Checkers or Sketch Round?

The key differences

• There’s no player count that suits both – Checkers and Sketch Round are made for different groups.
• From 3 players on, only Sketch Round works: it goes up to 10 players, Checkers only up to 2.
• Sketch Round needs a TV, or an iPad or Mac as the table; Checkers also runs on phones alone.
• Sketch Round is louder than Checkers (loud vs. silent).
• Sketch Round needs at least 3 players – with fewer people, only Checkers works.
• Only Checkers can be played against the computer – Sketch Round needs real players.
• Sketch Round is quicker to learn than Checkers (explained in a minute vs. clear after one round).
• Checkers rewards skill more than Sketch Round (pure skill vs. mostly skill).

At a glance

At a glance	Checkers	Sketch Round
Type	Board and dice games	Party games
Players	2 players	3–10 players
Length of a game	10–25 min	10–20 min
Age	ages 6+	ages 7+
Luck or skill	pure skill	mostly skill
Noise level	silent	loud
Learning curve	clear after one round	explained in a minute
Interaction	you react to each other	lots of back and forth
TV	not needed	needed
Against the computer	yes	no
Teams	no	no
Bluffing	no	no
Reading needed	no	yes

Which one suits you?

Checkers

Pieces move diagonally, captures are made by jumping, and capturing is compulsory. That rule is what makes it sneaky: use it well and you can lure your opponent into traps.

Pick Checkers when two people want a board duel with more traps than Nine Men’s Morris.

Sketch Round

One person draws on their phone while everyone else watches the picture appear live on the TV and types a guess. Faster correct guesses score more – and the worst drawings tend to be the funniest.

Pick Sketch Round when three to ten people are gathered around a TV and like to laugh.

What they have in common

• Both work from age 7.
• Both come free with Gather and need no account.