The roll-and-write genre has exploded in popularity recently. This accessible style of gameplay, inspired by the classic board game Yahtzee, involves rolling dice or drawing cards, then using the results to fill in a personal score sheet. While deceptively simple, roll-and-writes offer surprisingly sophisticated gameplay and endless opportunities for strategic depth.
Their appeal lies in their straightforward rules and immediate gratification. Players enjoy the creative freedom of personalizing their sheets, while the underlying mechanics remain easy to grasp. This winning combination makes roll-and-writes accessible to a broad audience, boasting a low barrier to entry. The following games represent the best this genre has to offer.
TL;DR: The Best Roll & 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
See it at Amazon. Rolling Realms' unique gameplay revolves around realms inspired by other board games. Each realm features a card where you assign die rolls to play a mini-game reflecting its source material. Players simultaneously manage three realms over nine rolls, then draw new ones for a total of three rounds. The charm lies in the cleverly designed mini-puzzles, offering a delightful, family-friendly challenge. For a more advanced experience, consider the standalone sequel, Rolling Realms Redux, featuring even more intricate realms.
Marabunta
See it at Amazon. Renowned game designer Reiner Knizia brings his strategic prowess to the roll-and-write genre in Marabunta. This two-player game depicts a tribal struggle over territory, featuring a blend of spatial and mathematical strategy. Dice rolls allow you to expand your influence or gain bonus points, creating a compelling mix of tactical decisions and scoring opportunities, characteristic of Knizia's design style.
The Fox Experiment
See it at Amazon. Inspired by a real-life experiment in fox domestication, this roll-and-write game from Elizabeth Hargrave (designer of Wingspan) uses dice to simulate genetic heredity. Players breed foxes, selecting traits to meet end-game goals across multiple rounds of selection. While slightly more complex than some other entries, its unique approach to theme and mechanics makes it a rewarding experience.
Twilight Inscription
See it at Amazon. Twilight Inscription uniquely blends the grand scope of Twilight Imperium with the roll-and-write format. This sprawling game simulates the 4X genre (explore, exploit, expand, exterminate) in a surprisingly concise 90 minutes. The game uses multiple sheets, each representing a different aspect of empire building, requiring strategic choices and trade-offs across each turn. Its larger scale and strategic depth set it apart from typical roll-and-writes.
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
See it at Amazon. Super Skill Pinball cleverly replicates the experience of pinball using dice and a pen. Players choose a table, then navigate their ball using dice rolls, hitting bumpers and targets to maximize their score. The rule of not re-using boxes adds a layer of strategic planning, creating a thrilling puzzle-solving experience. Various themed sets are available, with Ramp It Up being a standout, even including a cooperative mode.
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home
See it at Amazon. While technically a "flip-and-write" (using cards instead of dice), Welcome To... Your Perfect Home fits neatly into the roll-and-write family. Players plan a suburban town, placing houses and buildings to maximize their score. The challenge lies in balancing house number order with bonus points for specific layouts, creating a surprisingly strategic experience. For a more complex challenge, consider its sci-fi counterpart, Welcome To The Moon.
My City: Roll & Build
See it at Amazon. Based on Reiner Knizia's popular board game, My City: Roll & Build offers a rewarding campaign experience. The game unfolds across multiple episodes, gradually introducing new rules and mechanics. This layered approach ensures a smooth learning curve, while also allowing for individual episodes to be played as standalone sessions. Its flexibility and entertaining gameplay make it a lasting favorite.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
See it at Amazon & Target. Railroad Ink distinguishes itself by having players draw a transport network on a grid using custom dice. The goal is to connect exits to maximize points, creating a balance between risk and reward. The Deep Blue edition adds rivers and lakes, introducing ferry routes and enhancing strategic possibilities. Other editions (Blazing Red, Lush Green, Shining Yellow) offer further variations.
Next Station: London
See it at Amazon. Next Station: London is a flip-and-write game where pencil colors are key. Players draw train lines from starting stations, aiming to cross districts and tourist sites. The inability to cross lines except at stations introduces strategic depth, making each turn a careful balancing act. The simple concept unfolds into surprisingly nuanced gameplay, offering a unique puzzle-like experience.
Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write
See it at Amazon. Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write pushes the boundaries of the roll-and-write genre with increased complexity. Players build a dinosaur theme park, managing resources, attractions, and staff. The final tour route scoring adds a thematic element to the strategic challenge of park planning.
Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale
See it at Amazon & Target. Cartographers introduces player interaction to the genre. Players map a fantasy kingdom based on drawn cards, fulfilling scoring challenges. The inclusion of monster cards, passed to neighbors for placement, adds a fun, competitive element, enhancing the overall thematic experience. The sequel, Cartographers: Heroes, adds further dynamic elements.
Long Shot: The Dice Game
See it at Barnes and Noble. Long Shot: The Dice Game offers a unique horse racing theme. Players bet on horses based on dice rolls, but can also buy horses for special abilities. The interactive betting system creates dependencies between players, adding a social and strategic layer to the experience.
Three Sisters
See it at Amazon. Three Sisters emphasizes action chaining. Players grow crops and flowers, using dice rolls to trigger bonus actions, creating complex chains of effects. The strategic planning required to maximize these chains distinguishes it from other roll-and-writes.
Fleet: The Dice Game
See it at Amazon. Fleet: The Dice Game focuses on interconnected choices. Players manage a fishing fleet, using dice to buy licenses and launch boats. The game encourages strategic planning to maximize benefits across various options, creating a fast-paced and engaging experience.
Sagrada Artisans
See it at Amazon. Sagrada Artisans expands on the original Sagrada with a roll-and-write campaign. Players color in their stained-glass windows, adding a relaxing and creative element. The campaign structure gradually introduces new challenges and tools, maintaining the game's simplicity and zen-like feel.
Motor City
See it at Amazon. Motor City, from the creators of Three Sisters and Fleet, offers a sophisticated car production theme. Players manage different aspects of car design and production, using a dice-drafting mechanic and a blueprint board to optimize their strategies. It represents a more cohesive and strategic approach compared to their previous games.
For more gaming inspiration, explore our lists of the best board games of all time and the best puzzle tables, including a versatile multi-purpose table (by Bits and Pieces) ideal for card and board games.
