Overview

Pictionary is a team drawing and guessing game. One player sketches clues for a word while teammates try to guess it within one minute. Teams race around the board to be the first to reach the Finish square.

Components

• 1 game board
• 1 one-minute plastic timer
• 496 word cards
• 4 category cards
• 1 die
• 4 playing pieces
• 4 pads of paper
• 4 pencils

Setup

1. Place the timer and card box where all players can access them.
2. Remove the 4 category cards for reference throughout the game.
3. Divide into teams of two to four. Provide each team with a pad, pencil, category card, and playing piece.
4. Place all playing pieces on the Start square.
5. Each team selects a picturist (the person who will draw first).
6. Roll the die; highest roll draws the first card.
7. Since all pieces begin on Start, the first word is an All Play word. All teams participate.

Turn Structure

Standard Turn

1. The starting picturist draws a word card from the front of the deck.
2. The word in the row matching the color of the square the team occupies is the word to sketch.
3. The picturist has 5 seconds to examine the word and plan.
4. The timer is turned over and sketching begins. The picturist may NOT use verbal or physical communication.
5. Teammates guess until the word is identified or time runs out.
6. If correct: roll the die, advance that many squares, select a new card and new picturist.
7. If not identified: play passes to the next team clockwise.

The picturist position rotates every time a team must sketch.

All Play

When a card is preceded by a triangle symbol, it is an All Play word. All teams’ picturists draw simultaneously. The first team to identify the word gains control of the die, rolls, and advances. That team then continues their turn with a new word. If no team identifies it in 60 seconds, the next team clockwise takes their turn.

A team must occupy a square as long as it does not identify the word. They do NOT roll if they fail.

Actions

Categories

Code	Category	Description
AP	All Play	Any type of word or expression
D	Difficult	Challenging words
A	Action	Verbs - things that can be performed
P	Person/Place/Animal	Proper names included
O	Object	Nouns - things that can be touched or seen

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The first team to land on the Finish square and guess the final word correctly wins. The final word does not need to be on that team’s turn – it can be an All Play word.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Sketches may NOT include: Letters, numbers, secret or pre-arranged clues, ear symbols for “sounds like,” or dashes for number of letters.
• An X can be used to cross something out or indicate an area (like on a map), but never as a letter.
• You may draw mail for male, or blew for blue (visual puns are allowed).
• Use both sides of paper freely.
• Precise answers: Decide before the game how precise answers must be (e.g., is “combined” OK for “combine”?).
• 3 players: Two teams form, and one person acts as picturist for BOTH teams, selecting cards and sketching throughout. This person never varies. Normal game rules apply.
• More than 16 players: Create a 5th team or add more players per team.
• The ONLY time the die is rolled to advance is when a word is correctly identified within the time limit.

Player Reference

Step	Action
1	Draw a card; identify the word by square color
2	Picturist has 5 seconds to plan
3	Timer starts; sketch the word
4	Teammates guess within 60 seconds
5	If correct: roll die, advance, continue turn
6	If incorrect: next team’s turn

Drawing Rules: No letters, no numbers, no verbal/physical hints, no pre-arranged signals.