Difficulty
Generate a private word for the remote artist
How to play Pictionary on Zoom (and other calls)
Virtual Pictionary uses the same rules as in-person play — see the full how to play Pictionary guide — with one change: the artist draws on a shared whiteboard while keeping the prompt private. Start with easy Pictionary words for mixed ages, or jump into the main Pictionary word generator for all categories.
Start the call
Zoom is most common. Google Meet and Microsoft Teams work the same with screen share. Discord is great for friend groups using a voice channel plus browser whiteboard.
Open a whiteboard
Excalidraw (free, browser), Zoom Whiteboard, Microsoft Whiteboard, or Whiteboard.fi. The artist screen-shares that tab — not this word page.
Hide the word
Generate on a phone or second monitor. Use Tap to copy if you need to paste into a private note — never into the shared chat.
Timer & scoring
Start the on-page timer, unmute guessers, and track points with our scoreboard on the home generator if you want a shared score view.
Remote host checklist
Test share first
Confirm the whiteboard is visible before round 1. Ask one guest to shout a test guess.
Mute when needed
If lag is bad, mute non-guessing teams so the artist hears their own side clearly.
Pick difficulty for the room
Kids on the call? Use kids Pictionary words. Coworkers? Try office & team building prompts.
Backup offline
If someone’s connection drops, email a PDF from our printable Pictionary words sheet.
Pictionary vs Charades online
Charades is acting-only; Pictionary is drawing-only. On video calls, Pictionary is often clearer for large groups because guessers watch a shared canvas instead of interpreting small webcam gestures. Keep charades for icebreakers, and use this page when you want random drawing prompts with a timer.