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How to Play DoodleRat
The free online drawing party game with a twist
The Concept
Everyone in the room gets the same secret word to draw — except one player.
That player is the Rat. The Rat doesn't know the word and must
fake their way through by watching what others draw. After drawing, the group votes on who they
think the Rat is. If caught, the Rat gets one last chance to guess the word and steal the win!
How to Play
1
Create or Join a Room
One person creates a room and shares the 6-digit code with friends. Everyone joins using the code — no accounts needed.
2
See Your Role
Each player sees the secret word on their screen — except the Rat, who only knows they need to blend in.
3
Draw One Stroke at a Time
Players take turns adding a single continuous stroke to the shared canvas. You have 10 seconds per turn. Artists must be clear enough to prove they know the word, but vague enough so the Rat can't guess it.
4
Chat & Vote
After all rounds, discuss in the chat and vote on who you think the Rat is. Use the "Sus" button to highlight individual players' strokes.
5
The Reveal
If the group picks the Rat, the Rat gets 30 seconds to guess the word. Guess correctly? The Rat steals the victory! Guess wrong? Artists win.
Tips for Artists
- Draw something recognizable but not too obvious — you don't want the Rat to figure out the word
- Watch how others draw — if someone seems to hesitate or copy others, they might be the Rat
- Use the chat to discuss suspicious behavior before voting
Tips for the Rat
- Watch what others draw before your turn — try to understand the theme
- Draw confidently — hesitation is the biggest giveaway
- Add abstract strokes that could fit anything — curves, lines, shapes
- During voting, subtly point fingers at others to deflect suspicion
Game Features
7 Word Packs — Classic, Animals, Food, Movies, Places, Sports, Spooky
Custom Words — Add your own words for a personalized game
Power-ups — Extra Time, Thick Brush, and Eraser
Tournament Mode — Elimination rounds until one player remains
Canvas Themes — Classic, Notebook, Blackboard, Blueprint, Corkboard
Score Tracking — Points accumulate across multiple rounds
In-Game Chat — Real-time chat during gameplay
12 Avatars — Detective, Ninja, Alien, Robot, and more
Scoring
Points are awarded at the end of each game:
- Artists win (Rat caught, wrong guess) — Each artist gets +1 point
- Rat wins (wrong vote or tie) — Rat gets +2 points
- Rat steals (caught but guesses the word) — Rat gets +3 points
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players do I need?
You need 4-8 players. The more players, the harder it is for the Rat to hide — but also more strokes on the canvas to help them blend in!
Is DoodleRat free?
Yes, completely free. No downloads, no accounts, no hidden fees. Just open the site and play.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes! DoodleRat works on any device with a modern browser — phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.
How is DoodleRat different from Skribbl.io?
In Skribbl, you guess what someone draws. In DoodleRat, everyone draws the SAME word — but one player (the Rat) doesn't know what it is. It's drawing meets social deduction, like Pictionary meets Among Us.
What happens if the Rat is caught?
The Rat gets 30 seconds to guess the secret word. If they guess correctly, they steal the victory! If they guess wrong, the artists win.
Can I create custom word lists?
Yes! The room host can add custom words (one per line or comma-separated) and choose to use only custom words or mix them with the built-in packs.
What is Tournament Mode?
In Tournament Mode, the lowest-scoring player is eliminated each round. Keep playing until only one player remains — the DoodleRat Champion!
Is DoodleRat safe for kids?
DoodleRat has a built-in profanity filter for names and chat, and players can report inappropriate behavior. We recommend players be 13 or older.
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