How to describe a photo with shoelaces – a review of the board game “Pictures”

Pictures (2020) is a proposal from Rebel that will appeal to people who value original ideas for family entertainment. The game by Christian and Daniel Stöhr won the Spiel des Jahres award, which has been awarded since the 1970s to the best board games promoted on the German market. What makes Pictures stand out and how to play them?

Pictures , what is it all about?

The game consists in presenting a drawn picture with the help of a specific set of items. We have 5 sets at our disposal, which circulate between players so that everyone has a chance to use individual tools once.

These tools are:
– a deck of cards,
– 2 laces,
– 6 wooden blocks of various shapes,
– 4 wooden cylinders and 4 stones,
– a small frame in which we place 9 colored cubes.

The players try to visually describe the picture drawn by them, then try to guess the pictures in the hands of their opponents. Points are scored when the players indicate the correct photo of the opponent and when the opponent correctly identifies the photo, the content of which they are trying to present him more or less cleverly. I like this solution, there is no room for plotting against yourself, but your creativity is constantly stimulated.

Pictures . Pros and cons

Throughout the game, which lasts 5 rounds, players draw pictures from the pool of 16 fixed in the game, which may mean that the same picture can be presented multiple times. This is a disadvantage in my opinion, but on the other hand, as in most light party games, nothing forces us to strictly stick to the rules. As a result, we can freely exchange cards between rounds, and the “balance” of the game will not be disturbed. So it’s not that bad.

The tool that gives the smallest scope to show off is a set of cards, because often the symbols on them match what is shown in the picture. For example, a photograph of a snowy landscape can be described with a snowflake pictogram. As a result, the choice of cards (you must turn 2) is often too obvious and therefore a bit boring. As for the pictures themselves, there are a lot of them – as many as 91. This makes replayability at a relatively high level. The vision of potential additions is also tempting. Importantly, the photos are difficult to reproduce in a perfect way (especially with laces!), Which in a way works to the advantage of the game, because it initiates really funny situations.

The position will work both during a family meeting and among friends. Its advantages are the multitude of solutions, causing stiffness on the face, and most of all stimulating gray cells. The downside is the lack of precision, which, however – as I mentioned before – can also be considered an advantage.