Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Doodle Vu. If your question isn't answered here, reach out via our Contact page.
Is Doodle Vu free to play?
Yes! Doodle Vu is completely free to play. You can access the daily puzzle and all eight game modes at no cost. No subscriptions, no paywalls. Just open your browser and play.
How does the scoring work?
A neural network runs directly in your browser and analyzes the structural similarity between your drawing and the target. It evaluates line placement, proportions, and overall shape — not artistic quality. Scores range from 0 to 100, with tiers from "Keep Practicing" up to "PERFECT RECALL" (95+). The entire scoring process happens on your device with no server involved.
What is the daily puzzle?
Every day at midnight (your local time), a new target drawing is revealed for the Classic game mode. Everyone around the world gets the same daily drawing. You get one attempt per day on the daily puzzle, which makes it feel special — similar to how Wordle works with its daily word.
Can I play more than once a day?
The daily Classic puzzle is limited to one attempt per day — that's what keeps it exciting. However, you can play Practice mode as many times as you like, and the other game modes (Mirror, Rotation, Blind Draw, Sprint, Color Pick, and The Gauntlet) each have their own daily puzzles and are available anytime.
Do I need to create an account?
Nope! You can start playing immediately without any sign-up. An anonymous local account is created automatically to save your scores and streaks on your device. If you want social features like leaderboards or to preserve your progress across devices, you can optionally link an email address — it takes just a few seconds via a magic link (no password needed).
What devices and browsers are supported?
Doodle Vu works in any modern web browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge on both mobile and desktop. It's designed mobile-first, so it feels great on phones and tablets where you can draw with your finger. On desktop, you draw with your mouse or trackpad. No app download is required.
How is my data stored?
Your game data (scores, streaks, progress) is stored securely in the cloud so it persists across sessions. Your drawings are scored locally on your device and are not uploaded unless you explicitly opt in to "Help Improve Scoring" in Settings. We don't sell or share your personal information. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
What's the difference between the game modes?
Each mode tests a different cognitive skill. Classic is pure visual recall. Mirror and Rotation add spatial transformation. Blind Draw removes visual feedback. Sprint adds time pressure. Color Pick tests selective attention. The Gauntlet is the ultimate dual-task working memory challenge. Check the How to Play page for detailed descriptions and difficulty ratings for each mode.
Can I play offline?
Doodle Vu requires an internet connection for the initial load and to fetch the daily drawing. Once the app and scoring model are cached in your browser, some features may work with limited connectivity, but an internet connection is recommended for the full experience.
How do streaks work?
Your streak counts consecutive days where you completed the daily Classic puzzle. Play every day to keep it going — miss a day and it resets to zero. Your longest streak is always saved as a personal record. Streaks are a fun motivator to build a daily brain exercise habit.
Who draws the target images?
Target drawings come from two sources. The core library uses the Google Quick, Draw! dataset — a massive open-source collection of hand-drawn sketches. Additionally, a local artist creates original illustrations exclusively for Doodle Vu using Procreate on iPad. New custom artwork is added regularly to keep puzzles fresh and varied.
Is the scoring AI actually running on my device?
Yes! The neural network model loads into your browser when you first visit Doodle Vu. All scoring happens locally — your drawings are never sent to a server for evaluation. This means scoring is instant (no network latency) and your drawings stay private by default.
How can I improve my score?
Practice regularly — visual memory genuinely improves with exercise. During the study phase, actively trace the drawing with your eyes and verbalize what you see ("it's a house with a pointed roof and two windows"). When drawing, start with the big shapes first, then add details. Check out our Tips for Beginners section for more strategies.
I lost my progress. Can I recover it?
If you linked an email to your account, you can recover your progress on any device by signing in with your magic link. If you were playing anonymously (without linking an email), your data is tied to your browser's local storage and may not be recoverable if cleared. We strongly recommend linking an email in Settings to protect your streaks and scores.
Is Doodle Vu available as a mobile app?
Doodle Vu currently runs as a web app at doodlevu.app. It's designed to feel like a native app on mobile devices — you can even add it to your home screen for quick access. Native iOS and Android apps are planned for the future.