Pictomania, designed by Vlaada Chvátil and published by Czech Games Edition, is a party game for 3-6 players that injects a dose of delightful chaos into the classic drawing game formula. Here's the twist: everyone draws and guesses simultaneously. This game challenges you to draw and guess as quickly as possible in order to try to get the most points. Are you ready to turn your artistic shortcomings into strategic advantages? I wish you the best in your endeavor to decipher hieroglyphics from your neighbors’ drawings.
Artistic skill? Not required. But a dash of creative thinking goes a long way, especially as the cards get trickier. How do you illustrate "contentment" versus "enthusiasm"? And how do you ensure your fellow players don't mistake your artistic flourish for poorly rendered hieroglyphics? This is the heart of Pictomania's frustratingly fun appeal – the challenge of translating abstract concepts into fleeting sketches. All of this while racing to get the most points by guessing your friends' sketches. This is a game that leaves you wanting more, eager to jump back in and see what crazy misinterpretations (and strokes of genius) the next game will bring.
Components
1 well-written rulebook
99 double-sided drawing cards in four different difficulty levels with seven words each
6 black letter cards (two A’s, two B’s, and two C’s)
7 black number cards (1-7)
42 guessing cards in six colors (numbers 1-7 for each color)
36 scoring tokens (in the six player colors plus black. The cards are two: 1s, 2s, and 3s)
A card podium
1 pad of drawing paper
1 pencil sharpener
6 black pencils in the six player colors
Gameplay
This exciting word-and-drawing game is easy to learn and adapts to any skill level. The cards range in difficulty from simple concepts to mind-bending challenges.
Setting Up
Choose your color: Each player selects a color and grabs corresponding cards, scoring tokens, pencil, and a sketchpad sheet
Set the difficulty: Place the black scoring tokens in the center. As a group, decide on a color to determine which set of cards to start from
Prepare for the challenge:
Four rounds await! Once the difficulty is set, three cards, each containing seven secret words, are displayed on the podium. The stand will have a card under label A, B, and C
Everyone takes a minute to absorb the 21 words staring back at them. Each card represents a specific theme, with the seven options all related to it. This is what makes the game both frustrating and strategic
Repeat steps 2-4 for the next three rounds
The Game
Draw and guess simultaneously: Each player draws a letter card and a number. On go, everyone simultaneously attempts to depict their word or phrase as quickly as possible. Once a player is finished drawing, they try to guess what others are drawing
Deduction and commitment: Once you think you know someone's drawing, place one of your numbered cards (1-7) on their drawing board. The twist? You only know one of the seven words is being drawn, even though there are three cards displayed. This deduction process can be helpful, but be cautious! Jumping to conclusions can backfire. Once you commit your card, it's locked in. You can, however, choose not to guess on any drawing
Scoring and revealing: After drawing and guessing, take the highest available black token from the center. Now, the fun begins! Each player explains their drawing. Laughter is almost guaranteed at this step as they flip over each guess. For every correct guess, the guesser gets their card number back and receives the highest scoring token available (ranging from three to one point depending on the number of players). Incorrect guesses have their cards returned to the center pile
Scoring
After everyone has revealed their drawings and guesses, each player adds up their scoring tokens. However, for every incorrect answer or player who chose not to guess your drawing, you lose points. Finally, add the star value on your drawing to your total. The player with the most incorrect guesses also subtract their black token from their points, making rushing counter-productive
Next Round and Winning
Now that the round is over, move all your colored tokens to your left, black tokens back to the center, and return other colored tokens to their respective players. Decide on the next difficult color. Set up the cards. Draw the next set of cards and have fun! The player with the most points at the end of the fourth round wins the game!
Pictomania Key Features
Simultaneous drawing and guessing: I love games like this. There’s no downtime and the game is interactive, relatively short, and fast paced
No artistic talent required: Though creativity is highly required. Can you quickly think how to draw what you read without writing words in a fast manner?
Highly replayable: There are 1,386 possibilities in the cards, so get ready to have some fun!
The game can be enjoyed with as few as 3 players or as many as 6, I think the game scales well, but I really like it at 4 or more players
Pros
Fast-paced
High replayability
Easy to explain and play
Fun and engaging for players of all skill levels
Encourages creativity and quick thinking
Cons
Game can get chaotic
Not language independent
May not be suitable for players that do not enjoy fast-paced simultaneous play
It only plays up to 6 players, I wish that it could play up to 12!
Conclusion
Pictomania is a fun and fast-paced drawing game that is perfect for novice and experienced artists and gamers alike. The game is easy to learn and can be enjoyed by players of all skill levels. The game is highly replayable and encourages creativity and quick thinking. However, the game can get chaotic and is not suitable for players who do not enjoy fast-paced simultaneous play.
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