The roll and write genre has seen a remarkable surge in popularity in recent years, evolving from the roots of classic games like Yahtzee. These games engage players by having them roll dice or flip cards, then use the outcomes to fill in a personal score sheet. The genre's simplicity belies its potential for deep and sophisticated gameplay, making it a favorite among a diverse audience. The appeal lies in its straightforward mechanics coupled with the creative freedom players have in personalizing their sheets, resulting in a genre that's both accessible and endlessly engaging. Here, we explore some of the best roll and write games that showcase the genre's breadth and depth.
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 three realms simultaneously over nine rolls, then shift to new realms twice more to complete a full game. Each realm encapsulates its source game's essence, presenting engaging and family-friendly mini-puzzles. For those seeking more challenge, Rolling Realms Redux introduces additional complex realms that can be played independently or mixed with the original game.
Marabunta
0See it at Amazon
Designed by the renowned Reiner Knizia, Marabunta pits two players against each other as rival ant tribes vying for territory, represented by hexes filled with tempting treats like cupcakes. Players use dice to expand their influence across color-coded hexes or earn bonuses, blending spatial strategy with mathematical challenges, a signature of Knizia's design.
The Fox Experiment
0See it at Amazon
Inspired by a real-life fox domestication experiment, Elizabeth Hargrave's The Fox Experiment delves into genetic heredity through dice rolls. Players breed foxes, selecting traits from parent dice to create offspring that align with their end-game goals, creating a rewarding and complex roll and write experience.
Twilight Inscription
1See it at Amazon
Twilight Inscription adapts the expansive universe of Twilight Imperium into a roll and write format, condensing the 4X gaming experience into 90 minutes. Players manage separate sheets representing different aspects of their space empire, making strategic choices each turn to optimize their actions. This game offers a strategic depth akin to a full board game, making it a standout in the genre.
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
2See it at Amazon
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up creatively simulates pinball gameplay on paper, challenging players to navigate a pinball table using dice rolls. Each table comes with unique rules and targets, adding variety and strategic depth. The game's cooperative table and themed sets, like the Star Trek version, enhance its replayability.
The Best Board Game Deals
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 more strategic options. Players build suburban streets, balancing house numbers with various bonuses, creating a satisfying and strategic town-planning experience. For those seeking more complexity, the sci-fi themed Welcome To The Moon is an excellent alternative.
My City: Roll & Build
1See it at Amazon
Based on Reiner Knizia's popular board game, My City: Roll & Build introduces a campaign-style play that gradually increases in complexity over multiple episodes. This layered approach ensures a smooth learning curve and offers flexibility for one-off sessions, making it a versatile and engaging game.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
9See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Railroad Ink challenges players to design a transport network on a grid using custom dice. The goal is to connect as many exits as possible, balancing the need for a cohesive network with the flexibility for future expansion. The Deep Blue edition, with its rivers and ferry routes, adds an extra layer of strategic depth.
Next Station: London
1See it at Amazon
Next Station: London introduces a novel flip and write mechanic where players use colored pencils to build a train network across London. Starting from different stations, players must navigate the map, crossing districts and tourist sites while managing line crossings. The game's simplicity belies its strategic depth, offering engaging replay value.
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write
4See it at Amazon
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write pushes the boundaries of the genre by adding complexity and depth. Players build a dinosaur theme park, managing resources, attractions, and security. The game's tour mechanic adds thematic excitement, making it a rich strategic challenge.
Cartographers
6See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Cartographers introduces player interaction into the flip and write genre by allowing players to affect each other's maps through monster cards. This adds a personal and thematic element to the game, enhancing the sense of world-building and strategic planning.
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, where players bet on outcomes influenced by dice rolls. The game's interactive elements and thematic immersion set it apart, offering a unique and engaging experience.
Three Sisters
3See it at Amazon
Three Sisters elevates the roll and write genre with its action chaining mechanic. Players cultivate a garden, using dice rolls to trigger a series of bonus actions, requiring strategic planning to maximize scores. This game offers a tactical depth that sets it apart.
Fleet: The Dice Game
0See it at Amazon
Fleet: The Dice Game immerses players in the world of fishing, where dice rolls determine the purchase of licenses or the launching of boats. The game's interconnected options and thematic dice enhance its strategic appeal, offering a fun and engaging experience.
Sagrada Artisans
0See it at Amazon
Sagrada Artisans builds on the original Sagrada game by introducing a coloring element and a campaign structure. Players create stained-glass windows over multiple sessions, adding new tools and challenges, maintaining the game's simplicity and zen-like appeal.
Motor City
0See it at Amazon
Motor City, from the creators of Three Sisters and Fleet, mirrors the car production process in a roll and write format. Players draft dice to manage different aspects of car design and production, offering a strategic and innovative gameplay experience.
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.
