20 Fun Dice Games to Play with Friends and Family this Year

In a world of flashy video games and movies, humble dice games like Yahtzee and Bunco have been largely cast aside and forgotten. It’s a shame because dice games are cheap, fun, educational, and adaptive to different-sized groups.

If you’re here, you must feel the same, so let’s cut to the chase and dive into this huge list of our favorite dice games. We’ve included all there is to know about each, including step-by-step instructions, to make this your one stop shop for fun dice games!

Fun Dice Games for Adults

We separated our list of dice games into those that cater to adults and those that cater to children. Most adults would find the kids dice games too boring, and most kids would find the adult dice games too difficult.

Still, with the right attitude and maybe a little help, any of these games can be played by any age! Dice games make great family game night activities.

Many of these games only require dice, but if you’re really looking to spice up your dice games, there are some that require game boards/specific purchases.

Let the games begin!

BUNCO

Bunco is played by groups of four, and a typical/ideal game would have three groups of four – totaling 12 players. Each group sits together at a table, and each table needs to have 3 dice. Each person needs materials to keep track of their score, as well.

The object of the game is to roll the number corresponding to the round that you’re on. So, if you’re on round 3, you’re trying to roll 3’s.

On your turn, you take the three dice in your group and roll until you don’t roll any of the target number.

Ex: Target number is 3.

First roll: roll one 3 and two 4’s.

Second roll: roll the two 4’s and get one 1 and one 5.

Your turn is over, and you only got one of the target number.

If you roll one of the target number, you get one point.

If you roll two of the target number, you get 5 points.

If you roll three of the target number – BUNCO – you get 21 points.

After each round, the person at the table with the highest score stays put, and everyone else rotates tables.

A game consists of 6 rounds! Which makes sense because a die only goes up to 6.

Mexico

Mexico is another fun dice game with simple dynamics. The game is played with two dice for rolling, with each player given an additional die. That extra die will dictate how many lives each player has after each round, so will start on a six, and deplete accordingly.

After each game, the lowest dice roll will be considered the losing roll, and as such, that particular player will lose a life.

Dice rolls are scored by the placing the higher number in the tens position and lower number in the ones position. For example, a roll of 4 and 6 would be 64.

If anyone rolls a 2 and a 1, a “Mexico” they are automatically safe from elimination for that roundThe winner of the round is he or she who collects both dice at once. The winner of Mexico is the player left standing after all players have rolled their dice and lost their lives.

Shut the Box

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While the aforementioned games are something of a straightforward affair, ‘Shut the Box’ encourages players to really apply their brain power, which is what makes it so much fun.

Generally played within a wooden box that displays the current numbers, each player will roll dice and use the combinations made to reach one of the numbers displayed on the wooden display. As each number is matched, the numbers within the wooden display will be flipped over. If the number 1 is the only number left showing, then players will only need to roll one dice in hopes that they can reach the final number.

Once a player is able to successfully match all of the numbers, they are declared the winner, thus having to ‘shut the box’ as a result. Although played by many adults in a gambling capacity, ‘Shut The Box’ is also a brilliant family game that can easily be transported on holiday or even used for days out.

Yahtzee

This fun dice game is a classic that draws its inspiration from Poker. It’s been the subject of academic research throughout the years (with a focus on math, probability, statistical analysis, etc.). While many consider it a game of luck, the majority of players agree that, just like in Poker, strategy and skills are the secret ingredients of winning this game.

While luck plays a big role in Yahtzee, strategy makes a significant difference. The reason for this is that you score each combination just once, and the number of different combinations in which you can score is equal to the number of turns in the game. This means that you have to make wise choices about when to score in each combination, and you have to be careful about what combinations you seek at each turn.

Although seen as an adult game, the clever marketing of Yahtzee has seen the game become popular among many families.

To play,

• Distribute score cards to each player.
• Determine who goes first by having each player roll all 5 dice. Whoever has the highest total goes first.
• On your turn, you can roll up to three times by leaving the dice you like and rolling again the ones you don’t.
• Upon your turn’s completion, you must go to your scorecard and score your turn in one of the 13 categories. If you rolled a lot of ones, you would want to use your tun to fill the “ones” spot, and so on.
• Once all the score cards are filled out, everyone calculates their points. Whoever has the highest score, wins!

