The roll and write genre has seen a significant surge in popularity in recent years, drawing inspiration from classics like Yahtzee. These games involve rolling dice or flipping cards, and using the results to mark a personal sheet. Despite their simple mechanics, roll and write games offer a canvas for sophisticated gameplay and creative personalization. Their straightforward nature and immediate rewards make them highly appealing, attracting a broad audience due to their low entry barriers. Below, we showcase some of the finest examples 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 is an innovative take on the roll and write genre, where each realm is inspired by another board game. Players roll dice and use the results to engage in mini-games that reflect these inspirations. Over nine rolls, all players work with the same three realms, then transition to new ones from a set of twelve, repeating this cycle twice for a complete game. The charm lies in the realms, which are engaging microcosms of their source games, offering family-friendly puzzles. For an even more challenging experience, consider the standalone sequel, Rolling Realms Redux, which introduces more complex realms to mix and match with the original set.

Marabunta

Marabunta

0See it at Amazon Marabunta, designed by the renowned Reiner Knizia, brings his strategic prowess to the roll and write genre. Exclusively for two players, it simulates a battle between ant tribes over hexes that include various rewards. The dice allow players to expand their territory or earn bonuses, blending spatial strategy with mathematical calculations, a hallmark of Knizia's design style.

The Fox Experiment

The Fox Experiment

0See it at Amazon Inspired by a real-life 1950s experiment on fox domestication, Elizabeth Hargrave, the creator of Wingspan, crafted this intriguing roll and write game. It's a bit more complex, but the use of dice to represent genetic traits adds a delightful layer of strategy. Players select parent foxes to breed offspring with desired traits, advancing their research goals through rounds of selection.

Twilight Inscription

Twilight Inscription

1See it at Amazon Twilight Inscription stands out by adapting the vast universe of Twilight Imperium into the roll and write format. It captures the essence of 4X video games—exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination—in about 90 minutes. Players manage multiple sheets, each representing a different aspect of their space empire, requiring strategic focus and decision-making, offering a depth akin to a full strategic board game.

Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up

Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up

2See it at Amazon Super Skill Pinball brings the excitement of a pinball machine to the roll and write genre. Players choose from four tables, navigating the ball's path by selecting bumpers and targets based on their dice rolls. The challenge is to maximize scores within the constraints of the table's rules, offering a thrilling puzzle. Multiple sets are available, but Ramp It Up, including a cooperative table, is the top choice.

The Best Board Game Deals

Welcome To

Welcome To... Your Perfect Home

3See it at Amazon Welcome To... is a flip and write game where players plan suburban streets using house numbers and building effect cards. The goal is to sequence houses while optimizing scores through various bonuses. For a more complex experience, consider its sci-fi cousin, Welcome To The Moon.

My City: Roll & Build

My City: Roll & Build

1See it at Amazon Inspired by Reiner Knizia's My City, this roll and write game follows a campaign format, with each 30-minute session introducing new rules. This gradual complexity build-up is engaging and flexible, allowing for both campaign and standalone play. It's an entertaining gem that withstands multiple plays.

Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition

Railroad Ink

9See it at Amazon Also at Target Railroad Ink challenges players to create a transport network on a grid using custom dice. The goal is to connect as many exits as possible, balancing the risk of dead ends with the potential for future connections. The Deep Blue edition, with its rivers and ferry routes, adds a unique twist to the gameplay.

Next Station: London

Next Station: London

1See it at Amazon Next Station: London is a flip and write game where players build a train network using colored pencils. Each color corresponds to a starting station, and players must strategically expand their lines across districts, mindful of tourist sites and river crossings. The game's simplicity belies its strategic depth, resulting in engaging, colorful maps.

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write

Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write

4See it at Amazon Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write introduces complexity to the roll and write genre, challenging players to build a dinosaur theme park. Dice rolls provide resources to construct attractions and manage operations, culminating in a tour that scores points. It's a brain-teasing experience that brings the theme to life.

Cartographers

Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale

6See it at Amazon Also at Target Cartographers adds player interaction to the genre with its flip and write mechanics. Players map a fantasy kingdom, but must contend with monster cards that allow neighbors to place negative icons on their maps. This twist adds a personal touch and enhances the game's thematic world-building.

Long Shot: The Dice Game

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 game's interactive nature and thematic depth set it apart from typical roll and write games.

Three Sisters

Three Sisters

3See it at Amazon Three Sisters elevates the genre with its action chaining mechanics. Players cultivate a garden, using dice rolls to grow crops and earn bonuses that trigger further actions. This strategic depth makes it a standout in the roll and write category.

Fleet: The Dice Game

Fleet: The Dice Game

0See it at Amazon Fleet: The Dice Game challenges players to manage a fishing fleet, using dice to buy licenses or launch boats. The interconnected options and thematic dice make it a fun and strategic experience, without the real-world risks of fishing.

Sagrada Artisans

Sagrada Artisans

0See it at Amazon Sagrada Artisans builds on the original Sagrada, allowing players to color their stained-glass windows. As a campaign game, it introduces new tools and challenges over ten sessions, maintaining a calm and engaging experience.

Motor City

Motor City

0See it at Amazon Motor City, from the designers of Three Sisters and Fleet, mirrors car production lines in the roll and write format. Players manage various aspects of car design and production using dice-drafting and a blueprint board, offering a strategic challenge that stands out in the genre.

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.