MonsDRAWsity designed by Eric Slausan and published by Deep Water Games is a drawing game that's safe for adults and kids alike. Yes, there are monsters, but they're super cute! The game is easy to learn and play. Here's the catch: Look at your monster card, then put it down and try to describe exactly what you saw to the crowd. That's where the fun begins! Your instructions may not necessarily translate perfectly to your monster card.
Gameplay
Premise
MonsDRAWsity is exciting! It tests your descriptive and artistic skills! In each round, one player becomes the witness, tasked with memorizing a bizarre monster for two minutes. Meanwhile, the remaining players transform into sketch artists, ready to capture the monster's essence through their drawings.
Steps for how to play:
Witness Selection: Choose a player to be the witness. They secretly study a monster card for 20 seconds, memorizing its details.
Description Phase: The witness turns away from the table (that's a house rule) and describes the monster to the sketch artists for two minutes. Additional house rule: Before starting, the witness specifies whether the drawing should be in portrait or landscape mode.
Question Time: While the witness describes, sketch artists can ask clarifying questions to refine their understanding.
Judgment and Scoring: After two minutes, the witness secretly awards points to the sketch artist who created the most accurate depiction of the monster, based on their memory. That's right, the witness doesn't get to see the monster until after they've awarded a point to the best sketch artist.
Reveal and Voting: The witness reveals the monster card to all players. Sketch artists then simultaneously vote for the drawing that most closely resembles the card. Voting for your own drawing is prohibited.
Point Allocation: The sketch artist with the most votes receives one point. In case of a tie, both artists receive a point. If the witness's chosen artist also receives the most votes, the witness earns an additional point.
Repeat or End: Give the monster cards to the next sketch artists, and they become the witness. Repeat steps 1-6. The game typically lasts for two rounds, but you can choose to play just one round or to a specific number of points. The player with the most points at the end wins. In case of a tie, as a house rule, an additional round is played to determine the winner.
Components
100 Monster Cards: Each card features a beautifully illustrated monster. We have gone through all the monsters, so are now trying to figure out which expansion to purchase. Suggestionsn welcome!
Dry-Erase Markers: I am honestly surprised by the lasting quality of the dry-erase markers. The only downside is that they can be a bit hard to fully erase, so we've used rubbing alcohol from time to time
Numbered Player Sketch Boards
Scoring Board: This tracks points earned throughout the game, ensuring a clear and organized system for determining the winner
What Makes MonsDRAWsity Different
MonsDRAWsity stands out from other drawing games is its focus on describing something already drawn. The voting system also adds an element of strategy to the game, as players must try to create monsters that they think will appeal to the other players.
Who Should Play MonsDRAWsity
You and your friends. No, seriously. It's fun. This game tests your creativity and communication skills. MonsDRAWsity is a great game for anyone who enjoys drawing and storytelling. I’ve played this game with different groups. I have played it as palette cleanser, nightcap, a drinking game, and at work as a team building exercise. For the work activity, The work activity was particularly enlightening. We had a blast, and it sparked a valuable discussion. It highlighted that just because I can clearly describe something doesn't mean you'll see it the same way.
Pros:
Easy to learn, but difficult to master
Encourages storytelling
Unique drawing game
No artistic talent needed
Laughters guaranteed
Cons:
Can be a bit chaotic
Some players may find the prompts too vague
Not language independent
Overall
MonsDRAWsity is unique in the sense that it provides you with a drawing that you are describing. The drawings are extremely cute. The first time I played it, I wanted to describe the colors, but people are only drawing with a black dry erase marker, so that was a bust. The game is easy to teach and learn, and it’s a great addition to any game collection.
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