Crazy Mau or Sketch Round?
Both games come with Gather. Here’s how they differ and when each one fits better.
The key differences
- From 9 players on, only Sketch Round works: it goes up to 10 players, Crazy Mau only up to 8.
- Sketch Round needs a TV, or an iPad or Mac as the table; Crazy Mau also runs on phones alone.
- Sketch Round needs at least 3 players – with fewer people, only Crazy Mau works.
- Sketch Round rewards skill more than Crazy Mau (mostly skill vs. lots of luck).
- Only Crazy Mau can be played against the computer – Sketch Round needs real players.
- Sketch Round is louder than Crazy Mau (loud vs. lively).
- Crazy Mau is over sooner: usually 5–15 minutes, while Sketch Round takes 10–20 minutes.
- Sketch Round has more interaction than Crazy Mau (lots of back and forth vs. you react to each other).
At a glance
| At a glance | Crazy Mau | Sketch Round |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Card games | Party games |
| Players | 2–8 players | 3–10 players |
| Length of a game | 5–15 min | 10–20 min |
| Age | ages 6+ | ages 7+ |
| Luck or skill | lots of luck | mostly skill |
| Noise level | lively | loud |
| Learning curve | explained in a minute | 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?
Crazy Mau
The classic card game with action cards: match suit or number, stack penalty cards and play your wild card at just the right moment. Quick to explain, quick to play, and mean enough to stay interesting.
Pick Crazy Mau when a mixed group wants to start right away and nobody wants to read rules.
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 for 3–8 players.
- In both, everyone has secret information on their own phone.
- Both work from age 7.
- Both come free with Gather and need no account.