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Telestrations
The reigning champion of relay drawing party games, where players look at a prompt word, sketch it, and the next player guesses the word from the drawing alone. Everyone draws and guesses at the same time while passing sketchbooks sideways, so there is almost no waiting around even with more players.
Rules
Players sketch a word, then the next player guesses it from the drawing alone, passing sketchbooks around the table in a drawn version of the telephone game. Everyone draws and guesses at the same time, so adding players barely adds waiting time, and the fun comes from watching the original word mutate into something completely different.
Components — the original 4–8 player party pack
| Component | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt cards | 130 double-sided cards (2,000+ prompts) | Each side lists several words, and exactly one is marked as a starred category |
| Sketchbooks | 8 reusable books | Each has a different coil color so you can find your own |
| Dry-erase markers | 8 (with built-in erasers) | Draw and erase like a whiteboard |
A party game for 4–8 players aged 12 and up, taking about 20–30 minutes. It turns the telephone game into drawing: everyone sketches and guesses at the same time, so adding players barely slows the game down.
This guide covers the 8-book original set
Telestrations Party Pack (same Korean retail name) scales up to 12 players with 200 cards and more sketchbooks, but plays the same way. Differences are covered in the editions section.
Setup
- 1Place the card box in the center of the table.
- 2Each player takes 1 sketchbook, 1 marker, and 1 card.
- 3Write your name on the front of your sketchbook and remember its coil color — it's the only way to find your own book later.
- 4Decide who starts and which direction books will pass (usually left).
Choosing a prompt
- 1Pick either side of the card you drew.
- 2Choose one of the words on that side yourself, without telling or showing anyone, and secretly write it on page 1, 'Prompt', of your sketchbook.
Option — category mode
As a group you may instead choose just one starred category from one player's card, and each player comes up with their own word within that category. If the category is 'Movie Title', each player writes a different movie title.
Even or odd player counts start differently
Who draws the first sketch after the prompt is written depends on whether the number of players is even or odd.
| Players | What the prompt-writer does | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Even | Writes the prompt and draws the first sketch themselves before passing | The next players take turns guessing, sketching, guessing, and so on |
| Odd | Writes only the prompt, then passes immediately to the left | That player draws the first sketch, and guessing/sketching continues from there |
Why the split exists
So that the last completed page is always a guess, regardless of player count. With an even count the owner adds one extra step before passing; with an odd count the owner passes immediately — either way the total page count lines up to end on a guess.
Passing sketchbooks — sketch and pass together
- 1If you're on a 'Sketch It' page, look at the prompt or drawing on the page before it and draw it yourself. No letters, numbers, or question marks, and no blank pages.
- 2Once finished, flip the page forward to hide your drawing and wait. When everyone is ready, pass your book in the agreed direction at the same time.
- 3If you're on a 'Guess It' page, look only at the drawing on the page before it and write down what you think it is. Again, flip forward and pass together once everyone is ready.
- 4Sketching and guessing keep alternating until your own book comes back to you, which ends that round.
Drawing skill doesn't matter
A worse drawing confuses the next player more, which makes the reveal funnier. Aim to sketch the key features quickly rather than drawing perfectly.
Scoring — friendly or competitive (optional)
| Method | How to earn points |
|---|---|
| Friendly scoring | As you reveal your own book, freely give 1 point to whoever drew your favorite sketch and 1 point to whoever wrote your favorite guess. Give yourself 1 point if the last guess matches the original prompt |
| Competitive scoring | Guessers earn 1 point if their guess matches the original prompt or the previous guess; sketchers earn 1 point if their sketch helped a guesser make a match. The book owner also earns 1 point if the last guess matches the prompt |
| Match length | Play 3 rounds, then total your points — the highest score wins |
Scoring is entirely optional
The official rules say "did you have fun? Well, then you've won!" Scoring is optional, and friendly scoring is the simpler of the two if you want to try keeping score.
The big reveal and playing again
- 1Once every book is back with its owner, it's time for the Big Reveal. Each player flips through their own book from the start, sharing how the prompt changed along the way.
- 2Score with friendly or competitive scoring if you'd like.
- 3To play again, erase every page, then flip your card to the unused side or draw a new one. You may also reverse the passing direction or switch seats.
