Some groups flinch at a blank canvas. Here is how to build a brilliant game night around words, clues and quick thinking instead, and how to tempt the doubters back to drawing later.
Why some people dread the canvas
For some people, being asked to draw in front of friends feels exposing. They worry about looking silly, or they genuinely believe they cannot draw a recognisable object. In a drawing game, that anxiety can turn a fun evening into an ordeal, and those players often sit quietly or find a reason to leave early.
The good news is that the party game family is broad. Word games offer the same laughter, competition and shared moments without the pressure of a blank canvas. They reward knowledge, lateral thinking and quick reactions, which often suits people who feel less confident with a pen. Starting a night with words can make everyone feel capable.
It is also worth remembering that word games create their own kind of fun. The joy of a brilliant clue, the panic of a mind going blank under pressure, the shared groan at a wrong answer: these moments are every bit as memorable as a hilarious drawing. A word-led evening is not a lesser option, just a different flavour.
Clue-giving: the Codenames approach
Codenames Online is the best word game we know for a thoughtful group. Two teams compete over a grid of twenty-five words, with spymasters giving one-word clues to guide their teammates. The skill lies in finding links between several words at once, and the fun lies in the conversation as teams debate what each clue could mean.
It suits groups who enjoy talking and thinking together. There is no time pressure unless you add it, so nervous players have room to contribute, and the team format means nobody is ever alone. The spymaster role can feel intense, but it is also the most rewarding, and rotating it gives everyone a chance to shine.
For the best experience, gather at least four people on a voice call and share the room link. Encourage teams to talk through their reasoning out loud, because those debates are where most of the laughter comes from. If the group enjoys it, the daily challenge mode gives individuals something to practise on between game nights.
Typing races: the BombParty buzz
For groups who love speed, JKLM.fun’s BombParty is a thrilling alternative. A bomb passes round the circle, and each player must type a word containing a given cluster of letters before the fuse runs out. Fail and you lose a life; the last player standing wins. It is simple to explain and immediately tense.
BombParty rewards fast typists and people with large vocabularies, but it is also wonderfully unpredictable. Even strong players blank under pressure, and those moments produce some of the biggest laughs we have heard in testing. It works best in a private room among friends of similar ability, where nobody is overwhelmed.
Be mindful of players who get knocked out early. Watching from the sidelines for a long stretch is no fun, so keep rounds short and consider mixing BombParty with other games. The same hub offers PopSauce, a trivia game based on what appears on screen, which gives players with broad general knowledge a chance to shine instead.
One small rule we use at Hazelburngames: whoever wins a BombParty round picks the next game. It gives the round a gentle purpose, hands control to someone new and stops the fastest typist from keeping everyone stuck in a mode only they enjoy.
Mixing words and pictures gently
Once a word-loving group is warmed up and laughing, you may find they are more willing to try drawing. The trick is to lower the stakes. Gartic Phone is ideal for this, because there are no points and nobody wins or loses. Bad drawings are not just forgiven; they are often the funniest part of the replay.
Another gentle route is skribbl.io with a long timer and generous hints. Give drawers a full minute or more and turn on a couple of letter reveals, so guessers get help even when the sketch is shaky. With a custom word list of easy, familiar objects, even the most reluctant artist can produce something recognisable.
Never force it. If someone truly does not want to draw, let them guess, cheer and comment instead. Many drawing games let players join and simply guess, and a good party has room for everyone. The aim is a warm evening where people feel included, not a test of artistic confidence.
A word-first evening, step by step
Here is a running order that has worked well for us. Start with two or three games of Codenames Online to get everyone talking and working together. The team format builds a friendly atmosphere quickly, and the slower pace gives people time to settle in, grab a drink and find their voices on the call.
Next, switch to BombParty for a burst of energy. A few short rounds raise the tempo and produce plenty of laughter. If anyone is knocked out repeatedly, move on to PopSauce or back to a team game. Keep the mood light and celebrate the near misses as much as the victories.
Finally, if the group is up for it, end with a round of Gartic Phone. By now everyone is relaxed, and the replay provides a perfect finale. Even the most drawing-shy guests usually join in at this point, and the evening finishes on a big shared laugh that people remember long after the call ends.
If the group is small, say three people, drop Codenames from the running order and lean on BombParty and PopSauce, which cope better with fewer players. If the group is large, split into two Codenames teams of four or five and let the noise build. The order matters less than reading the room and changing course when the energy dips.