When hosting a game, you have two options:

1. Host a private game.
2. Host a public game.

For 1., simply start Draw and Guess, select the language you want to play in, then click Host and Private. This will create a private lobby that only your friends (via invitation or Steam friends List join) or any people with your lobby code can enter. No random players will be assigned to the lobby.
To share your lobby code, in the lobby simply select the clipboard next to it and then paste the code where you want. You need at least three co-players, otherwise you can't really start the game.

For 2., simply start Draw and Guess, select the language you want to play in, click Host and Public. This will create a lobby that other random players can join. You will no longer be teleported to an existing public lobby.

Note: If you clicked on either Host or Join but want to change your choice, simply click on the given option again to close the settings bubble.

As host, you can apply several game settings in the lobby.
First, click the wrench icon. Here you can select the numbers of rounds you want to play by using – or + next to the rounds display.
You can also adjust the chain length, which means you can limit the maximum number of players a given word/drawing combo is passed on to.
Finally you can select Fast Mode which will speed up the presentation time at the end of each round.
None of these options will be available to joining players.

Note: In the lower right corner you will see an approximation of how long your specific game will take. The time shown adapts to the settings and players in the lobby.

Second, click Game Mode in a private lobby or Vote in a public lobby. Here you can choose the time available for drawing, if colours or shades will be available, how many pens can be used, and whether or not your lines will disappear as you draw. Confirm your choices.
In a public lobby, these game settings can be voted on, which means your fellow players can overrule your settings democratically.

As host, you can also select a specific set of words (e. g. "animals") or just use the standard set by clicking on the two-cards icon with the question mark.

Once you're ready to play, hit the ready button (green checkmark). The game automatically starts once all players are ready.

When joining a game, you have three options:

1. Join a private game with friends.
2. Join a public game.
3. Join any game via its room code.

For 1., either accept your friend's invitation, or in Draw and Guess click on Join > Private. Your Steam overlay will open with your friends list, so you can right-click on your friend's name, and select Join game.

Note: When playing with friends, you can change the UI language without impacting the language of the game itself. Just start Draw & Guess, select the language you want the UI to be in, then join a game as described above.

For 2., simply start Draw & Guess, select the language you want to play in, and click on Join > Public. If a relevant lobby has already been created, you will automatically be teleported to it. If no strangers are currently waiting for you to join, you will become host of the lobby. Read "How to host a game" to see what settings you can apply.

For 3., simply start Draw & Guess, select the language you want to play in, and click on Join > Room Code. Enter the room code shared with you by the lobby host. Depending on the lobby type chosen (Private or Public) you may be able to influence the settings of the game. Keep reading to learn how.

In a public lobby, click Vote to vote the time available for drawing, if colours or shades will be available, how many pens can be used, and whether or not your lines will disappear as you draw. Confirm your choices.
All players in the lobby can vote on these settings, so which settings apply will be agreed on democratically.

Note 2: In the lower right corner you will see an approximation of how long your specific game will take. The time shown adapts to the settings and players in the lobby.

Once you're ready to play, hit the ready button (green checkmark). The game automatically starts once all players are ready.

Once the game starts, you can choose one of three words shown.
If you don't choose, Draw & Guess will choose for you.

In the first round, draw the word you have selected.

In the bottom left you can see the player you are receiving from. In the bottom right you can see the player you are passing on to.

You can undo the last line by clicking on the back arrow in the top.
You can delete everything by clicking a few seconds on the bin icon.
You can submit your drawing by clicking on the checkmark.
If you do not submit your drawing when the time is up, it will be submitted automatically.

Hint: Just clicking once in the drawing area will draw a dot.
Hint 2: Depending on the game settings applied in the lobby, you will have either 1 or 2 pens, and 1 colour, 3 shades of your colour or various colours.

In the second round, guess the word that was drawn.
Enter the word at the bottom and confirm with the checkmark.
If you haven't entered a word when the time is up, a random new word will be submitted for you.

Note: Hitting Return/Enter will open the chat.

Repeat until the round is over. You will now see all the great artworks and misconceptions of your fellow players.

Once a word/drawing combination has been fully processed, either confirm the prompt (when final word and initial word match), or vote yes (green checkmark) or no (red x).
If there is a match, the originator will receive a trophy.

When your own word is being presented, choose your favorite drawing to award a special trophy to a fellow player.

Hint: If you need a quick break, this part of the game is a good time for it. But make sure to let fellow players know in the chat, otherwise everyone will be wondering why the game doesn't advance.

Repeat until the game is over and all scores are shown.
Hint: The score screen will close automatically and return any players to the lobby.

If none of the default or Workshop word lists work for you or if you just want your specific group of friends play with a very specific set of words, you can create your own word list.

For that, simply start Draw & Guess and click on the two-cards icon with the question mark before entering any lobby.

In the window that opens, enter at least 80 words, a topic (name), the language of the list, and a description. Click Save to save the list for your use only. Click Publish to save the list to the Steam Workshop (Workshop rules apply).

You can adapt a default list to your own tastes by selecting Load and then editing the entries as desired. Make sure to rename the list to keep the default word lists unharmed. ;)

The developers have played different versions of this game for many years.
In the course of that time, they have agreed on some rules to increase the fun (or really make the game more difficult?!).

Anything is possible in Draw & Guess, and there are no set rules, but if you want to play the game as the developers do, here are the rules they use:

• Do not use letters, words or numbers.
  
• Special characters such as ?, !, *, and arrows are allowed.
  
• Currency symbols are allowed.
  
• If you want to refer to the context of the drawing, draw a square with a circle "[o]" in one corner of the drawing area. For example when you want to draw "wedding", you might draw a bride and groom and the context symbol.

Most importantly, play the game the way it is most fun for you. ^-^