Normal, Hidden, and Combination
Word mode is a host setting with three labels: Normal, Hidden, and Combination. Hidden is not a cheat, and Combination is not two separate rounds.
Research notes
In the current client, the drawer branch displays DRAW THIS and the actual prompt. The separate guesser branch calls pa(), which sets three question marks and WORD HIDDEN for Hidden mode, omitting word length. Reading that function without its caller would reverse the roles. Fandom describes Combination as joining two words, for example apple+tree.
How the three modes differ
Normal gives the drawer the chosen word and guessers length-based underscores. In Hidden mode the drawer still knows what to draw; guessers see three question marks rather than the real word-length pattern.
Combination builds one prompt from two pool words. You still draw a single turn. The combination description comes from the community wiki; no undocumented word-selection algorithm is claimed.
| Mode | Drawer sees | Guessers see |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | The chosen word | Length-based underscores |
| Hidden | The chosen word (DRAW THIS) | WORD HIDDEN and three question marks |
| Combination | A joined prompt | Underscores for that prompt |
Questions
Is Hidden mode a cheat?
No. It is one of the three values in the official word-mode dropdown.
Who picks the mode?
The room host, before the game starts.
More in this topic
Sources
- skribbl.io client (game.js) — Client UI and error messages, not server-side guarantees. Its 10,000-character translation conflicts with the 20,000-character homepage input.
- Fandom Server — Community explanation of Combination mode and room settings; factual paraphrase, not a tested word-selection algorithm.
- skribbl.io — Official rules, dated News, room word-language menu, and custom-word input. Checked 13 October 2026; not a gameplay test.