A match is 3 rounds, but no rule fixes the number of rounds in advance — playing fewer or more rounds depending on the group's mood doesn't break anything.
Hints from the official rules
- Sketching hints: No letters or numbers, and no blank pages. It's fine if you can't draw well — a worse drawing confuses the next player more and makes the reveal funnier.
- Guessing hints: Don't just write a question mark or leave the page blank. Write down whatever guess comes to mind, no matter how silly it seems.
- Passing hints: Once you've finished sketching or guessing, flip the page forward to hide it and wait. Pass books at the same time once everyone is ready.
- Twists to try: The official rules suggest switching seats or reversing the passing direction, sketching with your non-dominant hand, or making your own category cards for events.
Editions and Korean release
| Edition | Korean release | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Original, 4–8 players (this guide) | Korea Boardgames — Telestrations | 130 double-sided cards (2,000+ prompts), 8 sketchbooks |
| Telestrations Party Pack | Korea Boardgames — Telestrations Party Pack | Scales up to 12 players, 200 cards (the original 100 plus 100 new), more sketchbooks |
| Telestrations: After Dark | ⚠️ Unconfirmed Korean release | An international line with adult-oriented prompts |
| 80s/90s-themed card packs, etc. | ⚠️ Unconfirmed Korean release | International expansion card packs mentioned on English Wikipedia |
The Korean release details and card-count differences come from Korea Boardgames' own product and magazine pages; a Korean release for After Dark or the themed expansions could not be confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Q. I really can't draw. Is that a problem?
No. The official rules state that a worse drawing is funnier. Drawing skill isn't being judged — it's fuel for the comedy.
Q. What if the final guess is completely unrelated to the prompt?
That's fine. Watching a word mutate through drawings is the whole point; the only thing to avoid is leaving a blank or just a question mark.
Q. Do the rules change completely with an odd number of players?
No. Only the first step changes. With an even count the owner writes the prompt and draws the first sketch before passing; with an odd count the owner writes only the prompt and passes immediately. Everything after that, and the rule that the last page is always a guess, stays the same regardless of player count.
Q. Can the whole group use the same category?
Yes. Choosing one starred category from a single card and having everyone write their own word within it is an official option called category mode.
Q. Do you have to keep score to win?
No. The official rules treat scoring as optional and say having fun already means you've won. If you want points, choose friendly or competitive scoring.
Q. My marker dried out. What do I do?
The official rules say to swap in any dry-erase marker and keep playing — there's no need to stop the game.
History and verification scope
According to English Wikipedia, USAopoly first released this game in 2009, and BoardGameGeek named it the Best Party Game of 2010. The publisher is now called The Op, and the 2025 printed rules still carry The Op logo alongside the original product name. The Wikipedia article does not credit a specific designer.
In Korea, Korea Boardgames officially distributes both Telestrations and Telestrations Party Pack. Namuwiki likewise lists Korea Boardgames as the domestic distributor and 2009 as the original release year.
No Korean rulebook yet
An official Korean rulebook could not be obtained. The Korean release and card-count differences were cross-checked only against Korea Boardgames' own product and magazine pages, so any Korean-edition terminology still needs a physical booklet check.
Sources
The Op (USAopoly) official English rules — 8-Player Party Pack, 2025 printing (full rules and components)Korea Boardgames — Telestrations product page (players, age, playtime)Korea Boardgames magazine — Telestrations Party Pack feature (card count and player count vs. the original)Wiki cross-check — Wikipedia: TelestrationsWiki cross-check — Namuwiki: Telestrations (Korean)Rule summaries are reference content written by us, not quotations from the official rulebook. Always check the official rulebook for exact rules. Diagrams are original schematics, not rulebook illustrations.
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Last updated 2026-10-10
💡 Master tip
Don't try to draw too well — focusing on just the key features instead of a polished picture makes it easier for the next player, and keeps the whole relay moving faster than chasing perfection.
Ready for something heavier
If this one has gotten too easy, try these — same feel, one step up in weight.
Tools you can request
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60-Second Sketch Timer Sound
A countdown sound for the time limit
Random Prompt Generator
Suggests from over 1,000 quirky Korean-language prompts
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