Drawing games: a free online drawing board and 25 games to play at work
Tap New prompt, or just draw.
Drawing games are the easiest way to get a group laughing, because nobody expects a good drawing. This free online drawing board is built for one shared screen: 312 work-safe prompts in six sets, a prompt only the drawer sees until they reveal it, and an optional 60 or 90 second timer. Below it: how to play on Zoom, Teams or a meeting room screen, the classic rules with team scoring, 25 more drawing games for groups, and debrief questions for a workshop warm-up.
How to play a drawing game online on Zoom or Teams
The trick is the order: peek at the prompt first, then share. It works the same on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet or Webex.
- Every drawer opens this page. It is free, with no sign-up, so each person who will draw has it in their own browser.
- Peek first, then share. Tap New prompt, peek at it, then tap Hide. Now share your browser tab or window. The prompt stays covered on the shared screen, and a timer you set starts with your first line.
- Draw with what you have. A mouse works. A finger or stylus on a tablet is easier, and most meeting apps let a tablet share its screen.
- Guess out loud or in the chat. A small team can just shout. Once the call has more than a handful of people, ask for guesses in the chat and give the point to the first right answer.
- Reveal and pass the turn. Tap Show the room when someone gets it, or when time runs out. Stop sharing, and the next drawer starts their turn.
Whiteboard games in a meeting room
- Put the board on the room screen. Open this page on the laptop that drives the TV. The drawer peeks with the screen still on another tab, then switches over.
- Hand the drawer a tablet if you can. Drawing with a trackpad is a comedy of its own. A tablet in the drawer's hands, mirrored to the screen, is the easy way.
- Or use the real whiteboard. Keep this page on one phone just for prompts and the timer, and draw with markers. The timer starts when you tap the board once. Any whiteboard game in this guide works that way.
The classic drawing game: rules and team scoring
The party game most people know as Pictionary comes down to five rules. Here they are in plain words, with a scoring system that rewards quick guesses.
- Split into two to four teams of three or more.
- One player from the team on turn peeks at a prompt and draws it.
- No letters, no numbers and no talking from the drawer. Arrows and circles are fine.
- Only the drawer's team guesses until time runs out.
- Rotate the drawer every turn, so everyone draws once before anyone draws twice.
Scoring for teams
- Guessed before time runs out
- 2 points
- Guessed in the first 20 seconds
- 1 bonus point
- Hard mode prompt guessed
- Double the points
- The other team steals with one guess after time
- 1 point
- Game end
- First to 15, or most points after three rounds
Want a bigger word list sorted by difficulty? Our Pictionary word generator has over 400 more drawable words, and none of them repeat the prompts on this board.
25 drawing games for groups at work
Sorted by what you need: a quick icebreaker, a competitive round, or a creative warm-up for a longer session. Most of them work as online drawing games too: each one lists group size, time and how to run it on a call.
Drawing icebreakers (7)
Low stakes, no art skills needed, and everyone learns something about the people they work with.
1. Blind contour portraits
Pairs draw each other's face for 60 seconds without looking down at the paper. The worse they look, the better the round.
2 to 40 players · 5 min · On a call: Draw the person in the video tile next to yours, then everyone holds their sheet up at once.
2. Other-hand portraits
Same idea with your eyes open: draw your partner with the hand you don't write with, 60 seconds each.
2 to 40 players · 5 min · On a call: Pair people in breakout rooms of two, then show the best ones in the main room.
3. Doodle name tags
Instead of a job title, draw three small things you like on your name tag. People start conversations from the doodles.
10 to 200 players · 5 min · On a call: Draw them on a sticky note and hold it up when you introduce yourself.
4. Draw my job
Each person draws what a normal day in their job looks like, no words. The group guesses the role.
4 to 20 players · 15 min · On a call: Share drawings one at a time on the board above. Great for cross-team kickoffs.
5. Draw yourself as an object
Everyone draws the office object that sums them up, like the stapler that holds things together. Shuffle and guess who drew what.
