What is tournament mode in DoodleRat?

Tournament mode eliminates the lowest scorer each round until only one player remains. It adds extra stakes and excitement to longer play sessions with friends.

DoodleRat — Free Online Drawing Party Game

How It Works

DoodleRat takes less than a minute to set up. No downloads, no accounts, no fees.

Join

Create a room and share the code with friends. Everyone joins from their own device in seconds.

Draw

Take turns adding one stroke at a time to the shared canvas. Artists know the word — the Rat does not.

Deduce

Find the Rat. One player is faking it and does not know the secret word. Watch the strokes for clues.

Vote

Vote out the imposter before they guess the word. If caught, the Rat gets one last chance to steal the win.

Game Features

Everything you need for a great game night, built right into your browser.

Real-Time Shared Canvas

All players draw on the same canvas in real time. Watch each stroke appear live as your friends take their turns.

7 Themed Word Packs

Choose from Animals, Food, Movies, Places, Sports, Spooky, and Classic categories with hundreds of words.

Custom Word Lists

Add your own words for inside jokes, themed parties, classroom activities, or team building sessions.

Tournament Mode

Eliminate the lowest scorer each round until one player remains. Perfect for competitive groups and longer sessions.

Power-Ups

Use Extra Time, Thick Brush, and Eraser power-ups to gain an edge or throw off suspicion during your turn.

In-Game Chat

Discuss, accuse, and defend in real time. Use the chat to build your case or deflect blame before the vote.

Canvas Themes

Draw on Classic white, Notebook paper, Blackboard chalk, Blueprint grids, or a Corkboard — pick the vibe.

Cross-Device Play

Works on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. No app store download needed — just open the link and join.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before your first game.

How many players do I need for DoodleRat?

You need between 4 and 8 players. The sweet spot is 5 or 6 — enough drawings on the canvas to create real suspicion, but few enough that every stroke matters. With 4 players the Rat has fewer people to hide behind, making the game tense right from the start.

Is DoodleRat free to play?

Yes, DoodleRat is completely free. There are no premium tiers, no in-app purchases, and no subscription fees. You do not even need to create an account — just open the website and start a room. The game is supported by ads.

Do I need to download or install anything?

No. DoodleRat runs entirely in your web browser. It works on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and any other modern browser. Just visit the site, create or join a room, and start drawing. There is nothing to install on your phone or computer.

Can I play DoodleRat on my phone?

Yes. DoodleRat was designed to work on any screen size. The drawing canvas, chat, and voting interface all adapt to phones, tablets, and desktops. Touch drawing works just as well as using a mouse — your finger is your pen.

How is DoodleRat different from Skribbl.io?

In Skribbl, one person draws and everyone else guesses the word. DoodleRat flips that concept: everyone draws the same word on a shared canvas, but one player (the Rat) does not know what the word is. The Rat has to fake their drawing while the group tries to figure out who is bluffing. It combines drawing with social deduction, similar to how Among Us or Werewolf work.

What is tournament mode?

Tournament mode adds elimination rounds to your game session. After each round, the player with the lowest score is knocked out. Play continues until a single champion remains. It works best with 6-8 players and adds real stakes to every decision.

DoodleRat