Liar’s Dice

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‘Liar’s Dice’ found a flourish of interest again once it was featured in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie series. The game is played with each player having five dice, plus a cup that conceals their roll from the other players.

To start the game, all players take turns rolling their dice underneath the cup to keep them concealed. Everyone can look at their own dice but not each other’s. If any dice land on top of each other, the player must re-roll.

Once all players have rolled, the starting player makes a bid. A bid consists of a dice value and a quantity (like “two 5’s, or “three 1’s”).

The next player can either raise the bid, or challenge the previous player’s bid. When a player is challenged, everyone reveals their dice. If the dice show the bid or higher, the bidder wins. If the dice are lower than the bid, the challenger wins.

Ex: if a player bids “three 6’s”, and the next player challenges him, everyone would reveal their dice. If there are three or more 6’s in everyone’s dice, the bidder wins. If there are two or fewer 6’s in everyone’s dice, the challenger wins.

When you lose, you take one of your dice out of your pile. The game continues until only one player has dice left.

The game is popular because of the deception involved, often leading to much hilarity when played at house parties.

Left, Center, Right

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Obviously, our list had to include one of the best-selling dice games of all time. This particular dice game is a little different than others because it offers custom-made dice designed exclusively for this particular game.

Each player is given a series of chips. The amount of chips really depends on how long you wish to play the game. For a short game, each player should be given three chips.

The dice used in ‘Left, Right, Centre’ are labelled with ‘L,’ ‘R’ and ‘C.’ The remaining faces of the die has a singular dot, which results in no action being taken by the player. The following rolls will determine a particular action by the player:

L (Left): The player must pass a chip to the player on the left.

R (Right): Players must pass a chip to players on the right.

C (Center): A chip is placed into a pot in the center, meaning that no other players benefit from that particular chip.

Game ends when players no longer have chips, except one. Most chips will end up in the center. The player that still has chips, when everyone else doesn’t, is the winner!

Although this particular dice game is purely a game of chance, the excitement that can be garnered from its simplicity makes this unique dice game a worthy purchase.

 

Farkle

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Do you have friends and family that like to push their luck? Then why not introduced Farkle into their lives, as the whole game is centered around players pushing their luck to achieve the highest score possible.

The game of Farkle is pretty straightforward, although it does require someone to keep track of the scores.

Who Starts?

In order to determine who starts the game, each player must roll a singular die. The player with the highest roll is the player who goes first. In the event of a tie, players who tied with a particular number must roll again to determine their starting position.

Points

Once it has been decided who will start the game, players are given six dice to roll for their turn. Each dice rolled will have either a point tally, or be worth nothing at all. The following rolls determine the number of points earned for each die.

A roll of one is worth 500 points to the player.

A roll of five is worth 50 points to the player.

Three dice rolled at the same time that contain the same value are worth 100 times the face value. For example, if a player was to roll three 5’s, the score would be 500 points.

Farkle Gameplay

Each player will take turns rolling six dice. When a player has rolled the dice, they must set aside any dice that are bankable (ones, fives and three-in-a-row.) The remaining dice can then be thrown again to try and acquire additional points, or the dice can be passed onto the next player.

Should a player roll the non-bankable dice again and there are no points, this is known as a Farkle. As a result, any points that they might have had from their first roll are void, and the dice must be passed to the next player.

In order for a player to win a game of Farkle, they have the to be the first to reach 10,000 points. If no-one does, the player with the highest score is declared the winner.

Qwixx

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Qwixx is fast-paced, offering competitive and rapid fun for family or friends. You can play this game one on one, or with up to five players. In general, Qwixx gameplay tends to run for about 15 minutes. However, if you lose, you’ll probably want to get some payback and challenge your competitors to another go!

The game is pretty easy to learn. One thing that’s particularly fun about it is that there’s no turns. Everyone plays at once!

Players have scoresheets in red, yellow, green, and blue, marked by numbers 12-2 and 2-12. You will roll numbers in order to cross them off on your colored score sheets. Additionally, the more numbers you can roll and cross off in a row, the more points you accumulate.

But here’s the catch: if you fail to cross off a certain number at a certain time, you’ll have to mark a penalty in the penalty box. Once anybody gets four penalties, the game is over, and the highest scorer wins.

