The roll and write genre has seen a remarkable surge in popularity in recent years, drawing inspiration from classics like Yahtzee. These games offer a simple yet engaging premise: players roll dice or flip cards, then mark their private sheets based on the results. This straightforward concept has opened up a world of creative and sophisticated gameplay possibilities, making roll and writes incredibly appealing. Their ease of play and immediate gratification, combined with the flexibility to personalize your sheet, ensures a broad appeal and low entry barriers. Here’s a curated list of the best roll and write games that exemplify 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
0See it at Amazon
Rolling Realms takes you on a journey through mini-games inspired by other board games, each represented by a unique card. Over nine rolls, all players engage with the same three realms, then switch to three new ones from a set of twelve for two more rounds, completing the game. The charm lies in the realms, which offer clever and family-friendly puzzles. For those seeking more challenges, the standalone sequel, Rolling Realms Redux, introduces even more intriguing realms that can be played independently or mixed with the original set.
Marabunta
0See it at Amazon
Designed by Reiner Knizia, a legend in strategy gaming, Marabunta is a two-player roll and write game that captures the battle between ant tribes over hexes filled with enticing rewards like cupcakes. Players must strategically spread their influence across color-coded hexes and secure bonuses, blending spatial strategy with mathematical depth—a hallmark of Knizia's design.
The Fox Experiment
0See it at Amazon
Inspired by a real-life fox domestication experiment from the 1950s, The Fox Experiment is crafted by Elizabeth Hargrave, the mind behind Wingspan. This game delves deeper than typical roll and writes, using dice to simulate genetic heredity. Players breed foxes, selecting traits to meet their end-game goals, offering a unique and rewarding gameplay experience.
Twilight Inscription
1See it at Amazon
Twilight Inscription stands out by merging the expansive universe of Twilight Imperium with the roll and write format. It encapsulates the 4X genre (exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination) in about 90 minutes. Players manage different aspects of their space empire on separate sheets, each representing a sub-section of the game. The challenge lies in choosing which sheet to focus on each turn, leading to strategic trade-offs and a rich, strategic experience.
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
2See it at Amazon
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up brings the excitement of a pinball machine to the roll and write genre. Players choose from four tables, navigating bumpers and targets based on dice rolls. The game's challenge is to maximize scores without reusing boxes, creating a thrilling puzzle. The Ramp It Up edition is particularly notable, even offering a cooperative table.
The Best Board Game Deals
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home
3See 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 goal is to arrange houses in numerical order while maximizing bonuses from pools, parks, and city plans. For those seeking more complexity, the sci-fi themed Welcome To The Moon offers an even deeper experience.
My City: Roll & Build
1See it at Amazon
Based on Reiner Knizia's My City, this roll and write game follows a campaign structure across multiple episodes. Each session introduces new rules, gradually increasing complexity without overwhelming players. The game's flexibility allows for standalone play of each episode, making it a versatile and engaging choice.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
9See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Railroad Ink challenges players to create a transport network on a grid using custom dice. The goal is to connect as many exits as possible, balancing the need to avoid dead ends with the potential for future connections. The Deep Blue edition adds rivers and lakes, enhancing the strategic depth and variety.
Next Station: London
1See it at Amazon
Next Station: London is a flip and write game where players build a train network using colored pencils. Each color corresponds to a starting station, and players must strategically expand their lines across districts, hitting tourist sites and crossing the river. The game's simple yet nuanced mechanics make it a compelling puzzle.
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write
4See it at Amazon
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write introduces more complexity to the roll and write genre. Players build a dinosaur theme park using dice rolls to gather resources, construct attractions, and manage security. The game's depth comes from juggling multiple aspects and running a tour route at the end of each turn, making it a challenging and thematic experience.
Cartographers
6See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Cartographers adds player interaction to the genre with its flip and write mechanics. Players map a fantasy kingdom, fulfilling scoring challenges while occasionally passing their map to a neighbor to place monster icons. This twist adds a personal touch and enhances the game's thematic world-building.
Long Shot: The Dice Game
0See it at Barnes and Noble
Long Shot: The Dice Game transforms horse racing into a roll and write experience. Players bet on horses as they race around a board, using dice rolls to influence outcomes. The game's interactive nature and thematic excitement set it apart from other roll and writes.
Three Sisters
3See it at Amazon
Three Sisters takes the concept of action chaining to new heights. Players grow crops and flowers on a garden-themed score sheet, using dice rolls to trigger a series of bonus actions. This strategic depth and tactical planning make it a standout in the genre.
Fleet: The Dice Game
0See it at Amazon
Fleet: The Dice Game challenges players to manage a fishing fleet, using dice rolls to buy licenses or launch boats. The game's interconnected options and thematic dice make it a fun and engaging experience, without the real-world risks of fishing.
Sagrada Artisans
0See it at Amazon
Sagrada Artisans builds on the original Sagrada by adding a campaign mode and coloring elements. Players create stained-glass windows over ten sessions, with each session introducing new tools and challenges. The game maintains its calming atmosphere while offering a satisfying progression.
Motor City
0See it at Amazon
Motor City, from the designers of Three Sisters and Fleet, transforms the roll and write genre into a car production simulation. Players manage different aspects of vehicle design and production using a dice-drafting mechanic and a blueprint board. This innovative approach offers a strategic challenge distinct from the explosive combos of their previous games.
For more ideas, be sure to check out our list of the best board games of all time and the best puzzle tables featuring a great multi-purpose table (by Bits and Pieces) for playing cards and board games on, too.
