Gartic Phone combines broken telephone with Pictionary. This one is a top-notch pick, it earned a perfect score on my list of the best trivia and game night apps, and you're not limited to mobile since it also works on desktop.
5 out of 5 overall
- Free, with ads
- Available for iOS, Android, and desktop
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How Gartic Phone works
If you're downloading the app, everyone needs to download the app. One person starts a game, and the rest join by invite code or QR scan.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
If you're the starting player, you need to write a very interesting question. You can choose from multiple categories to help your guests or friends along the broken telephone line, or you can just keep it normal and have anything go. The group then alternates writing prompts and drawing them based on what the last person submitted.
“Honestly, a top-notch game. I think it's super fun and it's definitely my type of game.”
Jessica Santero, WhistleOut Writer
Playing on a small phone screen is part of the fun. Drawing anything recognizable on a cramped screen is hard, which only makes the broken-telephone chain funnier by the end.
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Play on desktop over a video call
On desktop, you can send an invite link to all your friends and hop on a Zoom call if your group isn't in the same room, and still have a blast of a time.
What about the ads?
There are ads. I sat through a thirty-second Mint Mobile spot with Ryan Reynolds before a round started, but the rest of the game ran ad-free after that.
Is Gartic Phone worth downloading?
It's entertaining, it's fun, and it's good for all ages. This one works for a mixed-age group, and it's a solid pick for a casual hangout, whether that's at someone's kitchen table or at a pub. Gartic Phone is free, with ads, and available for iOS, Android, and desktop.
Want more picks for your next game night? Check out the full list of the best trivia and game night apps.
How I evaluated Gartic Phone
I judged each app on whether it actually gets a group playing in the same room, not just whether it looks good in a store listing. Here's what I looked for:
- Setup time: Can everyone jump in within a minute, or does someone have to walk the group through the rules first?
- Group-friendliness: Is this actually built for a room full of people, or does it work better solo or against strangers online?
- Ads and monetization: Does the free version interrupt the game, or does it stay out of the way?
- Content quality: Are the categories and packs actually appropriate for a mixed group, including public or user-submitted content?
Gartic Phone FAQ
Is Gartic Phone free?
Yes, Gartic Phone is free, with ads, and available for iOS, Android, and desktop.
Can you play Gartic Phone on desktop?
Yes, On desktop, you can send an invite link and hop on a video call if your group isn't in the same room.
How do you invite friends to Gartic Phone?
One person starts a game and the rest join by invite code or QR scan.
What are good family game apps for phones?
Gartic Phone works well across ages since the drawing format doesn't require any trivia knowledge, and it's good for all ages.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
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