The roll and write genre has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, drawing inspiration from the classic game Yahtzee. In these games, players roll dice or flip cards, using the results to mark up their personal sheets. The concept is simple yet versatile, leading to a variety of engaging and sophisticated gameplay experiences.
Roll and write games are highly appealing due to their straightforward nature and immediate gratification. Players enjoy the freedom to personalize their sheets, while the game's rules remain easy to grasp. This winning combination allows roll and write games to attract a broad audience with minimal barriers to entry. Below is a curated list of the best roll and write games that showcase the genre's potential.
TL;DR: The Best Roll and Write Games
- Rolling Realms
- Marabunta
- The Fox Experiment
- Twilight Inscription
- Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
- Welcome To... Your Perfect Home
- My City: Roll & Build
- Railroad Ink
- Next Station: London
- Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write
- Cartographers
- Long Shot: The Dice Game
- Three Sisters
- Fleet: The Dice Game
- Sagrada Artisans
- Motor City
Rolling Realms
See it at Amazon
Rolling Realms takes players on a journey through different realms, each inspired by another board game. Players use a card to assign die rolls to play mini-games that reflect their inspirations. Over nine rolls, all players engage with the same three realms before drawing three new ones from a set of twelve, repeating this process twice for a complete game. The charm lies in the realms themselves, which are delightful microcosms of their source material, offering family-friendly puzzles to master. For those seeking more challenge, the standalone sequel, Rolling Realms Redux, introduces more complex realms that can be played alone or mixed with the base game.
Marabunta
See it at Amazon
Marabunta, designed by the renowned Reiner Knizia, is a strategic roll and write game for two players. It simulates the struggle between two ant tribes over hexes of territory, including cupcakes and other rewards. Players use dice to spread their influence across color-coded hexes or to gain bonuses that boost their final score. This game blends spatial strategy with mathematical complexity, showcasing Knizia's signature design style.
The Fox Experiment
See it at Amazon
Inspired by a real-life fox domestication experiment from the 1950s, The Fox Experiment by Elizabeth Hargrave introduces a unique twist to roll and write games. Players use dice to represent genetic heredity, selecting traits from parent foxes to influence their offspring. The goal is to breed the friendliest foxes to meet end-game objectives, making this game more complex but highly rewarding.
Twilight Inscription
See it at Amazon
Twilight Inscription is a unique roll and write game that distills the expansive universe of Twilight Imperium into a 90-minute experience. It emulates the 4X video game genre, where players build space empires through exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination. Each aspect is represented on separate sheets, offering various sub-sections to explore and master. Players must strategically choose which sheet to focus on each turn, leading to diverse gameplay and strategic depth.
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
See it at Amazon
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up brings the excitement of pinball to the roll and write genre. Players choose one of four tables, using dice rolls to navigate bumpers and targets. The challenge lies in maximizing scores without reusing boxes, creating a thrilling puzzle. Ramp It Up stands out as the best set, even featuring a cooperative table for added variety.
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home
See it at Amazon
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home is a flip and write game where players plan suburban streets using house numbers and building effect cards. The challenge is to arrange houses in order while balancing scores across various bonuses. For those seeking more complexity, the sci-fi themed Welcome To The Moon offers an engaging alternative.
My City: Roll & Build
See it at Amazon
My City: Roll & Build, based on Reiner Knizia's popular board game, introduces a campaign-style roll and write experience. Each episode adds new rules and complexity, allowing for gradual learning and replayability. Players can enjoy individual sessions or complete the entire campaign, making it a versatile and rewarding game.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Railroad Ink challenges players to draw a transport network based on custom dice rolls. The goal is to connect as many exits as possible, balancing the need to minimize dead ends with the potential to link routes later. The Deep Blue edition adds rivers and lakes, along with ferry routes, enhancing the game's variety and strategic depth.
Next Station: London
See it at Amazon
Next Station: London, a flip and write game, introduces colored pencils as a key gameplay element. Players start from different stations and draw networks based on drawn cards, aiming to cross districts and tourist sites. The challenge is to expand without crossing lines, leading to strategic decisions and colorful, engaging maps.
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write
See it at Amazon
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write expands the genre with deeper complexity. Players build a dinosaur theme park using dice rolls to acquire resources like money and DNA. The game involves planning attractions, managing staff, and running tours, making it a rich and challenging experience.
Cartographers
See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Cartographers adds player interaction to the genre through a flip and write mechanic. Players map a fantasy kingdom, fulfilling scoring challenges while dealing with monster cards. These cards are passed to neighbors, who draw negative icons, adding a personal and thematic element to the game. The sequel, Cartographers: Heroes, introduces more dynamic monsters and hero cards for added depth.
Long Shot: The Dice Game
See it at Barnes and Noble
Long Shot: The Dice Game brings the excitement of horse racing to the roll and write format. Players bet on horses based on dice rolls, with the potential to buy horses for special powers and bonuses. The game's interactive nature and thematic depth make it a standout in the genre.
Three Sisters
See it at Amazon
Three Sisters elevates the genre with intense action chaining. Players grow crops and flowers on their score sheets, using dice rolls to access a rondel of actions. Completing actions often leads to bonus actions, requiring strategic planning to maximize rewards. This tactical depth sets Three Sisters apart.
Fleet: The Dice Game
See it at Amazon
Fleet: The Dice Game challenges players to manage a fishing fleet, deciding whether to buy licenses or launch boats based on dice rolls. The game rewards players for progressing down various action trees, offering interconnected benefits over ten rounds. Its thematic dice and strategic depth make it a compelling choice.
Sagrada Artisans
See it at Amazon
Sagrada Artisans builds on the original Sagrada by adding a coloring element and a campaign structure. Players color their stained-glass windows over ten sessions, with each session introducing new tools and challenges. This approach maintains the game's simplicity and calming nature while adding depth and excitement.
Motor City
See it at Amazon
Motor City, from the designers of Three Sisters and Fleet, encapsulates the car production process in a roll and write game. Players use dice-drafting and a blueprint board to coordinate vehicle design, engineering, testing, production, and sales. This innovative approach offers a strategic challenge distinct from the explosive combos of its predecessors.
For more gaming inspiration, explore our list of the best board games of all time and the best puzzle tables, including a versatile multi-purpose table by Bits and Pieces, perfect for playing cards and board games.
