Drawing games fit video calls because everyone can react to the same changing picture. The technical setup, however, shapes the experience. A shared screen is simple for viewers but can expose private information if handled carelessly. Individual devices give each player direct control but require switching attention between the game and the call.
Choose one setup before inviting the group. Rakuga runs in a browser without an account. Create a private room, copy the invite link, and place it in the call chat. Keep Zoom or Google Meet open for conversation and use the Rakuga chat for guesses.
Setup: everyone joins on a device
This is the most complete version. Each player opens the private-room link, chooses a name and avatar, and participates directly. The game canvas, timer, chat, and turn order appear on each device. The video call stays open for faces and reactions.
On a computer, place the call and browser side by side if the screen is wide enough. Otherwise, switch between windows and rely on audio for the social connection. On a phone, switching apps may interrupt attention, so using the game on the phone and the call on another device is more comfortable when available.
Ask everyone to submit answers in the game chat rather than say them aloud. Once a person solves the clue, a spoken answer would reveal it to players who are still guessing. Natural reactions are fine, but avoid verbal hints.
Setup: one person shares the game
A shared screen helps guests who cannot open another window or who only want to watch. The host shares the browser tab or window containing the game. Participants speak guesses, write them in the meeting chat, or nominate one person to enter them in Rakuga.
This setup is less suitable when every person needs an independent score because the game sees fewer direct players. It works well for a casual cooperative activity, a classroom demonstration, or a group with limited devices. Decide whether the group cares about ranking before choosing it.
Share only the game window, not the entire desktop. Close unrelated tabs and notifications. The drawer must also avoid showing any private clue information through the call. Test the sharing view with another participant before the main activity if possible.
Setup: small teams share control
Pairs or small groups can share a device while everyone remains on the main call. Teammates discuss possible answers quietly in a breakout room, private channel, or the same physical space. A designated player types the guess or controls the drawing.
Rotate the controller after each turn. Otherwise, the most device-confident person may unintentionally take over. A good division is for one person to plan the clue, another to draw, and another to watch the room's guesses. Swap jobs so each skill matters.
Team play is useful when the call has many participants. It reduces chat overload and gives each person someone to talk with. The drawback is that private team discussion can weaken the shared-call energy, so bring everyone back together between rounds.
Handle network delay
Delay is not equal for every participant. One person may see a stroke or hear a reaction slightly later than another. Keep all official guesses in the game chat, where the room can process them consistently. Spoken answers are more vulnerable to overlapping audio and uncertainty about who responded first.
Draw with large, deliberate strokes. Rapid scribbling can appear unevenly on a weak connection and is harder to read on a shared compressed video stream. Finish the main silhouette before adding small details. A clear scene survives technical degradation better than delicate line work.
If someone repeatedly disconnects, invite them to rejoin through the same room link. They can also watch the shared screen until their connection stabilizes. Avoid pausing every turn for one device unless the whole group agrees. A graceful fallback keeps the activity moving without excluding the person from reactions.
Make audio support the game
Rakuga does not have voice chat, so the external call provides the audio layer. Use it for greetings, laughter, and brief facilitation. The host should explain that the drawer cannot answer questions about the secret word or give spoken clues.
Large groups may need a simple audio rule. People can stay muted during active drawing and unmute between turns, or remain unmuted while keeping answers in the game. Choose based on the group's comfort. The goal is to prevent voices from drowning out participation.
If a person guesses correctly, they should resist coaching others. They can react without naming a category, sound, letter, or related word. The funny tension comes from watching others reach the same insight.
Formats that work well
Quick opener: use a few ordinary turns at the beginning of a social call. Give the group the link in advance and stop as soon as everyone has settled into the rhythm.
Team social: create small teams, rotate control, and use a longer block. Bring everyone together for reactions between stretches of play.
Family connection: let each household share a device while relatives in other homes join the same private room. Keep the call visible so gestures and laughter remain part of the evening.
Class activity: use a themed vocabulary goal, clear chat rules, and a follow-up discussion about which visual details made the answer understandable.
Prepare the host view
Open the private room early. Copy the link and test it in a private browser window to confirm that guests land in the right place. Join the call from the same setup you plan to use so you know where the game, call chat, and controls will sit.
Have a short instruction ready: open the link, enter a recognizable name, use the game chat for guesses, and keep spoken answers out of the call. Long explanations are hard to follow while people are still joining. Demonstrate the rest in the first round.
Keep a fallback activity that needs only the call. One person can hold paper up to the camera while others guess, or describe a simple scene for everyone to sketch. This lets the gathering continue if a device or connection fails.
Protect privacy and attention
Use a private room for an invited group and share the link only through the intended channel. If screen sharing, select the game window. Check that personal messages, calendars, and unrelated browser tabs are not visible.
Encourage players to silence unrelated local notifications. Rakuga notifications are local, and device settings vary, so the host should not rely on them to bring people back. A spoken cue in the call is clearer.
Set an end point before starting. Video calls are tiring when every activity expands. Announce the last round, finish it, and close with a favorite moment or simple thanks. A clean ending leaves the group with the joke, not the fatigue.
The best setup is the one with the fewest points of confusion for your group. Individual devices offer full participation. Screen sharing lowers the barrier to watching. Teams help large calls. Whichever you choose, keep guesses in one place, drawing strokes readable, and participation flexible.
Create a private room for your call.
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