The roll and write genre has seen a remarkable surge in popularity in recent years, drawing inspiration from the classic board game Yahtzee. In these games, players roll dice or flip cards and use the results to mark up their personal sheets. This simple yet engaging concept has paved the way for a variety of sophisticated gameplay experiences. Roll and write games are particularly appealing due to their straightforward nature and immediate rewards. They offer players the freedom to personalize their sheets or boards, while maintaining a structured set of rules that are easy to grasp. This winning combination has led to widespread success across diverse player groups, thanks to the genre's low entry barriers. Below, we highlight 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
0See it at Amazon
Rolling Realms offers a unique twist by basing each realm on another board game. Players use a card to assign die roll results to play mini-games that reflect their inspirations. Over nine rolls, all players engage with the same three realms, then draw three new ones from a set of twelve, repeating this process twice for a complete game. The charm lies in the realms themselves, which are excellent microcosms of their source material, offering family-friendly puzzles to master. For those seeking more challenge, the standalone sequel, Rolling Realms Redux, introduces even more intricate realms that can be played alone or mixed with the base game.
Marabunta
### Marabunta
0See it at Amazon
Marabunta, designed by the renowned Reiner Knizia, brings his strategic prowess to the roll and write genre. This two-player game simulates the battle between two ant tribes over hexes of territory, including tempting cupcakes and other rewards. Players use dice to expand their influence across color-coded hexes or earn bonuses to boost their final score. This blend of spatial and mathematical strategy showcases Knizia's signature style, making Marabunta a fascinating addition to the genre.
The Fox Experiment
### The Fox Experiment
0See it at Amazon
Inspired by a real-life experiment on fox domestication from the 1950s, The Fox Experiment by Elizabeth Hargrave, the creator of Wingspan, offers a more complex roll and write experience. Players use dice to represent genetic heredity, with each parent fox contributing trait dice to their offspring. The goal is to selectively breed foxes to meet end-game objectives, carrying forward successful traits into new rounds. This game's delightful use of dice to simulate genetics makes it a standout choice.
Twilight Inscription
### Twilight Inscription
1See it at Amazon
Twilight Inscription stands out by merging the expansive world of Twilight Imperium with the roll and write format. This game emulates the 4X genre of video games, where players build space empires through exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination. Each aspect is represented on a separate sheet, creating a comprehensive experience that can be explored and mastered over multiple plays. The game's focus on strategic trade-offs and diverse approaches makes it feel more like a full-fledged board game than a typical roll and write.
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
### Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
2See it at Amazon
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up brings the excitement of a pinball table to life using just a pen and dice. Players choose from four tables, navigating bumpers and targets based on their rolls. The challenge lies in maximizing scores without reusing boxes, creating a thrilling puzzle. With various sets available, including a Star Trek-themed one, Ramp It Up stands out as the best choice, even offering a cooperative table for added variety.
Welcome To
### Welcome To... Your Perfect Home
3See it at Amazon
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home is a flip and write game that uses cards instead of dice, offering more strategic options. Players plan suburban streets by choosing house numbers and building effect cards, aiming to balance scores across various bonuses like pools and parks. The game's satisfying strategy and the option to play its more complex sci-fi cousin, Welcome To The Moon, make it a compelling choice.
My City: Roll & Build
### My City: Roll & Build
1See it at Amazon
Based on Reiner Knizia's popular My City, this roll and write game features a campaign structure that gradually introduces new rules and complexities. Each 30-minute session builds on the last, offering a rewarding experience without overwhelming players. The game's flexibility allows for standalone episodes, making it suitable for both campaign and one-off play. This engaging gem promises many enjoyable sessions.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
### Railroad Ink
9See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Railroad Ink challenges players to draw a transport network on a grid using custom dice. The goal is to link as many exits as possible, balancing the need to minimize dead ends with the potential for future connections. This unique blend of risk and spatial thinking sets it apart. The Deep Blue edition, which adds rivers and lakes with potential ferry routes, is the top choice among its various editions.
Next Station: London
### Next Station: London
1See it at Amazon
Next Station: London, a flip and write game, introduces a novel use of pencil colors tied to starting stations on the player's map. Players draw their network based on drawn cards, aiming to cross districts, visit tourist sites, and connect lines while avoiding crossing existing lines. The game's simple yet nuanced concept leads to engaging, colorful maps and repeat playability.
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write
### Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write
4See it at Amazon
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write pushes the roll and write genre towards greater complexity and depth. Players use dice rolls to gather resources like money and DNA to build a dinosaur theme park. They sketch out attractions and concessions on a grid, manage staff and security, and run tours to score points. This game's rich strategic challenge and thematic immersion make it a standout.
Cartographers
### Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale
6See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Cartographers introduces player interaction to the genre through its flip and write mechanics. Players map out a fantasy kingdom, aiming to meet variable scoring challenges. The twist comes with monster cards, where players pass their maps to neighbors to place negative icons, adding a personal touch and enhancing the game's thematic world-building. The sequel, Cartographers: Heroes, adds dynamic monsters and hero cards for even more excitement.
Long Shot: The Dice Game
### Long Shot: The Dice Game
0See it at Barnes and Noble
Long Shot: The Dice Game transforms the original horse racing game into a roll and write hit. Players bet on horses as they race around a board based on dice rolls, with some horses more likely to move than others. Players can buy horses for special powers and bonuses, and manipulate odds to favor their choices. The game's interactive nature and thematic excitement set it apart from other roll and writes.
Three Sisters
### Three Sisters
3See it at Amazon
Three Sisters takes the concept of rewarding specific roll combinations to new heights. Players grow crops and flowers on their score sheet, using dice rolls to access a rondel of actions. Completing actions often triggers bonus actions, leading to intense action chaining. This strategic depth and tactical planning make Three Sisters a standout in the genre.
Fleet: The Dice Game
### Fleet: The Dice Game
0See it at Amazon
Fleet: The Dice Game offers a plethora of interconnected options as players manage a fishing fleet. Dice rolls determine whether to buy licenses or launch boats to catch seafood, with rewards increasing as players progress down each tree. Selling catches and building structures over 10 rounds adds thematic depth and strategic complexity, making this game a fun and engaging choice.
Sagrada Artisans
### Sagrada Artisans
0See it at Amazon
Sagrada Artisans builds on the original Sagrada's calming gameplay by allowing players to color in their stained-glass windows. As a campaign game, it unfolds over ten sessions, introducing new tools and challenges while maintaining simplicity and a Zen-like feel. This smooth progression to an exciting finish makes it a unique and enjoyable roll and write experience.
Motor City
### Motor City
0See it at Amazon
Motor City, from the designers of Three Sisters and Fleet, represents the pinnacle of their roll and write expertise. Players manage four aspects of car production—design, engineering, testing, production, and sales—using a dice-drafting mechanic and a blueprint board for potential bonuses. This game shifts focus from explosive combos to a more cohesive strategic challenge, making it an innovative and engaging choice.
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.
