The drawing game where one of you has no idea what you’re drawing!
Everyone except one player knows the secret word. Together, you must draw it one line at a time – but Pablo Fiasco is hiding among you. They have no idea what you’re drawing and must try to blend in without getting caught!
- Age: 14+ years
- Time: 15–30 mins
- Players: 3–8
Contents:
- 640 secret words
- 1 drawing board
- 1 marker pen
- 2 dice
- 16 role cards
- 1 rule sheet
GAME OBJECTIVE
All players except one know the secret word. Together, you must draw the word, one line at a time. The player who doesn’t know the word is Pablo Fiasco, who must try to blend in without getting caught.
If you are Pablo Fiasco, you need to add lines that don’t arouse suspicion while also trying to figure out what the secret word is.
GET READY
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Choose either the green or red stack of role cards.
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Take the Pablo Fiasco card and enough regular role cards so that every player gets one card.
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Example: If there are 5 players, you need 1 Pablo Fiasco card and 4 regular role cards.
- Shuffle the cards and deal one to each player. Make sure nobody sees who receives the Pablo Fiasco card.
- Everyone secretly looks at their own card.
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One of you is now Pablo Fiasco! Keep calm and try not to get caught.
HOW TO PLAY
- The youngest player starts as the dealer, turns over a category card so everyone can see it, and rolls both dice.
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The coloured die determines which colour/column to use.
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The numbered die determines which number/row to use.
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Find where the colour and number meet on your role card. This gives you the coordinates needed to find the secret word on the category card.
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Everyone with a regular role card now knows what needs to be drawn. Pablo Fiasco does not!
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Players take turns drawing one line each, preferably clockwise around the table.
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Once everyone has drawn one line, the drawing board goes around the table again and everyone adds one more line.
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Each player draws exactly two lines in total.
- Once everyone has drawn their two lines, the masterpiece is complete.
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Discuss who you think Pablo Fiasco is, then vote at the same time for the player you suspect.
EXAMPLE
The category card shows the theme ANIMALS.
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The dice are rolled and show 2 and red.
- Players use the dice to find the correct coordinates on their role cards.
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The coordinates reveal the secret word: TIGER.
- Everyone with a regular role card now knows that you need to draw a tiger.
- Pablo Fiasco doesn’t know the word, but must try to add lines that fit in.
The drawing board first goes once around the table, with every player drawing one line. Then it goes around once more, so everyone ends up drawing two lines each.
Remember: If your line is too cryptic, the others might start to suspect you. If it’s too obvious, you could make it easier for Pablo Fiasco to figure out the secret word and blend in!
HOW TO WIN
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Once everyone has drawn their two lines, discuss who you think is Pablo Fiasco.
- You can explain your own lines, question the other players and try to find holes in their explanations.
- After the discussion, everyone votes at the same time for the player they think is Pablo Fiasco.
- The player with the most votes reveals their role card.
One of two things can then happen:
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❌ You accused the wrong player
- The player reveals a regular role card.
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Pablo Fiasco has fooled everyone and wins the round!
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✅ You found Pablo Fiasco
- The player reveals the Pablo Fiasco card.
- But the round isn’t over just yet!
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Pablo Fiasco gets one chance to guess the secret word.
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If Pablo Fiasco guesses correctly, Pablo Fiasco wins the round.
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If the guess is wrong, all the other players win.
Pablo Fiasco must guess the exact secret word written on the category card.
If two or more players receive the same number of votes, each suspect gets 60 seconds to defend themselves before a new vote takes place.
EXTRA TIPS
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You’re allowed to accuse players during the drawing round. If someone draws a suspicious line, call them out! If you’re Pablo Fiasco, it might be smart to shift the attention onto someone else.
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Switch between the green and red role cards between rounds. This makes it harder for players to remember which coordinates belong to which secret words.
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One line means placing the marker on the drawing board, drawing one continuous line and then lifting the marker again. The line doesn’t have to be straight, but you can’t lift the marker halfway through and continue somewhere else.
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If you’re Pablo Fiasco, use the other players’ lines as clues. What are they trying to draw – and what line can you add without revealing that you have no idea what’s going on?
