Sketch!
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FroGames — Moments You'll Remember
Three years of playtesting, a four-year-old daughter as an unwitting game designer, and a deck of cards you can't stop playing.
What it's about
The card game you literally have to remember
Sketch! is the result of three years of playtesting among friends, impromptu game tables, and a four-year-old daughter who desperately wanted to participate. The result is a reactive, fast-paced, and strangely hard-to-stop card game.
Four cards in front of you, face down. You look at two, memorize them — then you can't look at them again. From then on, every turn is a race: draw a card, discard a card, and try to have the lowest possible score when someone calls the assault.
But there's a twist: anyone can shout "Sketch!" out of turn, if there's a card on top of the discard pile identical to one of theirs. Always pay attention, even when it's not your turn. The table never sleeps.
You never know exactly what you have in your hand — and that tension is the real engine of the game.
The secret of Sketch! in one line
A game that keeps you alert even when you're waiting for your turn. Very rare in a filler game.
From the game experience
Sketch!
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews and play sessionsWhat you get
The tools of chaos
Number cards
The heart of the game. You memorize them, forget them, swap them. Their value determines your final score — the fewer points you have, the better you are.
Action cards
When discarded, their effect triggers immediately — unless someone has a Veto ready. This is where strategies clash.
The Veto
The answer to action cards. If you have a Veto, you can cancel any effect. Keep it in reserve — you never know when you'll truly need it.
The Assault
When you're sure you have the lowest score, you call the assault. Others still have one turn to catch up — then cards are revealed and counted.
In ten minutes you understand the rules. In twenty minutes you already want to play again. It always happens with Sketch!
📖RulebookItalian · Official PDF
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Four cards, two glances, everything else from memory
You receive your four face-down cards. You can look at two of them — only once, only now. Then you put them back down. From now on, you have to remember where they are, what they're worth, and hope not to confuse them with the cards you draw later.
The first "Sketch!" shouted out of turn
Someone discards a card. Another person, not yet on their turn, recognizes it: they have the same card. They shout "Sketch!" and discard it. The table suddenly wakes up. From that moment, everyone watches the discards with double attention.
An action card breaks the plans
Someone discards an action card. The effect activates — or not, because the player with Veto plays it. Discussions arise. Anyone who was about to make a perfect move has to rethink everything. The game changes in a second.
Someone launches the Assault — perhaps too soon
A player is sure they have the lowest score. They launch the Assault. The others still have one turn to catch up — enough to ruin everything. Tension rises. Someone attempts a desperate last "Sketch!". Then everything is revealed.
Reveal, count, laugh
The cards are flipped. Someone had forgotten they had a high score. Someone had bluffed better than anyone. The one who launched the Assault doesn't always win. The final total surprises at least half the table. Everything is shuffled back into the deck with a "one more game?" request.
How to play
The flow of each round
Simple to explain, hard to forget. You learn in five minutes, you master it with laughs.
On your turn, you draw a card from the deck and can look at it. Then you must decide: keep it (by swapping it with one of yours) or discard it directly.
When you discard, anyone at the table can shout "Sketch!" if they have the same card. They don't wait for their turn — they react immediately.
If an action card is discarded, its effect activates immediately — unless an opponent plays a Veto to nullify it. Instant reaction.
At the end of your turn, you can launch the Assault if you feel confident. The others still play one more turn, then everyone reveals their cards and scores are tallied. The player with the lowest total wins.
Why it's different from others
Six mechanics that make a difference
Out-of-turn reactivity
You don't wait for your turn to do something. If you see your card in the discards, you act immediately. In Sketch!, you never get bored while waiting for others.
Imperfect and strategic memory
You don't know exactly what you have in hand — and this uncertainty is the true engine of the game. You remember two cards out of four and build a strategy around that fog.
The Veto changes every calculation
You know someone has a Veto — but you don't know when they'll use it. Every action card you discard is also a gamble: will it be countered or not?
The Assault as a risky move
You can decide to challenge everyone whenever you want — but the others still have one turn. It's an act of courage (or impatience) that can backfire.
Kids' variant truly designed for children
It's not a simplified version thrown together — it arose from a real need. Cards are played face-up, strategy changes, children aged 5+ play on equal footing.
Pocket-sized format, opening act pace
A deck of cards, rules in Italian, under €15. You can take it anywhere, explain it in five minutes, and play it three times in a row without anyone explicitly asking.
How it ends
Winning, losing and when everything stops
The player with the lowest score wins — but getting to reveal it is already half the fun.
Victory
- You have the lowest total score when the cards are revealed
- You have exhausted all your cards — no points to tally
- The player who launched the Assault only wins if they truly have the lowest score
Defeat
- You forgot what you had in hand and your score betrayed you
- You launched the Assault too early and someone surpassed you on the last turn
- You held onto high cards hoping to swap them — and it never happened
Sketch! is one of those rare games that works in every situation — with family, with casual friends, with children. All it takes is a deck and five minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sketch! FAQ
How different is it from other memory games like Dobble or Memory?
Very. Sketch! is not a fast matching game — it's a hand management game with a memory element. You only know part of what you have, and action cards constantly change the situation. Interaction is constant, not just at the moment of a "match."
Does it really work with children aged 5 and up?
Yes — the Kids variant was born precisely out of this need. Cards are kept face-up, the memory problem disappears, and the game focuses on strategy and reactivity. It has been field-tested and works. Young children play on equal footing with adults.
With how many players does it work best?
With 4–5 players, you get the most chaotic and fun experience — more people reacting out of turn means a livelier table. With 2–3, it's more tactical and measured. It works in all cases, but the more players you have, the more unexpected things happen.
Are the rules only in Italian?
The included rulebook and downloadable PDF are in Italian. The game itself does not require reading text during play — all actions are visual or explained by icons on the cards, so it can be played without language barriers.
Is it suitable as a gift for someone who rarely plays games?
It's one of the best in this category. The rules can be explained in less than five minutes, the first game starts immediately without confusion, and the Kids variant also covers younger children. No prior experience with board games is needed.
Are there expansions or additional versions?
Currently, Sketch! is available as a complete standalone product. The base game already includes the integrated Kids variant, so no extra purchases are needed to get two different experiences from the same deck.
Sketch! is a competitive card game based on memory and reflexes for 2–6 players (ages 8+, Kids variant from 5 years, duration 20–40 min). Main mechanics: hand management, memory, out-of-turn reactivity, action cards with Veto. Each player manages 4 partially hidden cards on a shared table, with the possibility to react out of turn by calling "Sketch!" when the card matches. Includes Kids variant with face-up cards for children aged 5+. Rulebook in Italian available as PDF. Independent production. Available on FroGames.it.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
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📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
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