Pixel Fail

Game rules

Pixel Fail is a multiplayer drawing and guessing game for 2 to 6 players. Each round, one player draws a word in pixels while the others try to guess it. The catch: every round imposes an absurd constraint that turns the drawing into a glorious mess.

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Create or join a game

Pick a name, then create a game: you get a 4-letter code to share with your friends. They enter it on the home screen to join you, from their browser or the Android app. The host chooses the game type, the hints, the number of rounds and the language of the words (English or French), then starts the game once everyone is there. No account, no sign-up.

How a round works

  1. Choosing the word. The drawer has 5 seconds to choose between two words of different difficulty. Without a choice, the easier one is used; the harder one is worth 50% more points.
  2. The constraint. The round's constraint is announced for 3 seconds.
  3. Drawing. 35 seconds to draw (10 more per extra keyword for long phrases) on a pixel grid, with 12 colors, an eraser and a limited number of pixels. The others see every pixel appear live.
  4. Guessing. Guessers type as many answers as they like. Typos and plurals are accepted. "Close!" means one of the words is right.
  5. The reveal. The word appears, the drawing is replayed fast and the round's points are shown.

A game has 1, 2 or 3 rounds, as the host chooses: in each round, every player draws once. At the end, the podium crowns the best score, and the host can start a new game with the same players.

The constraints

A constraint is announced at the start of each round, drawn at random from the first round. Sometimes it's Classic: no special rule, to catch your breath.

Classic
No special rule. Just draw.
Small budget
Half as many pixels as usual: every cell counts.
Colorblind
Only two colors, black and red.
Mirror
Each pixel is copied symmetrically across the vertical axis (left-right).
Upside mirror
Each pixel is copied across the horizontal axis, like a reflection in water.
Kaleidoscope
Both mirrors at once: each pixel is copied into all four corners of the grid.
Sprint
15 seconds to draw instead of 35.
Blindfolded
Your pixels vanish from your screen one second after you place them. The others see everything: you draw from memory.
Shaky hand
Your hand shakes: each pixel may land on a cell next to the one you aimed at.
Gravity
Everything you place falls to the bottom of the grid, or onto the pixel below.
Mixed-up brushes
The colors are secretly shuffled: you pick red, you may get blue. Figure out which is which.
Flashlight
You only see your canvas around your finger, the rest is dark. The others see everything.
Upside down
Your canvas is flipped on your screen, and so is your finger. The others see the drawing the right way up.
Wind
Every 4 seconds, the wind pushes the whole drawing one cell to the right. Whatever leaves the grid is lost.

Game types

Classic
One random constraint per round.
Chaos
Two constraints stacked every round, from the first one. Mirror and Gravity at the same time: good luck.
Auction
Before drawing, you bet how many pixels you need: 10, 25, 50 or 100% of the budget. The fewer you take, the more your points are multiplied, up to × 1.9.
Flash
Guessers only see the drawing in one-second flashes, every 4 seconds.
Relay
Two drawers per round take turns every 5 seconds, without talking it over. Needs at least 3 players.

Hints

The host chooses how much help to give: no hints, the first letter of each word at half-time, or two steps (the first letter at half-time, then one more letter at 75% of the time).

Points

Start a game