The roll and write genre has seen a significant surge in popularity in recent years, evolving from the simple mechanics of classic games like Yahtzee into a diverse and sophisticated category. In these games, players roll dice or flip cards and use the results to mark their individual sheets, offering a blend of creativity and structured gameplay that appeals to a broad audience. The ease of entry and immediate gratification make roll and writes a favorite among gamers of all skill levels. Below, we showcase some of the finest offerings in this genre.
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 innovatively draws inspiration from other board games, assigning each realm a card that corresponds to a mini-game influenced by the roll of a die. Over nine rolls, players engage with the same three realms, which are then swapped for three new ones from a set of twelve, repeating this cycle twice for a complete game. The charm of Rolling Realms lies in its realms, which cleverly mimic their source games, offering engaging and family-friendly puzzles. For those seeking more challenge, 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
Marabunta, crafted by the renowned designer Reiner Knizia, brings his strategic prowess to the roll and write genre. Designed for two players, it simulates the competition between two ant tribes vying for territory, represented by hexes that may contain enticing cupcakes and other rewards. The dice rolls allow players to expand their influence across these hexes or secure bonuses that boost their final score. This game beautifully marries spatial strategy with mathematical challenges, hallmarks of Knizia's design philosophy.
The Fox Experiment
0See it at Amazon
Inspired by a real-life experiment on fox domestication in the 1950s, Elizabeth Hargrave, the creator of Wingspan, designed The Fox Experiment. This roll and write game is more complex but richly rewarding. Players use dice to represent genetic traits, selecting parent foxes whose traits are passed onto their offspring, aiming to breed the friendliest foxes to meet research goals. It's a captivating blend of genetics and strategy that unfolds over multiple rounds.
Twilight Inscription
1See it at Amazon
Twilight Inscription uniquely adapts the expansive world of Twilight Imperium into a roll and write format, capturing the essence of 4X video games—exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination—in about 90 minutes. Players manage separate sheets representing different aspects of their space empire, each sheet offering a deep sub-game to explore. The challenge lies in choosing which sheet to focus on each turn, creating strategic trade-offs and a rich, strategic experience.
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
2See it at Amazon
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up breaks the mold by translating the thrill of pinball into a roll and write game. Players choose from four tables, navigating through bumpers and targets based on their dice rolls, aiming to maximize their score. The game's unique rule of not reusing boxes adds tension and strategy, making each playthrough a thrilling puzzle. While various themed sets exist, Ramp It Up stands out, even offering a cooperative table.
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home
3See it at Amazon
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home uses a flip and write mechanism, where cards replace dice, offering players more choices. The game challenges players to plan suburban streets, balancing house numbers and building effects to meet city plans and score bonuses. Its strategic depth and satisfaction upon completion make it a standout, with an advanced version, Welcome To The Moon, available for those seeking more complexity.
My City: Roll & Build
1See it at Amazon
My City: Roll & Build, based on Reiner Knizia's acclaimed board game, introduces a campaign-style roll and write experience. Each of the 30-minute episodes adds new rules, gradually increasing complexity. This approach is both rewarding and flexible, allowing players to enjoy individual episodes or complete the entire campaign, resulting in a game that offers lasting enjoyment.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
9See it at Amazon Also at Target
Railroad Ink challenges players to construct a transport network based on dice rolls, aiming to connect as many exits as possible. The Deep Blue edition enhances this with rivers and lakes, adding ferry routes to the mix. Balancing open routes with avoiding dead ends creates a unique spatial challenge, and multiple editions offer further variety.
Next Station: London
1See it at Amazon
Next Station: London, a flip and write game, innovatively integrates pencil colors into gameplay. Players start from colored stations on their map, drawing lines based on drawn cards, aiming to cross districts and visit landmarks. The rule against crossing lines except at stations adds strategic depth, resulting in beautifully varied and colorful maps.
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write
4See it at Amazon
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write elevates the genre by introducing more complexity and depth. Players use dice rolls to gather resources and build a dinosaur theme park, managing attractions, concessions, and security. The game's tour mechanism at the end of each turn brings the park to life, offering a thematic and challenging experience.
Cartographers
6See it at Amazon Also at Target
Cartographers adds a unique twist to the genre with player interaction. Players map a fantasy kingdom using cards, aiming to meet scoring goals. The introduction of monster cards, which neighbors place on your map, adds a personal challenge and thematic depth, making each game session engaging and interactive.
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, influenced by dice rolls. The ability to buy horses and manipulate odds adds strategic depth, creating a dynamic and interactive game where player decisions impact each other.
Three Sisters
3See it at Amazon
Three Sisters elevates roll and write gameplay with intense action chaining. Players grow a garden, using dice rolls to trigger actions that often lead to bonus actions, requiring careful strategic planning. The game's score sheet includes a space for tracking these bonuses, adding a layer of complexity and satisfaction.
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 interconnected decisions and potential rewards grow as players progress through the game's 10 rounds, offering a thematic and engaging experience.
Sagrada Artisans
0See it at Amazon
Sagrada Artisans builds on the original Sagrada by introducing a campaign mode and the ability to color in your stained-glass window design. Each of the 10 sessions adds new tools and challenges, maintaining the game's serene atmosphere while offering a progressively engaging experience.
Motor City
0See it at Amazon
Motor City, from the creators of Three Sisters and Fleet, represents the pinnacle of their roll and write design. Players manage different aspects of car production, using a dice-drafting mechanic and a blueprint board to strategize their way to market. This game focuses on strategic coordination rather than explosive combos, offering an innovative and challenging experience.
For more gaming ideas, 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 cards and board games.
