Telestrations – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Telestrations

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Board Game

88%

WISE Score

7.4

Board Game Geek

Telephone meets Pictionary in this laugh-out-loud party game where bad drawing skills are actually an advantage.

Telestrations

Board Game

88%

WISE Score

7.4

Board Game Geek

Telephone meets Pictionary in this laugh-out-loud party game where bad drawing skills are actually an advantage.

4.9

7.4

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Where to Play

Amazon

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Screenwise Verdict

This is one of those rare party games that actually delivers on its promise. Everyone's laughing, everyone's engaged, and no one feels bad about losing because the 'failures' are the entire point.

The genius is in the simultaneous play—no downtime, no elimination, just continuous fun. And unlike competitive games that can bring out the worst in people, Telestrations brings out the best: creativity, humor, and the ability to laugh at yourself.

The 30-minute playtime is perfect—long enough to get some good rounds in, short enough that younger kids don't lose interest. The BGG rating of 7.4 with 20,000 ratings and 4.9 stars on Amazon tells you everything: this game consistently delivers.

Is it going to teach your kids advanced strategy or complex problem-solving? No. But it will teach them that making mistakes can be hilarious, that creativity comes in many forms, and that sometimes the best family moments come from things going hilariously wrong.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-99. While the box says 12+, most 8-10 year olds can handle it fine if they can read and draw basic shapes. Adults genuinely enjoy this one too—it's not just 'playing down' to kids. Perfect for family game nights with a wide age spread.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Pure collaborative fun that brings families together through laughter rather than competition. The simultaneous play means no one's waiting around feeling left out, and the humor comes from innocent miscommunication rather than anything mean-spirited. Creates genuine bonding moments as everyone laughs at the hilarious transformations from word to drawing to word.

Imaginative

Requires creative visual thinking and interpretation—players must figure out how to draw concepts quickly and decode others' artistic attempts. The telephone-game structure naturally generates unexpected creative outcomes. While the core mechanic is straightforward, the imaginative challenge lies in visual communication and interpretation rather than open-ended creation.

Safe

Exceptionally safe—no mature content, no conflict-inducing mechanics, no elimination that leaves kids sitting out. The social dynamics are entirely positive: everyone's laughing together, not at each other. The 'mistakes' are the point, so there's no shame in being bad at drawing. No gambling mechanics, no concerning themes. The only minor consideration is that some word cards might be trickier for younger kids, but that's easily managed.

Enriching

Builds visual communication skills, creative problem-solving, and the ability to think abstractly about how to represent concepts. Great for developing comfort with imperfection and finding humor in mistakes. The cognitive load is light (BGG weight of 1.07), making it accessible but not particularly challenging. It's more about social connection and laughter than deep skill development, which is perfectly fine for a party game.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Gets the whole family laughing together—the worse you draw, the funnier it gets
Everyone plays simultaneously, so no one's stuck waiting for their turn or getting bored
Super easy to learn (takes about 2 minutes to explain) but endlessly replayable
Works beautifully with mixed ages—grandparents, teens, and younger kids can all play together
Creates those genuine belly-laugh moments that become family stories

⚠

What to Watch For

The official age rating says 12+, but many families successfully play with kids as young as 7-8 who can read and draw basic shapes
You need at least 4 players for it to work well, ideally 6-8 for maximum chaos and fun
Some of the word cards might be too abstract for younger kids, but you can easily skip those or make up your own

Conversation Starters

""What made you decide to draw it that way? I love seeing how your brain works!""
""Which round was your favorite? When did you laugh the hardest?""
""How did the word change so much from start to finish? Let's trace it back!""
""What's the hardest thing you've ever had to draw? What would you do differently next time?""

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