Skribbl.io is an online pictionary game created by ticedev. In this game, one player draws a word they have picked, and the other players have to guess the word. The game can be played with friends by creating a private room, or with strangers in random rooms. Before joining a room, players have the option to customize their profile. The profile is designed in a sketchy/doodle-like style, which further enhances the theme of scribbling. The target audience for this game is all ages since the required level of drawing skill is low.
The game is primarily played on a web browser, adding to the fun as players struggle to draw using their touchpad/mouse. The game mechanics of accumulating points and the goal of achieving the highest score motivates players to quickly guess the word to outcompete others. Typically, the game consists of three rounds, with each round featuring a player choosing a word from a set of three and drawing it. Other players have 80 seconds to guess the word based on the drawing and the starting hints provided, such as the number of letters of the word. As the clock ticks down, more letters of the word are revealed. If no one can guess the word, the drawer does not receive any points. To maintain an enjoyable experience, the game’s words are universal and common enough to ensure guesses. If the words are too difficult, the game can become tedious.
The interplay between guessing and drawing contributes to the fun of challenge, creating a sense of peer pressure associated with being the last person to guess the word, adding to the game’s competitive spirit. I played the game with both friends and strangers. With friends, I felt even more pressure to perform well and not be the only person that does not get the word. However, with strangers, there might be more negativity and bad language in the chat as consequences and performance are not tied to your real identity.
Although Skribbl.io offers multiple language options, most players are English speakers. Unfortunately, this means that other language options often have fewer players, resulting in the possibility of being the only player in the room. To address this issue, one potential solution is to implement an auto-translate feature for words and stick to words that are universal to every culture. This would ensure that players from different linguistic backgrounds can play together, even if they do not speak the same language.
