Leonardo da Vinci spent years working on the Mona Lisa. Players in Sloppy Forgeries get three minutes, a computer mouse and a rather optimistic selection of brushes. What could possibly go wrong?
This unusual competitive painting game launched on Steam for Windows on November 13, 2026. Developed by Playful Systems, it is published by the same independent studio alongside ENJOYN GAMES.
Sloppy Forgeries makes every brushstroke count
Recreating famous paintings might sound like a relaxing afternoon activity. However, introducing a countdown and removing some essential painting tools quickly changes the atmosphere.
Each round gives players just three minutes to reproduce a masterpiece using between four and six colors. Furthermore, there are only three brush sizes, ranging from medium to excessively large.
There is no undo button or fill tool, either. Consequently, a poorly positioned brushstroke can turn an innocent portrait into something worthy of a horror game.
Accuracy is measured pixel by pixel in real time. An indicator rises or falls as players paint, while every painted pixel contributes to their final score. Fortunately, temporary assistance tools, including pins and grids, help identify differences between the paintings.
Choosing between refining small details and covering larger areas becomes a strategic decision. After all, perfectly recreating one eye means little when the rest of the face is missing.
Sloppy Forgeries offers more than a handful of painting challenges
Beyond its straightforward premise, the full release introduces several ways to experiment with different artistic styles and competitive formats. Players can chase personal records, challenge friends or revisit their most questionable creations.
The complete version includes the following features:
- 50 famous paintings: Public domain masterpieces organized into 10 collections, covering artistic movements from Impressionism to Expressionism.
- Single-player leaderboards: Rankings showcasing the highest-scoring reproductions.
- Personal painting archive: A collection preserving every forgery created by the player.
- Time-lapse replays: Painting sessions that can be shared as animated GIFs.
- Eight gameplay variants: Alternative challenges including Pixelated, Pointillism, Tiny Brush, Dizzy, Gray Matter and Fair Shake.
- Online multiplayer: Private lobbies supporting up to eight players, accessible through a join code.
- Local multiplayer: Two players can compete using separate mice connected to the same Windows computer.
- Drawing tablet support: An alternative input method for those who prefer a digital pen.
Interestingly, the replay system gives unsuccessful attempts a purpose beyond their final score. Transforming an artistic catastrophe into an animated GIF might be almost as satisfying as winning.
Artistic disasters could become the highlight of multiplayer sessions
Competitive games often provide memorable moments when carefully constructed plans fall apart. Here, something as simple as painting a nose presents plenty of opportunities for disaster.
Unconventional multiplayer concepts can certainly attract attention, as demonstrated by the recent Steam success of Worst Class Ever.
Meanwhile, other independent projects feature equally unexpected premises, including a game that turns romantic padlocks into a competitive cleanup challenge.
Sloppy Forgeries finds its own identity by combining artistic creativity with measurable performance. Its appeal does not necessarily depend on everyone being particularly good at painting.
In fact, having a few terrible artists in the group might make the experience considerably funnier.
A small experiment from 2018 finally reaches Steam
According to the official launch announcement on Steam, the project began in 2018 as a small prototype using two computer mice.
Its sole developer never anticipated the audience that the project would eventually attract. Alongside celebrating its release, the creator thanked everyone who added the game to their Steam wishlist.
The announcement also encourages players to leave Steam reviews, highlighting their importance for an independent developer working alone.
Sloppy Forgeries is available for $14.99 (€14.49), with a 15% launch discount reducing its US price to $12.74. It supports English and Japanese, while its free demo will remain available for a while.
Ultimately, Sloppy Forgeries offers a refreshing excuse to be terrible at art. Even if a painting never deserves museum space, it might still earn some laughs among friends.
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