Wondering how to play Telestrations? Picture a mashup of Telephone and Pictionary that guarantees laughs every time.
This party game is all about hilarious sketches and outrageous guesses. Ready to dive in? This guide will walk you through the basics, so you can start the fun with your crew in no time!
Table of Contents
- Game Components
- Set Up
- Gameplay
- Scoring in Telestrations
- Tips and Tricks
- Variations and Expansions
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Here’s how you play:
Players: 4 to 8
Age: 12 plus
Game Time: 30 – 60 minutes
Game Components
Inside the original edition of the game you will find:
- 142 This Side and That Side Cards that provide over 1,700 words
- 1 die
- A sand timer (60 seconds)
- 8 erasable sketchbooks, markers and clean cloths
- Instructions
Set Up
Setting up Telestrations is a breeze. Give each player a sketchbook, a marker, and a clean-up cloth. The simplicity of the setup means you’ll be playing in no time, diving right into the heart of this engaging game.
- Organize the cards, clean up cloths and markers for each player.
- Decide whether to use the ‘This Side’ or ‘That Side’ cards.
- Each player takes a sketchbook, marker and one card.
Gameplay
Now, how to play Telestrations really comes to life.
Choosing a Word: The first player rolls the die. Each player matches the corresponding word on their card to the number rolled. Each player then secretly writes the word into their sketchbook.
If a blank space matches the number rolled, then the player can make up their own word.
If a joker sign appears at the bottom of the card, the player can choose any word on the card.
Depending on the number of players taking part, there will be a slight variation to the next part of the game.
4, 6 or 8 Players: Turn to page 1 in the Sketchbook and prepare to secretly draw your word.
5 or 7 players: Turn to page 1 in the Sketchbook and then pass it to the player on your LEFT. That player looks at the secret word and gets ready to draw it.
This variation will ensure that the last completed turn will be a written guess, not a sketch.
Drawing
Now all players should be on page 1 in the sketchbook regardless of how many are playing.
- Everyone should sketch the secret word they just looked at within the 60 second timer.
- Turn to page 2 to hide the sketch you just completed.
- Pass the open book to the next player on your left.
Guessing
Now all players should be on ‘Guess It’ page 2.
Take a moment to flip back to the previous sketch without anyone else seeing it.
Return to page 2 and write down your guess.
Then flip forward to the next page and pass the book to the player on your left.
Continue the Game
The game now continues in the same sequence until the players receive their own book back from the start.
- Sketch
- Pass
- Guess
Each book should end with a guess.
Reveal
Once all the books are back to the original player, they can be revealed to all players
Imagine this: you’ve been given a word, and your drawing skills have been put to the test. As you pass your sketchbook, the next player interprets your artwork, often leading to a chain of wildly different interpretations.
This is where Telestrations shines, turning simple drawings into a cascade of laughter.
Scoring in Telestrations
When you’re learning how to play Telestrations the scoring is relatively simple.
In fact, Telestrations isn’t about winning; it’s about the journey. While there are optional scoring rules, the real joy comes from sharing the hilarious outcomes of each round. It’s a game where the laughter and memories created are far more valuable than any score.
If you wish to keep scores here’s the scoring guide:
Use the scoresheet in the front of each Sketchbook to record the scores. Games last 3 rounds with scores being totalled up after the three rounds have finished.
Friendly Scoring
- Award 1 point to your favorite sketch in each round
- Award 1 point to your favorite guess in each round
- Award 1 point to yourself if the last guess matches the word.
Competitive Scoring
- Guessers are awarded 1 point if they match the secret word or previous guess.
- Sketchers are awarded 1 point if the sketch helped a guesser to make a match.
- Award yourself 1 point if the last guess matches your secret word.
Tips and Tricks
To really make the most of your Telestrations experience, encourage players to let loose with their creativity. The more outrageous the drawings and guesses, the more memorable the game becomes.
Variations and Expansions
If you are looking to make your game more interesting next time, check out these suggestions from the publishers:
- Switch seats.
- Reverse passing direction.
- Use your non-dominant hand to sketch
- Create your own cards with themes or categories to sketch and guess.
- Allow younger players to choose any word they like.
Have you played with your own variations? Let us know by email and we’ll add your suggestion to this article!
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Conclusion
In a world where digital entertainment is king, Telestrations brings us back to basics. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of shared experiences and the timeless joy of drawing and guessing.
It’s about embracing a game that brings laughter, creativity, and togetherness. Whether you’re a skilled artist or can barely draw a stick figure, Telestrations promises an experience filled with joy and hilarity. If you’re looking for something equally hilarious without having to draw, check out Joking Hazard.
FAQs
What are the secret words in Telestrations?
The secret words are sketched by players and are then guessed by another player. Words include objects, places, people or sports (here are hundreds in total). Garden, funny bone, ball park are a few examples.
How is Telestrations different from Pictionary?
In Pictionary players draw only for their teammates on most turns. In Telestrations, players are continually drawing and guessing each others sketches and is not played in teams. Telestrations is less competitive than Pictionary. You can play for points, but it’s equally as entertaining without points scoring and played just for laughs.
Can you play Telestrations with 2 players?
No, you need at least 4 players to play as the main part of the game revolves around guessing another players sketch.
Is Telestrations appropriate for kids?
Telestrations is recommended for players 12 years and over but there is no mature content so slightly younger players may be able to pickup the game as well.