Are you looking for some of the best dice games of all time?
Dice have been around for more than 5,000 years and are still a popular means of entertainment to date, even in this technologically advanced age. One can find many different fun dice games that can be played with friends and family.
So today, we are back with a list of the best dice games of all time so as you can take some time off the technology and enjoy a simple game of dice.
There is no age bound for playing a good dice game. Thus, without wasting any time, let’s take a look at the list.
The Top 12 Best Dice Games of All Time
The list has been prepared from various sources from the sites like Fun-Attic. Before diving into the details, let us take a quick look at the table below.
Further, we have attached the Amazon link of the game sets which are mentioned below:
| Games |
| 1. Backgammon |
| 2. Boggle |
| 3. Dice Chess |
| 4. Yahtzee |
| 5. Farkle |
| 6. Tenzi |
| 7. Bunco |
| 8. Qwixx |
| 9. Zambales |
| 10. Button Men |
| 11. Shut the Box |
| 12. Liar’s Dice |
1. Backgammon
We will start this list of the best dice games with a rich history of nearly 5,000 years. Backgammon is a two-player table game and is one of the popular dice games of all time.
Each player has fifteen pieces (checkers or players) that move between twenty-four triangles (points) according to the roll of two dice. The main plan of the game is to move all fifteen checkers off the board, also known as the first to bear off.
Backgammon’s immediate ancestor is the 16th-century game of Irish, the Anglo-Scottish, which is equivalent to the French Toutes Tables and Spanish Todas Tablas.
The game involves a combination of strategy and a little bit of luck while rolling the dice. The dice play a crucial role; however, the player must choose good moves and anticipate possible counter-moves.
It’s a game of strategy and luck; hence, it will provide guaranteed ultimate fun.
Amazon Link: Backgammon
2. Boggle
Boggle is another popular dice game, but instead of numbers, the dice have letters on them. It is also a word game. Allan Turoff invited the game, and Parker Brothers initially distributed the game.
In this game, the players use a plastic grid of lettered dice and attempt to find words in sequences of adjacent letters.
There is a 4×4 tray where 16 cubic dice are settled. The dice each have a different letter printed on each of their sides. The dice are settled in a way that only the top letter of each cube is visible.
The tray is covered and shook, and after the gird is settled, a three-minute sand timer is started. After that, the players will simultaneously begin the play.
In different countries, there are different versions of Boggle where the letter distribution varies. For example, the modern version of Boggle in the UK has easier letters, such as only K.
Amazon Link: Boggle Letter Dice
3. Dice Chess
At number third on our list of the best dice games is Dice chess. This game has many chess variants in which dice are used to alter gameplay.
The rolling of a pair of ordinary six-sided dice determines the moves in the game.
The history of dice chess dates back to the 11th and 14th centuries in Europe, Burma, and India. The dice were thrown before each turn to determine the piece to be moved.
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Dice Chess has different variations. In addition, the game may have different rules; therefore, there is no standard ruleset for dice chess. However, Pritchard’s Encyclopedia of Chess Variants contains descriptions of seven versions of Dice chess.
Some of the versions of Dice chess are the Brainking and Vegas Fun Chess.
Amazon Link: Dice Chess
4. Yahtzee
Milton Bradley invented this dice game and was first marketed as Yatzie by the National Association Service of Toledo, Ohio, in the early 1940s. This game is similar to the popular game in Scandinavia, Yatzy.
In 1956, the game entrepreneur Edwin S. Lowe renamed the game Yahtzee. Yahtzee’s ancestors are the earlier dice games such as Poker Dice, Yacht, and Generala.
The main point of the game is to score points by rolling five dice to make certain combinations. A player can roll the dice three times in a turn to make various scoring combinations. The dice must remain inbox.
This game consists of thirteen rounds. After every round, the player chooses a scoring category for that round. The category is not repeated after being used once.
Every scoring category has varying point values in which some have fixed values, while for others, the score relies on the value of the dice. The player with the most scores wins the game.
This game is the ultimate source of fun for playing with friends and family. So, why not add this dice game to your collection as well?
Amazon Link: Yahtzee
5. Farkle
The next dice game on our list is Farkle. This dice game’s origins are unknown; however, the game dates back to at least the mid-1980s. Equals to two or more players can play this game.
This game is similar to 1000/5000/10000, Cosmic Wimpout, Greed, Hot Dice, Squelch, Zilch, or Zonk. Since 1996, Legendary Games Inc marketed the game commercially under the brand name Pocket Farkel.
Unlike Dice chess, the basic rules of Farkle are well-established, but there are wide variations of scoring and playing.
While playing Farkle, the players need a dice of 6 or 5 in some variations and paper and pen to keep the game score. The players take turns throwing dice, and the player with the most scores is the winner.
This game is perfect for multiple players, so why not play a game of Farkle the next time with your friends?
