The game is available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile, and you can either help identify other players' pictures or draw a picture based on another player's description. Each player only has access to the previous drawing or phrase and must build on that attempt to find the correct solution. Games are limited by turn, and at the end of each of them, the completed chain of guesses are revealed to show how confusing or correct the answers have grown.
Interference supports drawing by mouse, pen or touch and is an interesting game that taps into the imagination and creativity of its audience. The Windows 10 game offers a nice challenge for not only your drawing skills but also your ability to decipher sketches. While there is no clear-cut winner to these games, Interference is an entertaining option to spend a little down time with.
Running interference
The first order of business when you launch Interference is to create a user account based on your Twitter, Facebook, Microsoft or email account. From there the layout of the game is relatively straightforward.
The home screen offers a few tips on playing the game, highlights the picture of the week, provides you access to the game's forums and spotlights popular games in progress. A menu button is nestled in the upper left corner of the display that reveals a navigation menu to let you jump between the game, gallery, help, store and settings areas of Interference.
The gallery showcases completed game pictures that can be used as inspiration and to show off the talent of other players. You can also "like" other players' pictures and replay how particular games unfolded. Interference's help section covers the basics on how to play the game, and the Store provides you a link to the playinterference.com web store. Settings allow you to set a "gamertag" name, choose between light or dark themes, and upgrade to the ad-free version by becoming an Interference supporter.
The game is based on the "broken telephone" or "whispers" games in which one player tells a phrase or story to another and it is repeated to another player and so on. As the phrase or tale passes from one player to another it can change ever so slightly, and it is interesting to see how different the last rendition of the phrase is to the first. Interference takes that concept online.
Interference gameplay
There are a few options available with respect to gameplay. Interference has the option to jump into an existing game to either draw a picture based on another player's phrase or try to identify the phrase another player's picture illustrates. There is also the option to start a new game by tossing out a description for others to draw or guess.
If you are joining a game, a phrase or picture appears for you to draw or identify. You have 10 seconds to join that game, skip the game to choose another one, or report the phrase or drawing as offensive. When you find a game to join, you have ten minutes to draw or guess the phrase. You are shown what the previous player drew or wrote. You can build upon that answer or start from scratch and come up with your own drawing or phrase.
Games are limited by turn (set by the person starting the game) and can range from 15 to 33 steps. There is notification support for game progress alerts. At the end of each game, you can review other players' responses to see how confusing or accurate their guesses are.
The gaming experience with Interference is a mixed bag. The flow of the game takes some time to get used to and while the Help section does a nice job of walking you through the basics, a little in-game guidance would not hurt. The only other gaming issue I found with Interference were significant delays between turns. This isn't uncommon with turn-based online games and it's even more so with Interference because you do not always have another player waiting in the wings. This is not a deal breaker, but it can be frustrating.
The drawing skills of the players cover a wide range, which makes the interpretation all the more interesting. What one person sees as a cat scratching a post, another may see as a beaver climbing a tree. I don't mind that games lack any clear-cut winners. It does not diminish Interference's entertainment value, and in a way, it allows you to enjoy the game a little more without worrying about scoring the most points.
All in all, I find Interference to be a fun game. Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile, the free ad-supported game may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it can be a fun drawing game to pass the time with. I can also see it being a good way to share with friends and see who can draw the best or how silly the phrase guesses can be. If you've given Interference a try, let us know what you think in the comments.
