All Game Modes

Explore 15 exciting Gartic Phone game modes! From classic telephone gameplay to creative animations, find the perfect mode for your group's next gaming session.

Normal

The foundation of Gartic Phone! Players alternate between writing prompts and drawing them, creating hilarious chains of miscommunication.

Difficulty:Easy
Players:4-30
Duration:10-20 min
Includes:
WritingDrawing

Key Features:

  • Writing & Drawing
  • Turn-based gameplay
  • Perfect for beginners
  • Classic telephone game

Animation

Bring your drawings to life! Create collaborative animations frame by frame, with each player adding to the motion.

Difficulty:Medium
Players:4-16
Duration:15-25 min
Includes:
Drawing

Key Features:

  • Frame-by-frame animation
  • Collaborative creation
  • Customizable frame rate
  • Loop options

Secret

The ultimate challenge! Everything is hidden - you can't see what you're drawing or writing, leading to completely unexpected results.

Difficulty:Hard
Players:4-20
Duration:10-20 min
Includes:
WritingDrawing

Key Features:

  • Hidden interface
  • Mystery gameplay
  • Surprise reveals
  • Maximum chaos

Sandwich

A delicious mix of creativity! Start with writing, then draw continuously, and finish by describing the final artwork.

Difficulty:Medium
Players:4-24
Duration:12-22 min
Includes:
WritingDrawing

Key Features:

  • Write-Draw-Write format
  • Extended drawing phases
  • Descriptive endings
  • Unique structure

Complement

Complete the masterpiece! Start with basic abstract lines and watch as each player adds their creative interpretation.

Difficulty:Easy
Players:4-20
Duration:8-15 min
Includes:
Drawing

Key Features:

  • Abstract starting lines
  • Creative interpretation
  • Artistic evolution
  • No writing required

Background

Enhanced animation mode! Create animations with fixed backgrounds, adding context and depth to your collaborative stories.

Difficulty:Medium
Players:4-16
Duration:15-25 min
Includes:
Drawing

Key Features:

  • Fixed backgrounds
  • Contextual animations
  • Enhanced storytelling
  • Advanced animation

Icebreaker

Perfect for new groups! Ask questions in the first round and see creative drawing responses that spark conversations.

Difficulty:Easy
Players:4-30
Duration:8-15 min
Includes:
WritingDrawing

Key Features:

  • Question-based start
  • Social interaction
  • Great for new groups
  • Conversation starter

Score

Competitive fun! Earn points by keeping the meaning consistent throughout the chain. Perfect for those who love friendly competition.

Difficulty:Medium
Players:4-20
Duration:12-20 min
Includes:
WritingDrawing

Key Features:

  • Point system
  • Competitive gameplay
  • Accuracy rewards
  • Leaderboards

Solo

Create your own masterpiece! Make personal animations in 5 frames, perfect for practicing or when playing with smaller groups.

Difficulty:Easy
Players:1-16
Duration:5-10 min
Includes:
Drawing

Key Features:

  • Personal animations
  • 5-frame limit
  • Individual creativity
  • Practice mode

Knock-Off

Players must recreate drawings from memory after viewing them briefly. Test your visual memory and artistic skills.

Difficulty:Medium
Players:3-16
Duration:10-15 min
Includes:
Drawing

Key Features:

  • Memory challenge
  • Visual recall
  • Artistic reproduction
  • Time pressure

Exquisite Corpse

Create surreal characters by drawing different body parts without seeing what others have drawn. A classic collaborative art game.

Difficulty:Easy
Players:3-16
Duration:8-12 min
Includes:
Drawing

Key Features:

  • Collaborative art
  • Surreal results
  • Body parts drawing
  • Creative surprise

Masterpiece

Create detailed artwork without time limits. Focus on quality over speed in this relaxed drawing mode.

Difficulty:Easy
Players:3-16
Duration:15-30 min
Includes:
Drawing

Key Features:

  • No time limit
  • Detailed artwork
  • Quality focus
  • Relaxed pace

Story

Tell stories using only text, no drawings involved. Create hilarious narratives through collaborative storytelling.

Difficulty:Easy
Players:3-16
Duration:10-15 min
Includes:
Writing

Key Features:

  • Text only
  • Storytelling
  • No drawing
  • Creative writing

Missing Piece

Complete drawings by filling in missing parts. Use your imagination to complete the artistic puzzle.

Difficulty:Medium
Players:3-16
Duration:8-12 min
Includes:
Drawing

Key Features:

  • Puzzle solving
  • Creative completion
  • Artistic interpretation
  • Visual thinking

Co-op

Work together with other players to create a single drawing. Collaboration and teamwork are key to success.

Difficulty:Medium
Players:2-8
Duration:10-20 min
Includes:
Drawing

Key Features:

  • Team collaboration
  • Shared canvas
  • Cooperative gameplay
  • Group creativity

Choose Your Adventure

Each game mode offers a different experience. Start with Normal mode to learn the basics, then explore Animation and Secret modes for more creative challenges.

Mode Comparison

ModeDifficultyPlayersDurationWritingDrawing
Normal
Easy4-3010-20 min✓✓
Animation
Medium4-1615-25 min✗✓
Secret
Hard4-2010-20 min✓✓
Sandwich
Medium4-2412-22 min✓✓
Complement
Easy4-208-15 min✗✓
Background
Medium4-1615-25 min✗✓
Icebreaker
Easy4-308-15 min✓✓
Score
Medium4-2012-20 min✓✓
Solo
Easy1-165-10 min✗✓
Knock-Off
Medium3-1610-15 min✗✓
Exquisite Corpse
Easy3-168-12 min✗✓
Masterpiece
Easy3-1615-30 min✗✓
Story
Easy3-1610-15 min✓✗
Missing Piece
Medium3-168-12 min✗✓
Co-op
Medium2-810-20 min✗✓

Pro Tips

  • Start with Normal mode if you're new to Gartic Phone
  • Animation modes work best with 4-8 players for optimal creativity
  • Secret mode is perfect for experienced players seeking maximum chaos
  • Use Icebreaker mode for team building and getting to know new people

Getting Started

  1. 1Choose a mode that matches your group's experience level
  2. 2Set up voice chat for the best experience (Discord, Zoom, etc.)
  3. 3Adjust player count and time limits based on your group
  4. 4Have fun and don't worry about perfect drawings!