Since a few people have asked, here are the rules for the game called “Broken Picture Telephone,” also known as “Eat Poop, You Cat,” also known as “Draw-o Word-o,” also known in the U.K. as “Crumbs and Whistles,” also known as “Call of Duty 5.”

  • You need a relatively big group to play; too few and it won’t go on long enough to get silly. I’d say anywhere between 6 and 12 players is a good number.
  • Every player should have a stack of papers (index cards are great, but anything you can draw on works). They should have as many pieces as there are players.
  • You begin by drawing a picture on the top sheet of paper. You can also start with sentences if you prefer. You can also decide to follow a group theme if you desire.
  • Pass the stack of papers to the next player. Did I mention you should be sitting in a circle? I didn’t, did I. Sorry about that.
  • Look at the drawing you received, move that paper to the bottom of the stack, and on the next piece write a description of the drawing you received. You can be as descriptive as you like. Even if you don’t understand part of the drawing, try to describe what it looks like to you.
  • Pass the stacks again. Now you should be looking at a sentence. Put that paper on the bottom and draw a picture of that sentence. 
  • Keep passing and alternating drawing/writing in this manner until each stack reaches its original player. Share the results with the group! Laugh and enjoy life. You’re doing it! You’re living the dream.

EDIT: David Malki adds: “It’s not 100% necessary, but I would add to Anthony’s rules that it works well to have an odd number of people, so that you both start with a drawing and end with a drawing!”

ANOTHER EDIT: If you do indeed have an odd number of players, then you can keep passing after it’s returned to you. If you started with a sentence then you’ll be doing a drawing for it, and you may not even recognize it by the time it comes back to you. 

There are a lot of variations to this game, and it’s so simple that if you have a good group, you can play however you want and it’s still fun.