What most of you see
Jake setting off the smoke alarm
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Printable party game
Sketchy Business
Everyone is drawing the same thing. One of you only knows roughly what it is about.
Most players see the drawing topic. The Hidden Artist only hears the category. Build one drawing together in silence, then vote.
- 4-10
- Players
- 20-35 minutes
- Time
Draw this
Jake setting off the smoke alarm
Every card in the pack is built around them.
How to play
1
One sheet in the middle
Everyone draws on the same page. One pen each, different colours if you have them.
2
One unbroken stroke each
Clockwise, twice around, in silence. Lift the pen and your turn is over.
3
Vote, reveal, score
Point at the Hidden Artist. Catch them and they still get one guess at the topic.
One round
One round, start to finish
See the two cards, watch the drawing go down, and find the person who was guessing.
What the Hidden Artist hears
Cooking
That is the only difference between you and them.
Why nobody can just draw it properly
01
You are all drawing one picture
It is not everyone scribbling in parallel. It is one image built by the whole table, and the Hidden Artist has to add to it with only the category to go on.
02
Too good is as bad as too bad
Draw it too clearly and you have handed them the answer. Draw it too vaguely and the table decides it was you.
03
The topics are your history
The drawing topics come from the guest of honour's life, so the Hidden Artist is not guessing a word, they are guessing a moment.
What you print
- Drawing topic cards20+
- Deal cards, reusable1 set
- Hidden Artist card1
- Canvas pagesseveral
Prints on plain A4 or Letter. Black and white is fine. Cut along the guides and you are ready.
Is this one for your group?
Perfect for
- ✓Groups who insist they cannot draw, which is part of the fun
- ✓A table with room for one sheet in the middle
- ✓Quiet parties and loud parties, it works either way
- ✓Anyone who has played Chameleon and wants a version you can hang on the fridge
- ✓Groups with real shared moments to draw
Maybe not if
- ×Standing around. Everyone needs to reach the same sheet.
- ×Groups of three. The Hidden Artist is too easy to spot.
- ×Anyone who wants to keep talking. This round is silent.
Questions
What do we draw on?
Any blank sheet in the middle of the table. Everyone draws on the same one, which is the whole point. Canvas pages are in the pack if you cannot find paper.
Do we need proper art supplies?
One pen each, ideally different colours so you can see who drew what during the vote. Biros are completely fine.
What counts as one stroke?
One continuous line without lifting the pen. The moment it lifts, your turn is over, even if you were mid-masterpiece.
What if nobody can draw?
Then everybody looks like the Hidden Artist and the voting becomes chaos, which is objectively the best version of this game.
Does the dealer play that round?
No. They deal, they run it, they reveal the accused. Then the seat passes left so everyone gets turns drawing.
How many rounds is a game?
Play until someone reaches five points. Most groups get there in about half an hour and then immediately deal again.
Build out the box
Secret Missions
Secret tasks that turn the whole event into the game.
See gameMajority Rules
The biggest crowd wins every round.
See gameThe Outsider
The whole group knows the word. One person has to fake it. Nobody knows who.
See gameBet Your Mate
Guess the number. Bet your chips.
See gameThe Pitch
Talk your way out of anything - using two words that should make it impossible.
See gameReady to play?
Build a party around Sketchy Business.
Choose the games that fit your group, then print the pages you need.
Build my pack