The roll and write genre has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, drawing inspiration from the classic board game Yahtzee. In these games, players roll dice or flip cards, using the outcomes to mark their private sheets. This simple yet engaging mechanic allows for a broad spectrum of gameplay possibilities, often leading to surprisingly sophisticated experiences.
Roll and write games are particularly appealing due to their accessibility and immediate gratification. They offer players the freedom to personalize their sheets or boards while maintaining straightforward rules. This combination makes them highly successful across various player demographics, as they require minimal setup and learning time. Here, we explore some of the best roll and write games available today.
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
Rolling Realms stands out with its unique concept where each realm is inspired by another board game. Players assign die roll results to play mini-games that reflect these inspirations. Over nine rolls, all players engage with the same three realms, then draw three new ones from twelve available, repeating this process twice for a complete game. The charm lies in the realms themselves, which are excellent microcosms of their source material, offering engaging, family-friendly puzzles. For those seeking more challenge, the standalone sequel Rolling Realms Redux introduces even more intricate realms, which can be played alone or mixed with the base game.
Marabunta
Marabunta, designed by the renowned Reiner Knizia, brings his strategic prowess to the roll and write genre. Exclusively for two players, this game simulates the territorial struggles of two ant tribes over hexes containing cupcakes and other rewards. Players use dice rolls to spread their influence across color-coded hexes or earn bonuses, blending spatial and mathematical strategies. This mix showcases Knizia's skill in creating engaging gameplay.
The Fox Experiment
Inspired by a real-life experiment on fox domestication, The Fox Experiment by Elizabeth Hargrave of Wingspan fame offers a more complex roll and write experience. Players use dice to represent genetic traits, selecting parent foxes to breed offspring with desirable characteristics to meet end-game goals. This process continues through multiple rounds, challenging players to breed the friendliest foxes for their research.
Twilight Inscription
Twilight Inscription brings the epic scope of Twilight Imperium into a roll and write format. In approximately 90 minutes, players build space empires through exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination. The game uses multiple sheets, each representing a different aspect of the game, allowing players to focus on various strategies each turn. This depth and complexity make it feel more like a full strategic board game than a typical roll and write.
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up uniquely captures the theme of a pinball table using just a pen and dice. Players choose from four tables, navigating bumpers and targets based on their rolls. The challenge is to maximize scores without reusing boxes, creating a thrilling puzzle. The Ramp It Up set, including a cooperative table, is particularly engaging among the available sets.
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home is a flip and write game that involves town planning. Players select pairs of house numbers and building effect cards to develop three suburban streets. Balancing house numbers with bonuses like pools and parks, along with meeting city plans, creates a strategic challenge. For those seeking more complexity, the sci-fi themed Welcome To The Moon offers an advanced alternative.
My City: Roll & Build
Based on Reiner Knizia's My City, this roll and write game features a campaign structure that gradually increases in complexity across multiple episodes. Each session, lasting about 30 minutes, introduces new rules, allowing for a rewarding learning curve. The game is flexible, allowing episodes to be played as standalone sessions, making it adaptable to different play styles.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
Railroad Ink challenges players to draw a transport network on a grid based on custom dice rolls. The goal is to connect as many exits as possible, balancing the creation of dead ends with the potential for future connections. The Deep Blue edition, which includes rivers and lakes, adds an extra layer of strategy to the game.
Next Station: London
Next Station: London, a flip and write game, introduces a novel mechanic where pencil colors play a crucial role. Players start from different stations and draw networks based on drawn cards, aiming to cross districts and connect tourist sites. The game's simplicity belies its strategic depth, making it a compelling puzzle.
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write pushes the roll and write genre towards greater complexity. Players use dice rolls to gather resources and build a dinosaur theme park, managing attractions, concessions, staff, and security. The game culminates in running a tour through the park, scoring points while ensuring visitor safety.
Cartographers
Cartographers introduces player interaction to the genre through its flip and write mechanics. Players map out a fantasy kingdom, fulfilling scoring challenges, but must also contend with monster cards that allow neighbors to place negative icons on their maps. This adds a personal touch and enhances the game's thematic depth.
Long Shot: The Dice Game
Long Shot: The Dice Game transforms horse racing into a roll and write experience. Players bet on horses as they race around a board, influenced by dice rolls. The game allows players to buy horses for special powers and bonuses, creating a web of dependencies and excitement as the race unfolds.
Three Sisters
Three Sisters elevates the roll and write genre with its intense action chaining. Players grow crops and flowers on a garden-themed score sheet, using dice rolls to trigger a series of bonus actions. This strategic depth requires careful planning, making it a tactical delight.
Fleet: The Dice Game
Fleet: The Dice Game challenges players to manage a fishing fleet, using dice rolls to buy licenses or launch boats. The game rewards players for progressing down each decision tree, culminating in selling catches and constructing beneficial buildings. Its thematic dice and interconnected options make it a fun and engaging experience.
Sagrada Artisans
Sagrada Artisans builds on the original Sagrada by adding a roll and write element and a campaign structure. Players color in their stained-glass windows over ten sessions, each introducing new tools and challenges. This maintains the game's simplicity and calming atmosphere while adding depth and excitement.
Motor City
Motor City, from the designers of Three Sisters and Fleet, mirrors car production lines in a roll and write format. Players use dice-drafting and a blueprint board to manage vehicle design, engineering, testing, production, and sales. This game focuses on strategic coordination rather than explosive combos, offering an innovative challenge.
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.
