The roll and write genre has seen a remarkable surge in popularity in recent years, drawing inspiration from the classic board game Yahtzee. This genre involves players rolling dice or flipping cards to reveal numbers or symbols, which they then use to mark up a personal sheet. Despite its simple foundation, roll and write games offer a playground for sophisticated gameplay and creative exploration.
The appeal of roll and write games lies in their straightforward nature and immediate gratification. Players enjoy the freedom to personalize their sheets or boards, yet the rules remain easy to grasp, making these games accessible to a broad audience. This winning formula has propelled roll and write games to success, captivating players of all skill levels 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
0See it at Amazon
Rolling Realms offers a unique twist by integrating mini-games inspired by other board games into its realms. Players navigate through these realms, using dice rolls to engage in these mini-games over nine rounds. The game features three realms at a time, which are then replaced by new ones from a set of twelve, repeating this cycle twice for a complete game. The charm lies in the realms themselves, which are engaging microcosms of their source games, providing family-friendly puzzles to solve. For those seeking an extra challenge, Rolling Realms Redux offers even more complex realms that can be played standalone or mixed with the original game.
Marabunta
0See it at Amazon
Marabunta, designed by the renowned Reiner Knizia, is a two-player game that pits two ant tribes against each other in a battle for territory. Players use dice rolls to expand their influence across color-coded hexes or secure bonuses that enhance their final score. This game masterfully blends spatial strategy with mathematical challenges, a hallmark of Knizia's design philosophy.
The Fox Experiment
0See it at Amazon
Inspired by a real-life fox domestication experiment, The Fox Experiment, designed by Elizabeth Hargrave of Wingspan fame, uses dice to simulate genetic heredity. Players breed foxes, selecting traits from parent foxes to produce offspring that align with their end-game goals. This game offers a deeper level of engagement, rewarding players for strategic breeding over multiple rounds.
Twilight Inscription
1See it at Amazon
Twilight Inscription stands out by bringing the expansive universe of Twilight Imperium into the roll and write format. Players build space empires through exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination, all within a compact 90-minute playtime. Each aspect of the game is represented on separate sheets, allowing for focused play and strategic depth, making it feel more like a full-fledged strategy game than a typical roll and write.
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
2See it at Amazon
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up cleverly uses dice and a pen to simulate a pinball machine. Players choose from four tables, navigating through bumpers and targets based on their rolls. The game's challenge lies in maximizing scores without repeating boxes, adding a thrilling puzzle element. The Ramp It Up set is particularly noteworthy, even offering a cooperative table for added variety.
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home
3See it at Amazon
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home, though technically a flip and write, offers players a chance to build suburban streets using house numbers and building effect cards. The game challenges players to balance house numbering with various scoring bonuses, offering a satisfying strategic experience. For those seeking more complexity, Welcome To The Moon provides a sci-fi twist.
My City: Roll & Build
1See it at Amazon
Based on Reiner Knizia's popular board game, My City: Roll & Build offers a campaign-style experience where each 30-minute session introduces new rules and gameplay elements. This gradual increase in complexity is both rewarding and manageable, making it a flexible game that can be enjoyed in one-off sessions or as part of a full campaign.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
9See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Railroad Ink challenges players to create a transport network based on the results of custom dice. The goal is to connect as many exits as possible, balancing the risk of dead ends with the potential for future connections. The Deep Blue Edition adds rivers and lakes to the mix, enhancing the strategic depth and variety of the game.
Next Station: London
1See it at Amazon
Next Station: London, another flip and write, uses colored pencils to build a train network across London. Players start at different stations, drawing lines based on card symbols, aiming to cross as many districts and tourist sites as possible. The game's simplicity belies its strategic depth, offering a rewarding puzzle-like experience.
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write
4See it at Amazon
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write pushes the genre's boundaries by introducing more complexity. Players build a dinosaur theme park, managing resources and designing attractions based on dice rolls. The game's challenge lies in balancing various elements to create a successful park while ensuring visitor safety during tours.
Cartographers
6See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Cartographers introduces player interaction to the genre, with players mapping a fantasy kingdom based on card draws. The twist comes with monster cards, where players pass their maps to neighbors, who then place negative icons. This adds a personal and thematic element to the game, enhancing the sense of world-building.
Long Shot: The Dice Game
0See it at Barnes and Noble
Long Shot: The Dice Game brings horse racing to the roll and write format, with players betting on horses as they race around a board. The game's unique interaction comes from players' ability to influence odds and buy horses, creating a dynamic web of dependencies and excitement.
Three Sisters
3See it at Amazon
Three Sisters takes the concept of bonus actions to new heights, with players growing crops and using tools based on dice rolls. The game's action chaining system requires strategic planning, offering a tactical challenge that sets it apart from other roll and write games.
Fleet: The Dice Game
0See it at Amazon
Fleet: The Dice Game challenges players to manage a fishing fleet, choosing between buying licenses or launching boats to catch seafood. The game's interconnected options and thematic dice make it a fast-paced and engaging experience.
Sagrada Artisans
0See it at Amazon
Sagrada Artisans builds on the original Sagrada, adding a coloring element and campaign play. Players create stained-glass windows over ten sessions, each introducing new tools and challenges while maintaining the game's calming atmosphere.
Motor City
0See it at Amazon
Motor City, from the designers of Three Sisters and Fleet, simulates car production lines. Players use dice-drafting and a blueprint board to manage various aspects of car design and sales, offering a strategic challenge that culminates in bringing a muscle car to market.
