Different
Strokes

Different Strokes (2022) is a drawing game where you collaborate to make and rate each other's art. You play by exploring the gallery and then adding to the art. The novelty is not only being able to collaborate on art, but seeing what the community does with what you create (and how it deals with images that aren't necessarily appropriate for all).

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The developer created the game from their focus on "games that balanced online and offline qualities and stand out for their unique elements that encourage human connection and camaraderie." In the game your friend, a conceptual artist, invites you to their latest exhibition. The twist is that the art is not hanging on the walls but the visitors and they get to draw over each other’s work. "It’s up to you to protect the exhibition from being covered in artwork that is," say the developers, "intentionally or otherwise, truly awful."

You play by exploring the ever-expanding Different Strokes gallery, painting your own artwork on blank canvases and adding to other people's art. You can also rate artwork to help other players find them. This means that all of the art exhibited in the game is totally created, remixed and rated by other players in real time. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how this isn't a huge mess that has descended to "inappropriate" shapes.

The best works of art are promoted to main gallery where there is a "gallery of the week". This is also interesting as you can see the original form of the art, as well as the final form that got the recognition. So every week you can browse a fresh set of artworks. The main gallery is pretty crowded so your art may have a better chance of standing out in the gallery of the week.

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Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Different Strokes 19 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 17 months ago.