Amazon Link: Farkle
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6. Tenzi
Another dice game to make it into our list of the best dice games is Tenzi. It is a speedy game, and the players can win or lose in a matter of seconds.
Unlike most of the dice games, every player in this game gets 10 dice to play with. Therefore, the player will have to roll their dice as fast as possible and quickly gather like numbers until all their dice are the same.
The first one to finish this task will shout “Tenzi” and be the winner of the game. This game also has several variants, and the rules of the game add to the variety, interactivity, and challenge.
Some of the variants of Tenzi are Tenzi Tower, Splitzi, Team Tenzi, Target Tenzi, and Stealzi. This dice game is perfect for two to four players. It is a quick game with full-on entertainment.
Amazon Link: Tenzi
7. Bunco
If you need an entertainment game for twelve or more players, Bunco is the perfect dice game. Also known as bunko or bonko, two or more people can play the game.
The players are separated into teams of two or four people. The players will try scoring points while taking turns in rolling three dice in a series of six rounds.
For example, a player rolls three-of-a-kind, and all three numbers match the round number to achieve a bunco.
Initially, Bunco was a confidence game that is similar to three-card monte. The game originated in the 19th-century in England, known as “eight dice cloth.”
In 1855, Bunco was imported to San Francisco as a gambling activity. However, after the Civil War, the game evolved into a popular parlor game. After the 1890s, the game resurgent in popularity as a family game.
Bunco is such a popular game among all the dice games. In 2006, a Bunco World Championship was held.
Amazon Link: Bunco
8. Qwixx
On this list of the best dice games on our eighth number is Qwixx. Steffen Benndorf invented this game and published it in 2012. Two to five players can play this six-dice game.
This game is one of the most popular dice games among others. In 2013, the game was nominated as the game of the year. Similarly, in 2014, the game won the Dutch Games Award.
Qwixx is a simple game, and it is reminiscent of classic dice games like Kniffel and Yazzie. There is a game block with six dice. Two of the dices are white, and the others are red, blue, yellow, and green.
The playtime of this game is around 15 minutes. The game’s main objective is to mark as many numbers as possible in the four rows of colors on the game block and thus achieve as many points as possible.
Amazon Link: Qwixx
9. Zambales
This dice game originated in the Zambales region of the Philippines. Hence, the name Zambales.
This game is played with a standard pair of 6 sided dice. The game can also be played with two dice with Roman numerals and other symbols. Traditionally, small wooden cubes are used as dice.
There are five chances to roll any matching pair. The players who cannot roll a matching pair within the five chances lose the game. Before playing, the players place bets.
The bets range from everyday objects to some ridiculous ones. This game is a fast-paced and entertaining one that is sure to please the crowd.
10. Button Men
James Ernest invented this two-player game called Button Men and released it in 1999. This game is quick to play and is a fast-paced game.
This game provides fast-paced entertainment and takes less than ten minutes to play. A playing card of their choice or a pin-back button represents the player.
The buttons are metal or plastic discs about 2–2.5 inches (5–6.5 cm) in diameter. A pin on the back fastens the discs to clothing.
The player assumes an illustration of the combatant. Each button indicates the quantity and maximum value of the player’s dice.
Amazon Link: Button Men
11. Shut the Box
Shut the box is on the eleventh number of our list of the best dice games. This game is also called Canoga, batten down the hatches or trick-track. One or more players can play this game as well as a group of two to four.
Traditionally, this game was a gambling game. This game uses a counting box with tiles numbered from 1 to 9. A hinged or sliding mechanism covers the box.
There are several local and traditional variations in the rule of this game. Based on the variations, the box has 10 or 12 tiles. The main plan of the game is to roll dice, aiming to shut more numbers.
The players will continue to throw the dice and shut numbers until a player succeeds in closing all of the numbers. Then, the player will have to say “Shut the Box” and win the game.
This game is one of the best dice games you can play with your friends for ultimate fun.
Amazon Link: Shut the box
12. Liar’s Dice
We will be closing off this list with one of the class dice games, Liar’s dice. Two or more players can enjoy this game while the player has to deceive and detect an opponent’s deception.
The game has two variants, i.e., a single hand and a common hand. In the single-hand Liar’s dice games, every player has a set of dice. All the players roll the dice once. Each player can see (their hand) and all the concealed dice (the other players’ hands).
While in the common hand liar’s dice game, one set of dice is passed from player to player. The bids relate to the dice. They are upfront of the bidder after selected dice have been re-rolled.
In a single hand, five dice are used per player. It is concealed with dice cups. On the common hand, both the players roll their dice simultaneously and examine their hands.
Amazon Link: Liar’s Dice
Conclusion
The dice games are entertaining ways to engage and have fun with friends and family. In addition, some of these games will test the player’s wit, which makes playing the game more fun.
So why not take a break from all the technology and pick up a nice dice game to play with your family?