4 to 15 players · 10 min · On a call: People send their drawing to the host privately, and the host shows them one by one.
6. Weather report check-in
Draw your week as a weather map: sunny Monday, fog on Wednesday. Explain it in one sentence.
3 to 12 players · 5 to 10 min · On a call: Paper and camera work fine. A good opener for a weekly team call.
7. Morning map
Draw your morning from alarm to first meeting as a treasure map, with landmarks like the coffee stop. No addresses. Others guess whose map it is.
4 to 15 players · 10 min · On a call: Send drawings to the host privately so the guessing stays fair.
Guess-the-drawing rounds (7)
Competitive drawing games for teams. Most of them run on the board above.
8. Online telephone drawing
Player one draws a prompt from the board, takes a screenshot and sends it privately to player two, who writes a guess and sends only that to player three, who draws it. Show the whole chain at the end.
5 to 10 players · 15 min · On a call: Built for calls: every handoff is a private chat message, so nobody needs an app.
9. Slow reveal
The drawer adds one line every five seconds, starting with the least obvious part. A guess in the first 20 seconds scores 3, later guesses score 1.
4 to 30 players · 10 min · On a call: Share the board with the 60-second timer on.
10. One-line mystery object
Draw something from your desk without lifting the pen. The group guesses, then you hold up the real thing.
3 to 20 players · 5 min · On a call: Works as is on camera, and it's a fun way to see what's on people's desks.
11. Speed sketch relay
Teams race through a list such as ten things in a kitchen. Each person draws one item in 10 seconds, then passes the marker. The other team counts the drawings they recognize.
6 to 30 players · 10 min · On a call: Each team member draws their item on paper and holds it up in turn.
12. Draw it literally
Pick a saying from Hard mode and draw it word for word: raining cats and dogs gets actual cats. The room guesses the saying.
4 to 30 players · 10 to 15 min · On a call: Pick the Hard mode chip on the board and play in turns.
13. Masterpiece from memory
Everyone draws a famous painting from memory in 90 seconds, say the Mona Lisa or The Starry Night. Show the real one, then vote for the closest and the funniest.
4 to 50 players · 10 min · On a call: Hold drawings up together, then share the real painting on screen.
14. Tool zoo
Everyone draws one of the apps the team uses every day as an animal, like the inbox as an octopus with too many arms. No logos or names. The group guesses which tool it is.
4 to 30 players · 10 min · On a call: Hold drawings up one at a time. The debate over which tool got drawn as a sloth is half the fun.
Creative drawing games for workshops (11)
Longer games that warm up a brainstorm, a planning day or an offsite.
15. Thirty circles
Hand out a sheet with 30 empty circles. In three minutes, turn as many as you can into things: a clock, a planet, a cookie. Then look for the most original ideas.
Any number of players · 5 to 10 min · On a call: Everyone draws 30 circles on paper first, then the host starts the clock.
16. Finish my doodle
One person draws a random squiggle. Everyone copies it and turns it into a picture in 60 seconds. Reveal all of them at once.
3 to 30 players · 5 min · On a call: Draw the squiggle on the board, share it, and everyone finishes it on paper.
17. Folded figures
Fold a sheet in three. One person draws a head and folds it out of sight, the next draws a body, the last draws legs. Unfold and name the creature.
3 to 30 players · 10 min · On a call: Assign head, body and legs in groups of three, then line the three sheets up on camera in order.
18. Comic strip relay
Six people, six panels: each draws the next panel of a story that starts with "the coffee machine broke." Read it out at the end.
4 to 8 players · 15 min · On a call: Use a shared slide deck with one slide per person and draw on paper or with the slide tools.
19. Draw the meeting
In the last five minutes of a long meeting or offsite, everyone draws one moment from it, no words. The group guesses which moment it was.
4 to 20 players · 10 min · On a call: Hold drawings up in turn. It's a gentle recap that shows what stuck.
20. Desk still life
Everyone draws the same kind of object from life in two minutes, like a coffee mug. Line them up and see how different twelve mugs can look.