Lastly, here’s a pro tip for playing Qwixx. If you like the game as much as us, you’ll burn through the score sheets pretty quickly. Go ahead and laminate one or two of these score sheets before use. That way, you’ll be able to keep score with erasable markers and won’t have to buy new ones!

Fun Dice Games for Children

While adult dice games can involve a lot of luck and manipulation, dice games that are created for children are much friendlier – although there can be a healthy element of competition still present. Dice games can also be used to help children learn while having fun.

There is a vast selection of dice games available for children, and not all of them involve a huge investment. In fact, this can be one of the most appealing aspects of board games, because there are times that parents simply don’t have the budget required for a day out at the theme park or the movies.

The following children’s dice games can be played without having to invest a huge amount of money.

Beat That!

Beat That is a fun game that can be played by children aged 5 upwards. The number of dice used within the game can vary depending on the age of the children. For example, younger children may be fine with two dice, whereas older children may prefer more of a challenge, so potentially up to 7 dice could be used within the game.

All that is needed to play Beat That is dice and a paper/pencil for scoring. Children roll the dice and have to come up with the largest number possible combining the dice thrown. For example, if a child was using two dice and came up with a 6 and a 7, the highest number that could be achieved is 76. Similarly, if a child was using three dice and the numbers rolled were 4,6 and 6, then the highest number possible would be 664.

First, players have to come up with the highest number they think is possible. Next, pass the dice to the next player with the invitation of ‘Beat That!’

Children play in rounds, with a declared winner at the end of each round.

If attempting to score the highest number becomes a little repetitive, then consider changing the rules round, like attempting to reach the smallest number possible.

Tenzi Dice

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Sometimes children feel dissuaded from playing any games that are dice-based. This is because they feel there’s just not enough excitement. However, Tenzi Dice looks to break that illusion with ease.

You can play Tenzi Dice with dice you already own, or you could invest in a set for as little as $14.00. If you invest in a Tenzi Dice set, you will find that the dice come in different colors.

The aim of the game is for children to roll their dice and try to match the same number. The winner of the round is he or she who collects both dice at once. Simply repeat the process until the one player has matched all of their dice. That player is then declared the winner.

You can play the game in rounds. Due to the nature of the game, each round only takes around a minute to complete, so children aren’t waiting too long for their turn. It’s a brilliant family game, especially for those at loose ends.

Going to Boston

Parents who are looking for a fun game that educates as well as entertains should look no further than ‘Going to Boston.’ All that is needed for this fun-filled game is 3 dice, a pencil and some paper so scores can be recorded.

Each player is given three dice. The dice will be rolled three times, with the highest number set aside each time. At the end of the player’s turn, the three numbers must be added up to give the final figure. Each player takes 3 turns each, and the player with the highest overall score will be declared the winner.

What’s more, the simple dice game ‘Going to Boston’ can be adapted for those looking for more of a challenge. For example, older children may enjoy multiplying the numbers, as opposed to adding them together.

Pizza Party Game

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Although something of a novelty dice game, that doesn’t mean it’s any less fun. Pizza Party is a fast-paced dice games where children must match the toppings on the dice with the toppings shown on their pizza piece.

To play Pizza Party, give the kids five dice each. Next, they have to pick a ‘slice card’ from the shuffled deck. Players then have to roll their dice and attempt the match the toppings shown on the dice to that shown on the card.

You may be looking for a dice game for a rainy day, or something to play on the go. Regardless, Pizza Party Game can be a worthwhile investment that won’t break the bank.

Mountain

Mountain is a game that people know by many names. Additionally, it is probably one of the simpler dice games for younger children. On top of that, it’s also quite adaptable and pretty fun for older children too. All that you need to play Mountain are a die, a paper and pencil, and some printouts (which are easily available online).

The printout shows a mountain with a series of numbers. The numbers lead up one side of the mountain and then down the other side. In order to climb the mountain, children must roll each of the numbers shown on the mountain. So if the first number is a 1, then you have to roll a 1 before the climb can start. You need to attain each number in order. Therefore, there can be no fast forwarding when it comes to rolling a number that appears later on.

The winner is the first person that is able to climb the mountain first with a number of a successful dice rolls. You can tailor the game for different players. For example, you may want to increase the size of the mountain, or introduce more dice.

