How to Play Scrawl: Complete Rules, Tips & Strategy for the Telephone Drawing Game

scrawl-105917">Scrawl is a classic telephone drawing game that combines fast sketching, creative guessing, and outrageous misinterpretations. Also known as Telestrations or the telephone drawing game, it challenges players to draw a word, pass it on, and watch how the original idea transforms through each player's interpretation – with hilarious results.

Whether you're hosting game night with friends or looking for a fresh party drawing game, Scrawl delivers endless laughs. In this guide, we'll walk you through the complete scrawl rules, step-by-step instructions, scoring options, and a few party drawing game instructions to help your group play like pros.

Setup and Materials

To play Scrawl, each player needs a notebook or stack of paper and a pen or marker. The game uses a deck of prompt cards (or you can write your own words on slips of paper). You'll also need a timer – two minutes per round works well. The ideal group size is 4 to 8 players, though you can adapt for larger groups by splitting into smaller circles.

Before starting, give each player a notebook and a pen. Shuffle the prompt cards and place them face down in the center. Decide whether you'll play to a set number of rounds (e.g., 5) or until everyone has had a turn drawing the original prompt. The first player draws a prompt card, keeps it secret, and writes the word or phrase on the first page of their notebook.

• Pro tip: Use spiral notebooks so players can flip through pages easily without losing their place.

How to Play Scrawl: Step-by-Step

The game proceeds in alternating draw and guess phases. On your turn, you draw the word or phrase you received (not the original – just the description from the previous player). Set a timer for 2 minutes. When time's up, you fold over the page so your drawing is hidden, then pass the notebook to the next player. That player looks at your drawing, writes their guess for what it depicts on the next page, folds it, and passes again.

The next player then draws the guess they just saw, and the pattern continues: draw, guess, draw, guess. Once the notebook has passed through every player, it returns to the starting player. Now the fun begins: everyone opens their notebook and reveals the chain from original prompt to final drawing. Compare each step – the more twisted, the better.

• Keep drawings simple and focus on key features – fine details get lost in translation.
• Write guesses as nouns or short phrases (e.g., "elephant with wings" instead of a sentence).

Scoring and Winning

Scoring is optional in Scrawl – the game is primarily about laughter. But if you want to add a competitive edge, try this scoring method: each player earns 1 point for every correct guess that matches the previous drawing exactly, and 1 bonus point if the final drawing matches the original prompt. Alternatively, award points for the funniest misinterpretation (as voted by the group).

Play to a set number of rounds (e.g., 5) and tally points at the end. The player with the most points wins. Keep in mind that strict scoring can slow the pace, so many groups prefer to skip it entirely and just enjoy the reveal. For a relaxed party drawing game experience, treat it as a cooperative comedy activity rather than a competition.

• If you play multiple rounds, rotate the starting player so everyone gets to set the original prompt.

Tips and Strategies for Success

Mastering Scrawl is less about artistic skill and more about strategic communication. When drawing, emphasize the most distinctive element of your mental image – a crown on a dog, a giant hat on a cat. Avoid ambiguous shapes that could be interpreted as anything. When guessing, think literally: what would someone draw to represent that word? Don't overthink – your first instinct is usually the funniest.

To keep the game fresh, try themed rounds like movies, animals, or food. You can also speed things up by using a 90-second timer. For a similar experience with a ghostly twist, try Ghosts Can't Draw from Big Potato Games. Or if you prefer drawing letters and food, P For Pizza is a great choice – both are excellent party drawing games that put a new spin on the classic telephone drawing game concept.

• If you're stuck on an impossible prompt, draw a simple symbol or scene that hints at the concept – your teammates will appreciate the clarity.

Scrawl is one of the most accessible and hilarious party drawing games you can play with no special equipment – just paper, pens, and creativity. Whether you follow these scrawl rules exactly or adapt them to your group's energy, the telephone drawing game promises unforgettable moments. Grab your friends, set the timer, and let the misinterpretations begin!