The roll-and-write genre has exploded in popularity, offering accessible gameplay stemming from the classic Yahtzee. Players roll dice or flip cards, using the results to fill in a personal score sheet. This simple concept belies the genre's surprising depth and potential for sophisticated strategy.
Roll-and-writes are appealing due to their immediate gratification and straightforward rules. The creative freedom of personalizing your sheet contrasts nicely with the typically simple rule sets. This combination makes them broadly accessible, attracting a wide range of players. Below are some of the best examples the 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
Available on Amazon. Rolling Realms features realms inspired by other board games. Each realm presents a mini-game based on a die roll, offering a diverse and charming experience. The standalone sequel, Rolling Realms Redux, adds even more challenging realms.
Marabunta
Available on Amazon. Designed by Reiner Knizia, this two-player game depicts a struggle between ant tribes over territory. Dice rolls allow players to expand their influence or gain bonus points, blending spatial and mathematical strategy.
The Fox Experiment
Available on Amazon. Inspired by a real-life fox domestication experiment, this game uses dice to simulate genetic heredity. Players breed foxes, aiming for specific traits to meet end-game goals.
Twilight Inscription
Available on Amazon. A unique title emulating the 4X genre of video games. Players manage different aspects of their space empire across separate sheets, creating strategic trade-offs.
Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up
Available on Amazon. This game cleverly recreates the pinball experience using dice and a pen. Players navigate a pinball table, aiming for maximum score while managing limited target usage.
Welcome To... Your Perfect Home
Available on Amazon. A "flip-and-write" game where cards replace dice. Players plan a suburban town, balancing house numbers and building effects for optimal scoring.
My City: Roll & Build
Available on Amazon. A campaign-style game with increasing complexity over multiple episodes. Each episode can be played individually or as part of the campaign.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
Available on Amazon and Target. Players draw transport networks on a grid based on dice rolls, balancing network connections and minimizing dead ends.
Next Station: London
Available on Amazon. A flip-and-write game using colored pencils to build a train network across London, with strategic limitations on line crossings.
Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write
Available on Amazon. This game adds complexity to the genre, requiring players to design and manage a dinosaur theme park, balancing resources and tour routes.
Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale
Available on Amazon and Target. A flip-and-write game with player interaction. Players map a fantasy kingdom, with monster cards introducing challenges and map sharing.
Long Shot: The Dice Game
Available at Barnes and Noble. A horse racing game with betting and strategic horse purchasing, adding player interaction and excitement.
Three Sisters
Available on Amazon. This game emphasizes action chaining, rewarding players who strategically combine actions and bonuses.
Fleet: The Dice Game
Available on Amazon. Players manage a fishing fleet, strategically using dice to buy licenses, launch boats, and sell catches.
Sagrada Artisans
Available on Amazon. A campaign-style game where players create stained-glass windows, adding decorative coloring and fresh challenges over multiple sessions.
Motor City
Available on Amazon. Players manage various aspects of car production, using a dice-drafting mechanic and a blueprint board for strategic planning.