Run For It!

This particular dice game is not only a lot of fun, but it can also help encourage children to build on their five-times table. All that you need to play ‘Run for It’ is six dice, paper/scoresheet, and a pencil.

The aim of the game is to roll dice that have sequence numbers, such as 1-2, or 1-2-3. Each sequenced number is worth 5 points. For example, if 1,4,6,6,6,3 is thrown, you would sequence 3,4, which would be 10 points.

The winner of the game is the first person to reach 100 points.

Boggle Junior

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Boggle is a game that has been popular for a number of years. But now, even preschoolers are able to join in the fun. This is all thanks to the introduction of ‘Boggle Junior.’ There are two word matching games contained within the game. In this game, children can match the words shown on colorful cards showing bold pictures.

The game is not only a lot of fun, but also encourages word recognition and associations, which can benefit preschoolers who are just starting out reading.

Catch Up

This is a pretty fast-paced game that involves two active players. However, it also requires constant group participation, so no one is ever going to feel left out. You will need a minimum of four players and can take up to eight to play. All you need for supplies are two dice and three objects to act as round-winning marks. The kids can sit in any order they like.

Have everyone sit in a circle. Give one dice to each of two kids who are sitting on opposite sides of the circle and facing each other. The whole group must sing a song or take up a chant or clap with a steady rhythm. The two active players repeatedly roll their dice, hoping to avoid a six. If they roll a six, they must pass the dice to the player on their left, who continues rolling to the rhythm. The winner of the round is he or she who collects both dice at once.

Other Fun Dice Games to Play This Year

When it comes to the best dice games to play this year, the possibilities are endless. Let’s see some other fun dice games that deserve a place on this list. A few of them you might already know and play, but in case you don’t, some inspiration does not hurt!

10,000 Dice Game

The dice game called 10,000 is probably one of the most popular and best dice games you can play anywhere. Depending on how people adapt rules, you might know it as 5,000. The other more famous name is Greed or the Greedy Dice Game. You need 6 dice and at least 2 players. You can play the game with 5 dice as well, as it allows plenty of variations. Taking planning and strategy, this game is a lot of fun, especially if you play it with your family, outside in your yard. It encourages friendly competition and suspenseful moments to share with your loved ones.

Yard Dice Yahtzee

Do you remember when we presented you with some of the most fun and engaging challenges for teens this summer? Remind us to put Yard Dice Yahtzee on that list. As you can easily figure out, yard Yahtzee is just like indoor Yahtzee but with bigger, more fun oversized wood yard dice.

Snake Eyes Yard Dice Game

Another entry on our list of fun yard dice games is the Snake Eyes dice game, one of the easiest dice games to play with young kids and teens, and adults of all ages. All you need is a set of giant wooden playing dice, a fun day outside on your lawn or back yard, a group of people (you can play in teams or individually against each other), and the skill to roll snake eyes.

 

Balut

The beauty of the Balut dice games is that even if it comes with a traditional set of rules, you can adapt it and make your own rules without spoiling anyone’s fun. Created as an alternative to Poker so people could play it without cards, Balut has some influences from Bingo as well (you have to shout “Balut” when you score the combination with the highest number of points). The point is, this game is a classic. If you want to play by the official rules, have a blast at it. However, you can also create your own scoring combinations and assign points to each possible combination that you design.

Final Thoughts on Fun Dice Games

Although we have been through a series of dice games, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to dice games. Whether it’s for children or adults, you can see from our list that there are some best dice games for everyone.

What’s more, tabletop games such as dice games have a list of benefits that just aren’t possible with other pastimes, such as video gaming. Including the fun and bonding time that can be achieved with a simple pair of dice, you can also expect the following benefits:

•   Improved social interaction with family or friends
•   Greater problem-solving skills in high paced situations
•   Gain techniques that promote visualization and innovation
•   Great stress relief
•   Improved communication and social skills
•   An increased sense of achievement and competitiveness

 

Are you looking for an activity that encourages interaction from everyone? In that case, you could do a lot worse than considering some of the dice games shown here. Dice games can even be collectible, making them the ideal substitute for trading cards and figurines. So, what are some fun dice games that you play? What do you think the best dice games are? For any thoughts, suggestions, game recommendations, and experience sharing, feel free to use the comment section below!

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