4 to 30 players · 5 min · On a call: Everyone draws their own mug, so the gallery is even better on a call.
21. Draw it from the spec
Read out the features of one of your products without naming it. Everyone draws what they picture, then you show the real thing.
4 to 30 players · 10 min · On a call: A good opener for product teams and new-hire onboarding.
22. Invent a gadget
Draw an invention that fixes one small office annoyance, label its parts, and pitch it in 30 seconds. Vote for the one you'd buy.
3 to 30 players · 15 min · On a call: Pitches work best in breakout rooms of four, with one winner per room.
23. Team mascot
Each team designs a mascot in five minutes, gives it a name and a one-line motto, and presents it.
6 to 60 players · 15 min · On a call: Teams sketch in breakout rooms. One person draws on the board and shares it back in the main room.
24. Cover story
Teams draw the cover of a magazine a year from now that features the team's biggest win: a headline, a picture and two cover lines.
4 to 40 players · 20 min · On a call: A planning-day exercise: the covers start the conversation about goals.
25. Silent mural
One big sheet, a theme such as "our dream office," and one rule: no talking. Everyone adds one thing per turn for ten minutes.
5 to 25 players · 10 min · On a call: Use the shared whiteboard built into your meeting app instead of paper.
For games without a pen, try our guessing games for adults or GIF games for a team chat. Naming the teams for a mascot round? The team name generator has 300 to pick from.
Open a workshop with a drawing round
Ten minutes of guess-the-drawing is a good warm-up for a brainstorm or a training session, because it is about explaining an idea to people who can't see it yet. Ask two or three of these afterwards.
- What did you assume about the prompt before you started drawing?
- When did your team first get the drawing, and what made it click?
- When the team was stuck, did the drawer add detail, start over or try a new angle?
- Where in our real work do we explain things to people who can't see what we see?
- What is one thing we'll do differently in today's session because of this round?
All 312 drawing prompts
Playing on paper or a whiteboard? Here is every prompt on the board, by set. Read them out to the drawer, or print the page.
Office objects and moments (52)
Tape dispenser, Highlighter, Rubber stamp, Binder clip, Label maker, Desk lamp, Mouse pad, Lanyard, Pencil sharpener, Push pin, Rubber band ball, Clipboard, Spiral notebook, Second monitor, Webcam, Phone charger, Thermos, Desk drawer, Inbox tray, Mail cart, Snack drawer, Microwave, Water bottle, Sliding door, Name plate, Exit sign, Coat rack, Recycling bin, Desk fan, Space heater, Extension cord, USB stick, Visitor badge, Wi-fi signal, Spreadsheet, Bar chart, Slide deck, Speech bubble, Gold star, Award ribbon, Paper airplane, Group photo, Office birthday cake, Supply closet, Tangled cables, Meeting room clock, Wobbly desk, Empty stapler, Box of donuts on a desk, Plant that needs water, Overflowing inbox, Desk with three mugs.
Actions (52)
Snorkeling, Sledding down a hill, Pitching a baseball, Flying a drone, Bowling a strike, Painting a fence, Giving a dog a bath, Rowing a boat, Playing chess, Pole vaulting, Lifting weights, Skipping stones, Climbing a tree, Washing a car, Shooting a free throw, Scoring a goal, Water skiing, Picking apples, Mowing the lawn, Raking leaves, Stargazing, Napping in a hammock, Ringing a doorbell, Sliding down a slide, Playing the drums, Conducting an orchestra, Directing traffic, Serving a tennis ball, Paddleboarding, Setting the table, Throwing a frisbee, Feeding ducks, Taking a bow, Walking on stilts, Crossing the finish line, Planting a tree, Moving boxes, Reading by the fireplace, Pouring coffee, Chopping vegetables, Kneading dough, Pushing a shopping cart, Building a snow fort, Jumping on a trampoline, Riding a horse, Paddling a kayak, Reaching the summit, Sweeping the floor, Vacuuming, Writing a letter, Sending a text, Ice fishing.
