Monster Mash
Draw a head, a body, some legs. Unfold a monster nobody planned.
Monster Mash is a folded-paper drawing game for phones, based on the old parlour game where each person draws one part of a figure without seeing the rest. Every monster is drawn in three bands by three different players: a head, a body and a pair of legs. You only ever see a thin strip at the bottom of the band above yours, just the neck or the waist, so nobody knows what they are adding to. When the last legs are in, the host unfolds every monster part by part, with the artists' names on each band, and the room names and votes for its favourite creation.
Objective
Every monster is drawn in three parts by three different players: a head, a body and legs. You only see the neck of the part above yours, so nobody knows what they are adding to until the paper unfolds.
How to play
- Round 1: everyone draws a head. Round 2: you get someone else's paper and draw a body. Round 3: legs on a third paper.
- You only see a thin strip at the bottom of the part above: start your lines there so the monster joins up.
- Draw only inside your own band. The dashed line at the bottom shows the strip the next artist will see.
- The host unfolds each monster part by part, with who drew what.
- Everyone gives one monster a name, then everyone votes for their favourite. You can't vote for the one you named.
Scoring
Each vote for a monster gives +1 to whoever named it. Every artist of the winning monster gets +1.
Example round
- Round one: everyone draws a head. Ana gives hers three eyes and a party hat, then brings two neck lines down to the dashed strip at the bottom.
- Round two: Luis gets Ana's paper but sees only the two neck lines. He carries them on into a body covered in scales and four little arms.
- Round three: Marta sees only the bottom of that body and adds roller skates.
- The host unfolds the paper: party hat, scales, roller skates. Everyone names one monster, then votes for the best one. 'Sir Rolls-a-Lot' takes the night.
Strategy tips
- Use the strip you are handed. Carrying the lines on makes the monster join up, and the unfold is funnier when the parts connect.
- End your band with clear lines in the dashed strip, so the next artist has something to build on.
- Draw boldly and quickly. Odd details make the best reveals, and nobody needs to be good at drawing.
- When naming, look at all three parts together. A name that mentions the hat and the skates wins more votes than a generic one.
Best with
Best with 3 to 8 players, and it works from 2 up to 12. Each person draws on three different papers, so a game takes about seven minutes. It suits all ages, which makes it a good pick for family gatherings, kids' parties and mixed groups who have just met.
Variations
- Shorten the drawing timer for scribbled chaos, or switch it off so everyone takes their time.
- Play it as a warm-up before longer games: one monster each is enough to get the room laughing.
FAQ
Can I see the whole drawing above mine?
No. You only see the bottom strip of the band above yours. The rest stays folded until the host unfolds the monster.
Can I draw outside my band?
No. Your pen stays inside your own part of the paper, so the next artist really does start from just the strip they are given.
How are points scored?
Each vote a monster gets gives one point to the player who named it. Everyone who drew the winning monster also scores one point. You cannot vote for the monster you named.