Custom words for drawing games
Custom words turn a generic drawing game into your game night: inside jokes, class vocabulary, party themes, team memes. On DrawDuo you type a comma-separated list once, and the game deals one unique word per turn — or drop a topic like “movies” and let the game generate fresh choices for you.
How to use Custom Words
- Open create room and find the Custom Words box.
- Type words separated by commas: rocket, pizza, lighthouse.
- Optional: add a topic too — your list goes first, the topic fills the rest.
- Share the invite link. The game deals one unique word per turn, no repeats.
Copy-ready themed lists
Steal any list below — paste it straight into Custom Words.
Movies night
popcorn, director, plot twist, horror, comedy, sequel, popcorn bucket, superhero, spaceship, castle, pirate, robot
Animals
penguin, giraffe, kangaroo, octopus, hedgehog, flamingo, chameleon, sloth, peacock, hamster, owl, turtle
Food
pizza, sushi, taco, pancake, spaghetti, watermelon, pretzel, cupcake, cheese fondue, breakfast burrito
Classroom
photosynthesis, gravity, volcano, compass, pyramid, telescope, rainbow, magnet, seed, fossil
Work party
standup meeting, coffee break, inbox zero, video call, deadline, whiteboard, roadmap, hackathon
Kids
rainbow, dinosaur, ice cream, puppy, rocket, treasure map, snowman, butterfly
Want more on demand? The free pictionary word generator has Easy, Medium, Hard, Teams and Kids lists with one-tap random picks.
Rules that make custom lists great
- Shape beats concept: “lighthouse” draws in seconds; “nostalgia” does not.
- One to two words: short prompts keep rounds moving.
- Know your room: skip proper names half the group will not recognise.
- Bring enough: roughly 3 words per player per planned round — then let the topic box top up.
- Proofread once: typos become the word everyone has to guess.
Frequently asked questions
How do custom words work in DrawDuo?
On the create room page there is a Custom Words box. Type words separated by commas — for example: rocket, pizza, lighthouse. The game then deals only from your list, one unique word per turn, without repeating until the list runs out.
What is the topic box for?
The topic box is the lazy version of Custom Words. Type something like “movies”, “football” or “animals” and the game generates three fresh unique word choices for every turn from that theme — again without repeats.
Can I mix my words with generated words?
Yes. Fill Custom Words with your must-have picks and set a topic too. Your list goes first, and the topic fills the rest, so themed nights stay on-theme without running dry.
How many custom words should I add?
Aim for at least 3 words per player per round you plan to play. Six players across 4 rounds is about 24 turns, so 25–40 words keeps every turn fresh. Short on time? Add 12 strong ones and let the topic box cover the rest.
What makes a good custom word for drawing?
Pick things with a shape: objects, animals, places and actions beat abstract ideas. One or two words each. Avoid proper names nobody in the room will know, and test-read your list once for typos before the game starts.
Do I need an account to use custom words?
No. Custom Words and topics work with no signup and no download, for you and for everyone who joins from your invite link.