Food (52)
Bagel, Burrito, Bowl of ramen, Nachos, Corn dog, Hot sauce, Pickle, Kebab, Muffin, Gumball machine, Candy bar, Peach, Kiwi, Blueberries, Pomegranate, Mango, Chili pepper, Onion, Garlic, Potato, Tomato, Cucumber, Head of lettuce, Olive, Peas in a pod, Artichoke, Salt shaker, Cutting board, Frying pan, Teapot, Watermelon slice, Whisk, Soft pretzel, Meatball, Quesadilla, Apple pie, Spring roll, Bento box, Lasagna, Grilled cheese, Smoothie, Coffee beans, Sprinkles, Jelly beans, Oatmeal, Toast, Jam jar, Barbecue grill, Afternoon tea, Paella, Gingerbread cookie, Stack of waffles with syrup.
Animals and animal scenes (52)
Beetle, Tiger, Panda, Seahorse, Wolf, Otter, Moose, Deer, Hippo, Bison, Badger, Swan, Goose, Rooster, Puffin, Worm, Chipmunk, Lizard, Seagull, Mole, Gecko, Hamster, Dachshund, Poodle, Bulldog, Alpaca, Toad, Crow, Cat napping on a keyboard, Dog in a raincoat, Penguin on a surfboard, Owl wearing glasses, Goldfish in a bowl, Bear eating honey, Turtle crossing the road, Giraffe in a scarf, Elephant spraying water, Parrot on a shoulder, Squirrel hiding a nut, Puppy chasing its tail, Cow jumping over the moon, Duck in a puddle, Ants at a picnic, Monkey eating a banana, Spider spinning a web, Cat in a box, Bird building a nest, Fox in the snow, Bee on a flower, Dog fetching a stick, Horse jumping a fence, Fish jumping out of water.
Places (52)
Bus stop, Drive-thru, Coffee shop, Bookstore, Zoo, Pier, Harbor, Hotel, Hospital, Dentist's office, Pet shop, Flower shop, Ice rink, Golf course, Tennis court, Basketball court, Soccer field, Racetrack, Parking garage, Gym, Bank, City hall, Subway platform, Rooftop garden, Classroom, Kitchen, Attic, Basement, Campsite, Front porch, Balcony, Backyard, Planetarium, Art gallery, Concert hall, Carousel, Arcade, Skate park, Food court, Grocery store, Hardware store, Police station, Toy store, Diner, Highway, Log cabin, Orchard, Pumpkin patch, Corn maze, Glacier, Moon base, Hot spring.
Hard mode: ideas and sayings (52)
Scope creep, Feedback loop, Writer's block, Monday morning, Friday afternoon, Low battery, Small talk, Bright idea, Comfort zone, Plot twist, Second wind, Silver lining, Fresh start, Under pressure, Deja vu, Raise the bar, On the same page, Cutting corners, Glass half full, Cloud storage, Firewall, Breaking news, Sweet spot, Head start, Long weekend, Early bird, Night owl, Team spirit, Hot desk, Lunch and learn, Fine print, Wild card, Time flies, Couch potato, Spill the beans, Under the weather, Raining cats and dogs, Once in a blue moon, Hold your horses, When pigs fly, Elephant in the room, Icing on the cake, Ahead of the curve, Walk in the park, Bookworm, Food for thought, Sleep on it, Thinking cap, Rabbit hole, Snowball effect, Domino effect, Pet project.
Run it with a host
Want someone else to run the games? Creative Fun & Games is a one-hour virtual event where a live host leads mini-games built on household items, so people build, invent and act things out with whatever is nearby. Book it about 2 weeks ahead.
If your team would rather make something to keep, the Painting class ships a paint kit to every home and a live artist teaches one of three styles step by step; book kit classes 3 weeks ahead. See every virtual paint night class, or for a competitive hour, our virtual game shows. Teams split across time zones can book any hosted game as two sessions.
In the office, Canvas Painting brings a painting workshop to your workplace in 30 US cities. See the list on our in-person events page.
Hosted creative events, with today's prices. Get a free quote with your date and headcount.
