Game Overview: NObjects, or Artists Without Drawers

Game Overview: NObjects, or Artists Without Drawers
Board Game Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
German publisher Pegasus Spiele debuted Ludovic Gimet's drawing-based party game NObjects at Origins Game Fair UK Games Expo 2019, and this design presents a new take on the genre by having the drawing be something that you can see only while it happens.

In more detail, the active player rolls a die and draws a card to determine what the other players need to guess, then they "draw" a picture on the table using only their fingers. Everyone can guess what the object being drawn is as many times as they wish, but of course you face the standard party game dilemma of possibly giving clues to the clueless thanks to your guesses. When someone correctly guesses the object — whether within the time limit or before the artist gives the effort up as hopeless — then both the artist and the guesser score a point. Whoever scores six points first wins!

That's it! NObjects is simplicity itself, running counter to the trend of fancy components to give you a game that you can't photograph in a meaningful way. I've played twice on a copy that will await attendees of BGG's Hot Games Room at Gen Con 2019 — once with five players and once with three — and the game lives or dies based on who's at the table. If folks guess only occasionally, you feel like you're dancing on a stage to crowd of none. I'm making an effort here! You should try, too! At other times, the guesses rain upon you fruitlessly, with no one catching on to perfectly clear drawing with which you've presented them. How could they be so dense?!

Oh, wait — maybe the problem is me, after all...


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