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 flipping cards, then using the results to mark a personal sheet. While simple in concept, roll-and-write games offer surprisingly sophisticated gameplay and endless opportunities for creative expression.

Their appeal lies in their straightforward rules and immediate gratification. Players enjoy the creative freedom of personalizing their sheets, while the underlying rules remain easy to grasp. This winning combination makes roll-and-write games accessible to a broad audience, boasting a low barrier to entry. 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

Rolling Realms

Available on Amazon. Rolling Realms' unique gameplay revolves around realms inspired by other board games. Each realm features a card where you assign die roll results to play a mini-game reflecting its inspiration. Players share three realms, rolling nine times, then drawing three new realms and repeating twice. The charm lies in the cleverly designed realms, offering engaging mini-puzzles. For a greater challenge, consider the standalone sequel, Rolling Realms Redux, featuring more complex realms playable solo or combined with the base game.

Marabunta

Available on Amazon. Renowned designer Reiner Knizia brings his strategic prowess to this two-player roll-and-write game. Depicting a struggle between ant tribes over territory, players use dice to expand their influence or gain bonus points. Marabunta masterfully blends spatial strategy with mathematical elements, showcasing Knizia's signature style.

The Fox Experiment

Available on Amazon. Inspired by a real-life fox domestication experiment, this roll-and-write game from Elizabeth Hargrave (designer of Wingspan) uses dice to represent genetic heredity. Players breed foxes, selecting traits to meet end-game goals across multiple rounds of selection. While slightly more involved, the engaging use of dice to simulate genetics makes it worthwhile.

Twilight Inscription

Available on Amazon. A unique entry, Twilight Inscription adapts the complexity of Twilight Imperium into a roll-and-write format. This sprawling experience emulates the 4X genre (explore, exploit, expand, exterminate) within a 90-minute playtime. The game uses separate sheets for different aspects of empire building, requiring players to prioritize actions each turn, creating strategic trade-offs and diverse gameplay approaches.

Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up

Available on Amazon. Unlike many roll-and-writes, Super Skill Pinball cleverly replicates the experience of pinball. Players choose a table, then use dice rolls to navigate the board, hitting bumpers and targets. The inability to reuse boxes adds a strategic layer, making for a thrilling puzzle.

Welcome To... Your Perfect Home

Available on Amazon. A "flip-and-write" game (using cards instead of dice), Welcome To challenges players to plan suburban streets, placing houses in numerical order while maximizing bonus points for pools, parks, and city planning objectives. The strategic depth is surprising for its simple premise.

My City: Roll & Build

Available on Amazon. Based on Reiner Knizia's My City, this game features a rewarding campaign structure. Play unfolds across multiple episodes, each introducing new rules and challenges. The game is flexible, allowing for single-episode play or a complete campaign experience.

Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition

Available on Amazon and Target. In Railroad Ink, players draw transport networks on a grid using custom dice. The challenge lies in linking exits while minimizing dead ends and strategically planning connections. The Deep Blue edition adds rivers and lakes, introducing ferry routes and enhancing the gameplay.

Next Station: London

Available on Amazon. This flip-and-write game uses colored pencils to create a train network across London. Players draw lines based on card symbols, aiming to connect districts and landmarks while strategically managing line crossings. The pencil-swapping mechanic adds an element of interaction.

Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write

Available on Amazon. Dinosaur Island introduces more complexity and depth to the roll-and-write genre. Players build a dinosaur theme park, managing resources, attractions, and staff while aiming for a successful tour route. The combination of park planning and tour management creates a rich and challenging experience.

Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale

Available on Amazon and Target. Cartographers introduces player interaction by having players draw monsters on each other’s maps. This flip-and-write game challenges players to map a fantasy kingdom, fulfilling scoring challenges while dealing with the placement of monster tokens on their neighbors' maps.

Long Shot: The Dice Game

Available at Barnes & Noble. This horse racing roll-and-write game features an actual track board. Players bet on horses based on dice rolls, adding an element of interaction and excitement as players compete for winnings.

Three Sisters

Available on Amazon. Three Sisters emphasizes action chaining. Players grow crops and flowers in their garden, using dice rolls to trigger bonus actions that can lead to further actions, creating a strategic challenge.

Fleet: The Dice Game

Available on Amazon. Fleet offers interconnected options for managing a fishing fleet. Players use dice to buy licenses, launch boats, sell catches, and build facilities, creating a strategic web of choices.

Sagrada Artisans

Available on Amazon. Sagrada Artisans expands on the original Sagrada, adding a campaign mode and allowing players to color in their stained-glass windows. The campaign adds new challenges and tools without compromising the game's relaxing atmosphere.

Motor City

Available on Amazon. Motor City provides a strategic challenge, focusing on car production. Players use dice drafting and a blueprint board to coordinate design, engineering, testing, production, and sales aspects.

For more gaming options, explore our lists of the best board games of all time and the best puzzle tables, including a versatile table from Bits and Pieces perfect for cards and board games.