bun," "horse" vs. "dog."
• Compound concepts ("cat burglar," "space cowboy") break in fascinating ways.

The Sweet Spot Player Count

6 to 8 players is the ideal range. With 4 players, books only pass 3 times, which is not enough transformation to generate great reveals. With 8, books pass 7 times and the chain gets impressively scrambled.

Drawing Strategy

• Draw the most distinct, recognizable element first. Do not spend 60 seconds on perfect shading.
• Clarity beats artistry. A clear stick figure doing something obvious is better than a beautiful but ambiguous illustration.
• When guessing, commit to an answer. "Cat sitting down" is better than "some kind of animal maybe?"

8 Variants and Editions

Telestrations After Dark

An adults-only version with more suggestive, edgy, and mature starting words. Same mechanics as the original but intended for adult game nights. Significantly raunchier in both words and outcomes.

Telestrations 12 Player Party Pack

A larger edition supporting up to 12 players. Includes more sketch books and a larger word card set. Ideal for big parties or groups that regularly have 9 or more people.

Custom Word Variants

Many groups skip the word cards entirely and write their own starting words, often themed to the group's shared knowledge (coworker nicknames, inside jokes, references to recent events). This consistently produces the funniest games.

9 Wrong House Rules

• Looking at previous pages when receiving a book: You should only look at the most recent page. Seeing earlier pages defeats the telephone-game mechanic that makes Telestrations funny.
• Talking about your drawing to the person you pass to: No hints, no explanations. The drawing speaks for itself.
• Not timing the drawing phase: Without a timer, some players spend too long perfecting drawings. The time pressure improves both the quality of chaos and the pacing.
• Skipping the reveal: The reveal round is the entire point. Do not rush it or skip books. Go around the table and do every single book together as a group.
• Playing with only 4 players: Technically possible but the chain is too short for genuinely great reveals. The transformation needs at least 5 or 6 passes.

10 History of Telestrations

Telestrations was published by USAopoly (now The Op) in 2009. The concept is a direct adaptation of the classic telephone game crossed with Pictionary. The game won multiple awards on release, including the Toy of the Year Award from the Toy Industry Association in 2010 in the game category.

USAopoly is known primarily for licensed versions of classic games (Monopoly, Clue) but Telestrations became one of their original breakout hits. The game's brilliance is in its reliability: it always generates laughter because the mechanic itself guarantees entropy and surprise.

Telestrations After Dark (2013) extended the franchise to adult audiences and became nearly as popular as the original. The game is frequently cited alongside Codenames and Exploding Kittens as one of the defining party games of the 2010s.

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11 Frequently Asked Questions

How many players is Telestrations best with?

6 to 8 players. With 4, the chain is too short. With 8, the transformation generates consistently hilarious reveals.

Can you look at previous pages?

No. Only look at the most recent page when you receive a book.

How long does each drawing phase last?

90 seconds standard. Some editions use 60 seconds.

What is the reveal round?

After all books return to their owners, players take turns flipping through their book so the group can see how the original word transformed through the chain.

Do you have to keep score?

No. Many groups play without any scoring. The reveal round is its own reward.

What is Telestrations After Dark?

An adults-only version with more suggestive and mature starting words. Same gameplay as the original.

Can you talk during the drawing phase?

No. No hints or explanations to the next player. The drawing must communicate on its own.

How is Telestrations different from Pictionary?

In Pictionary, one player draws and their team guesses simultaneously. In Telestrations, each player has their own book and drawing and guessing alternate through the entire chain before any reveal.

Who made Telestrations?

Published by USAopoly (now The Op) in 2009. Won the Toy of the Year Award in 2010.