The Ultimate Drawing Board Games to Boost your Mood

My other hobby is as an artist, so drawing board games will always be part of my board game collection. Saying that, while I am good at drawing and painting, there is a limit to my artistic skills, and that does not include drawing “X-ray vision” or “eating my words” and other ridiculous phrases and words.

But I love combining creativity, laughter, and a touch of funny confusion at game night. So, drawing board games provides the perfect blend of artistic expression and interactive fun—no professional art skills required at all for these games – just a sense of humour.

I’ve chosen these games because they invite you to sketch, guess, and giggle your way through hilarious prompts and unpredictable outcomes, making them ideal for families, parties, or casual gatherings.

Among the very first drawing board games to gain mainstream popularity was Pictionary, released in 1985. It became a cultural hit, introducing the world to the joy of frantic sketching and wildly inaccurate guessing. Since then, the genre has evolved with clever twists and modern mechanics, giving rise to a new generation of drawing and guessing games that challenge both your imagination and your sense of humor.

Dr Jennifer Drake found through their studies that there are huge psychological benefits of drawing on children’s and adults mood by drawing. Read more here. So keep reading to find out how you can have fun and also improve your mood with these drawing board games.

These games will have you eitherracing the clock, teaming up for laughs, or revealing your inner doodler. Today’s best drawing board games include favorites like Telestrations, Pictionary, Six Second Scribble and Scrawl—each offering a unique spin on this creative game style.

What exactly is a Drawing Board Game?

Drawing board games are interactive games where players sketch images based on prompts, challenges, or their imagination. These games can range from traditional board games to digital apps, and they often involve guessing the drawings to add an element of fun and competition.

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Pictionary

A Brief History of Pictionary

Robert Angel created the word guessing game Pictionary and first published it in 1985.

At the end of his day, Angel would gather his friends to play a homemade version of a drawing board game where each player randomly picked a word from the dictionary and sketched it for their teammates to guess.

Two years later—when Angel relocated to Seattle and stumbled upon his old game notes. Inspired by a few successful playtests with family, he decided to dive into the game production world. He compiled the original word list and teamed up with Terry Langston and Gary Everson to bring the game to life. Together, they designed and produced the first 1,000 copies of the game—right from Angel’s apartment.

What is Pictionary

The goal of Pictionary is simple: draw a card and get your teammates to guess the word or phrase you’re drawing before time runs out.

How do you play Pictionary?

Pictionary is best played in teams. Each team gets paper (modern games now have dry erase boards), a pencil (or marker pen), a pawn, and a reference card. On your team’s turn, one person from your team chooses a card. This person has one minute to draw what’s on the card with the hope their teammates will guess it before time runs out. If you guess correctly, you roll the dice and move around the board.

Is Pictionary an Engaging Drawing Game for kids?

Pictionary is a fantastic way for families to spark creativity and build imagination in kids and it does help their drawing skills over time. As they draw out words and ideas, children are encouraged to think outside the box and find fun, visual ways to express themselves. It can also help children to learn that perfection doesn’t matter and learn to laugh with others.

Telestrations

How to Set up Telestrations

As a group, decide which side you wish to play with, “This Side” or “That Side”.

Then, each player takes a sketchbook, a marker, and a card.

Next, write your name in the front of your sketchbook.

How to play Telestrations

One player rolls the dice to start. On your card you have words beside each number from one to six. The number rolled is the number from your card that you will draw. You write that word in the front of your sketchbook, draw that word, and then pass your sketchbook to the next person.

The next player guesses what the drawing is, writes it down, and then passes it on.

This continues until the sketchbooks return to the original owner, revealing the hilariously distorted outcomes.

To Score or Not to Score

Depending on your group, you can choose to score or not. If you choose to score, the rules outline a friendly version or a competitive version.

Friendly lets you give a point to each player for

Favourite sketch in your book
Your favourite guess
You get one point if the last guess matches your secret word

Competitive Scoring

If you guessed the word correctly or the previous guess, you get one point
Sketchers get one point if their sketch helped the guesser make a match
You take one point if the last guess matches your secret word.

Is Telestrations the same as Pictionary?

Pictionary is a fast-paced, competitive team game where players draw clues for their teammates to guess within a time limit, while Telestrations is a hilarious, telephone-style game where drawings and guesses alternate around the table, often resulting in wildly funny misinterpretations.

Is Telestrations a good game?

I love it. I find it hilarious to see people’s interpretation of words and how people process how to draw a phrase they have no idea how to draw.

It’s great for casual, family, party, and strategy gamers alike, and we all agree that the Telestrations board game is one of our top 10 board games to add to our board game collection for family game nights. Plus, you can either choose to score or not score at all.

Six Seconds Scribble

What is Six Second Scribble about?

“Pure Speed”! You have to draw 10 items in 1 minute. Yes, 6 seconds per drawing! They have to somehow to represent whats on your card as someone needs to guess it correctly.

