BalakonaBalakona and Gartic Phone: live guessing or drawing chains?
Balakona's Draw & Guess is live guessing: one player draws a secret word and the others try to name it. Gartic Phone describes a different experience: players write sentences, draw sentences they receive, describe drawings and reveal the resulting chain.
Choose Draw & Guess to race to name the word and score, or switch to other games afterwards. Choose Gartic Phone when your group enjoys watching sentences and drawings change as they pass between friends. They offer different experiences built around drawing.
Play now, freeCompare the setup
| Feature | Balakona | Gartic Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Core format | Draw a word while others guess during the round | Write a sentence, draw it, then describe the drawing in a chain |
| What players follow | The current player's drawing and guesses | A chain of text and drawings, followed by its reveal |
| Other Balakona games | Quiz, card, board and hidden-role games alongside drawing | Check Gartic Phone's site for its available modes |
Source for the other platform's setup: Gartic Phone: How to Play. Reviewed October 29, 2026. Product features can change.
Is Draw & Guess a drawing telephone game?
No. Balakona's Draw & Guess uses live drawing and guessing. It does not pass a chain of text and drawings between players as described by Gartic Phone.
Balakona currently lists 21 games. Core games are free; optional shop items and an ad-free purchase are separate. Google sign-in and an internet connection are required. Check a game's guide for player limits and bot support.
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