Top Roll and Write Board Games of 2025

The roll and write genre has seen a significant surge in popularity in recent years, drawing inspiration from the classic game Yahtzee. In these games, players roll dice or flip cards to reveal numbers or symbols, which they then use to mark their personal score sheets. This simple yet engaging mechanic has proven to be a fertile ground for innovative and sophisticated gameplay.

Roll and write games are particularly appealing due to their accessibility and instant gratification. Players enjoy the freedom to customize their sheets or boards, while the rules remain straightforward and easy to grasp. This combination of creativity and simplicity has contributed to the genre's widespread success, attracting a diverse range of players with minimal barriers to entry. Below, we explore 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

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Rolling Realms cleverly integrates mini-games inspired by other board games, each represented by a unique realm. Over nine rolls, all players engage with the same three realms simultaneously, then switch to three new realms from a set of twelve for the next phase. This structure repeats twice to complete a full game. The charm lies in the realms' ability to encapsulate their source games into fun, family-friendly mini-puzzles. For those seeking more challenge, the standalone sequel, Rolling Realms Redux, introduces more complex realms that can be played independently or mixed with the original game.

Marabunta

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Designed by the renowned Reiner Knizia, Marabunta is a two-player roll and write game that simulates the territorial struggles of two ant tribes. Players use dice rolls to expand their influence across color-coded hexes, aiming to control valuable resources like cupcakes. The game blends spatial strategy with mathematical challenges, showcasing Knizia's signature style of gameplay.

The Fox Experiment

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Inspired by a real-life Russian fox domestication study, The Fox Experiment by Elizabeth Hargrave offers a more complex roll and write experience. Players use dice to represent genetic traits, breeding foxes to meet specific end-game goals. The game's unique mechanics allow players to select and breed foxes over multiple rounds, aiming to create the friendliest foxes for their research.

Twilight Inscription

1See it at Amazon

Twilight Inscription brings the expansive universe of Twilight Imperium into the roll and write format, offering a 4X gaming experience condensed into roughly 90 minutes. Players manage separate sheets representing different aspects of their space empire, making strategic choices each turn to focus on exploration, exploitation, expansion, or extermination. This game stands out for its depth and strategic complexity, resembling a full-fledged board game more than a typical roll and write.

Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up

2See it at Amazon

Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up uniquely captures the excitement of a pinball machine using dice and a pen. Players choose from four different tables, navigating bumpers and targets based on their rolls, with the challenge of maximizing scores without repeating targets. This game combines thematic immersion with strategic puzzle-solving, and the Ramp It Up edition even includes a cooperative table for added variety.

Welcome To... Your Perfect Home

3See it at Amazon

Although technically a flip and write game, Welcome To... Your Perfect Home is closely related to the roll and write genre. Players use cards to plan suburban streets, balancing house numbers and building effects to achieve various scoring bonuses. The game offers a satisfying challenge with strategic depth, and its sci-fi variant, Welcome To The Moon, adds even more complexity for eager gamers.

My City: Roll & Build

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Based on Reiner Knizia's popular My City, this roll and write version retains the engaging campaign structure. Players progress through multiple episodes, each adding new rules and challenges, allowing for a gradual increase in complexity. The game remains flexible, suitable for both campaign play and standalone sessions, offering a rewarding and replayable experience.

Railroad Ink

9See it at Amazon

Also at Target

Railroad Ink challenges players to build a transport network on a grid using custom dice. The goal is to connect as many exits as possible while balancing the risk of dead ends against future opportunities. Different editions, such as Deep Blue, add unique elements like rivers and lakes, enhancing the game's variety and strategic depth.

Next Station: London

1See it at Amazon

Next Station: London, another flip and write game, introduces color-coded pencils as a key mechanic. Players start from different stations and draw networks across London, aiming to cross districts and hit tourist sites. The game's simple yet nuanced gameplay results in engaging, multicolored maps that evolve with each play.

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write

4See it at Amazon

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write pushes the boundaries of the roll and write genre by adding complexity and depth. Players use dice rolls to gather resources and build a dinosaur theme park, managing attractions, concessions, and security. The game culminates in a tour route through the park, adding a thematic and strategic layer to the gameplay.

Cartographers

6See it at Amazon

Also at Target

Cartographers introduces player interaction to the roll and write genre through its unique monster card mechanic. Players map out a fantasy kingdom using cards, but occasionally pass their maps to neighbors who must place negative monster icons. This adds a personal element to the game, enhancing the sense of world-building and thematic engagement. The sequel, Cartographers: Heroes, further enriches the experience with dynamic monsters and hero cards.

Long Shot: The Dice Game

0See it at Barnes and Noble

Long Shot: The Dice Game transforms the horse racing theme into an interactive roll and write experience. Players bet on horses as they race around a track, using dice rolls to influence outcomes. The game allows players to buy horses for special powers and manipulate odds, creating a web of dependencies and strategic excitement.

Three Sisters

3See it at Amazon

Three Sisters elevates the roll and write genre with its intense action chaining mechanic. Players grow crops and flowers in a garden, using dice rolls to trigger a series of bonus actions. This strategic depth requires careful planning, making each turn a tactical challenge.

Fleet: The Dice Game

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Fleet: The Dice Game immerses players in the world of fishing fleets, where dice rolls determine whether to buy licenses or launch boats. The game rewards players for navigating interconnected options, culminating in selling catches and building structures over ten rounds. The thematic dice and fast-paced gameplay offer a unique experience.

Sagrada Artisans

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Sagrada Artisans expands on the original Sagrada by introducing a roll and write campaign. Players color in their stained-glass windows over ten sessions, each adding new tools and challenges. The game maintains a serene atmosphere while offering a progressively engaging experience.

Motor City

0See it at Amazon

Motor City, from the designers of Three Sisters and Fleet, innovates the roll and write genre by simulating car production lines. Players manage different aspects of vehicle development, using dice-drafting and a blueprint board to strategize their way to market. This game focuses on strategic coordination rather than explosive combos, offering a fresh and challenging experience.