How to Play Six Second Scribble

There is no turns – Everyone plays at the same time.
Pick a level: Easy, Tricky, or Almost Impossible
Each Player Draws a Card: This card will show 10 items to draw. Flip the timer, and then each player frantically sketches their items at the same time.
Swap & Guess: When time runs out, pass your drawings to another player. They try to guess what you scribbled, and if they get it right, you both score points.
Score & Repeat: After a few quick rounds, the player with the highest score wins.

Family Board Game FUN

The joy of Six Second Scribbles comes from its mix of speed and silliness. It’s not about being a great artist—it’s about capturing an idea with just a few fast lines. You’ll be surprised by how much (or how little!) you can show with a quick scrawl.

Perfect Travel Game for Kids and Families

This tiny travel game fits easily into a bag or backpack, making it one of the best drawing games for road trips, camping, or family holidays. It’s quick to set up, plays in under 20 minutes, and works with groups big or small. If you considering other travel games read our tiny games recommendations here.

Watch How to Play Six Second Scribble?

Gamely Games is the publisher of this game and have produced this quick, engaging video on how to play.

Scrawl—a hilarious drawing board game

What is Scrawl

Scrawl is a party drawing board game where players sketch a ridiculous phrase and then pass their picture onto the next person, who then continues to draw based on the previous sketch. The party game’s goal is to create a humorous chain of bizarre and often nonsensical drawings, and the player with the funniest drawing wins.

Do you think you are bad at drawing? Yes? You are in the right place. Yes, that’s right, the worse drawer you are, the more likely you are to win. Ridiculous, isn’t it? But that’s the game.

The game is designed to be enjoyed by those who aren’t necessarily strong artists, as the worse the drawings, the more hilarious they tend to be, the more points you may gain, and you may just win.

How do you play Scrawl

Before you begin, choose your scenario color—black, white, pink, or yellow. Once you’ve picked, grab a Scenario Card and get ready to draw. (Just remember to keep your card a secret).

Next, flip your board to the blank side and start drawing the most epic version of your scenario the world has ever seen. Just one rule: no words allowed.

Then, pass your clipboard to the player on your left.

Now, take a good look at the drawing you’ve received. Grab a blank Scrawl Card, clip it over the illustration, and write a description of what you see. Again, pass the clipboard to the left.

When it lands in front of you again, read the new description, clip on a fresh Scrawl Card, and draw what’s been described. Once done, pass it left again.

Keep the cycle going—draw, describe, and pass—until your original clipboard makes its way back to you.

Once everyone has their clipboard back, take turns revealing the wild, unpredictable journey your original scenario took. Start by showing the Scenario Card, followed by the first drawing, then the next description, and so on.

After each reveal, the clipboard owner chooses their favorite drawing or guess and awards a point to the player who created it. Mark the point on the Score Card.

And if, by some miracle, your final Scrawl Card perfectly matches your original Scenario Card, celebrate. You, the clipboard owner, win three bonus points—no questions asked.

Finally, wipe down the Scrawl Cards, draw a new Scenario Card, and get ready for another round. The game ends when someone earns two more points than the number of players—or, well, if the building catches fire.

Is Scrawl Suitable for All Audiences?

No, Scrawl drawing game is intended for adults aged 17 and over. The game contains prompts that range from absurd to explicit, making it suitable for mature audiences seeking a humorous and unfiltered experience.

Scrawl is the perfect example of why party drawing games are a hit—easy to play, packed with laughs, and full of unpredictable creativity. Whether you’re a doodler or a disaster with a marker, it’s all about the fun and the chaos that unfolds. If you’re looking to turn your next adult game night into a hilarious, art-fueled adventure, Scrawl is a must-have in your collection of drawing board games.

Drawing Games Conclusion

These drawing board games offer something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a lighthearted party game or a creative challenge. Grab your friends, set up your game, and get ready to unleash your artistic side. Enjoy the laughter and camaraderie that comes with every round.

I also highly recommend Cranium as a party game too. It does include some elements of drawing but has sculpting and humming, etc.

Explore other Adult Games here;

Popular Board Games for Adults.
5 Hilarious Party Games for Adults
Cranium – Include elements of drawing (eye shut), sclupting, word games and True and False challenges
Adult Christmas-Themed Board Games (Ho Ho Ho, nothing better than a Christmas Themed game to get everyone into the Christmas Cheer)
Monopoly Board Crawl (A game that will make you tipsy).
Here is an article on the Ultimate Party games to explore.

Psychological Benefits of Drawing

Proven Research

Did you know there’s real science behind why kids love to draw—and why it’s so good for them? Dr. Jennifer Drake, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, has dedicated her research to understanding the psychology of the arts (source).

Her studies show that drawing can do more than spark creativity. For children, drawing can be a powerful tool for managing emotions—helping them work through feelings or simply distracting them in a healthy, playful way. She also explores how kids, including autistic and gifted children, develop their amazing visual and perceptual skills through art.

What does this mean for families? It means when your child and you sits down to play a drawing board game, they’re not only having fun—they’re also building problem-solving skills, strengthening focus, and even learning how to handle emotions. Games like Six Second Scribbles or Pictionary Junior aren’t just for laughs at the family table—they can help kids grow in confidence, creativity, and connection.

Watch Dr Jennifer Drake’s video.