Read the shadow. Draw your interpretation.
Study each silhouette on its own reference plate, then draw what you see on a completely blank canvas.
Share the code, or join with one.
PREPARING ROOM
Getting your canvas ready
Connecting you to the game room…
Rules and scoring
Read a separate silhouette reference and recreate it on a blank solo canvas, or create a room where friends guess from your strokes without seeing the shape.
How to play Shadow Sketch
Shadow Sketch flips the drawing game formula. In solo play, study a silhouette on its own reference plate and recreate it on a separate blank canvas, then reveal its identity after the round. In a room, only the drawer sees the reference while friends watch new strokes appear and try to name the shape before the 90-second round ends.
Rules & scoring
The silhouette layer is visible only to the drawer until the 60-second reveal. Guesses are matched case-insensitively against the silhouette name. The first correct guesser scores up to 100 points based on speed, and the drawer earns half of the total points their drawing produced. With 110 silhouettes in the bank, the round feels different every time.
Tips to win
The silhouette tells you the outline, your job is the inside. Draw the most identifying features first: the eyes of a cat, the stripes of a zebra, the torch of Lady Liberty. Guessers should name what the shapes suggest rather than what they literally see; a circle with lines is usually a face. When the reveal hits, everyone suddenly knows the answer, the last 30 seconds are pure speed.
Why it works for parties
Shadow Sketch rewards cleverness over drawing skill and produces genuine “oh, it’s so obvious” moments, making it one of the most satisfying browser party games for friends and one of the best visual-thinking activities for classrooms.
Devices & requirements
Play on any device with a modern browser. The separate reference plate and blank canvas adapt to narrow screens, and touch drawing is fully supported. Nothing to install. Clear contrast keeps the silhouette readable without turning it into a tracing layer, while the blank workspace leaves room for your own interpretation and drawing style each round.
Playing with friends
Shadow Sketch shines with a mixed group of artists and non-artists: the silhouette guides the drawer, so drawing skill matters less than observation, and the reveal moment gives everyone the same aha. Set up a room, share the link, and rounds rotate the drawer through the whole group. With up to 24 players, guessers stay engaged because the reveal at 60 seconds suddenly makes every stroke obvious. It is also a wonderful classroom game, the silhouette mechanic teaches shape recognition and visual communication better than any lecture, and the simple rules mean even first-time players contribute from round one. The reveal mechanic stays fun for repeat players.
Can guessers see the silhouette?
Not until the 60-second reveal. Before that, the silhouette is drawn only on the drawer’s canvas, as a faint background layer.
What kinds of silhouettes are in the game?
More than 100: animals, objects, landmarks, vehicles, and holiday icons, every silhouette is a simple SVG outline that fits the canvas perfectly.
Is Shadow Sketch good for large groups?
Yes, up to 24 players can guess simultaneously, and the reveal mechanic makes late guesses just as fun as early ones.
