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 and use the results to mark up their private score sheets. While the core concept is simple, the genre has evolved to offer complex and engaging gameplay experiences. The accessibility and immediate gratification of roll and write games, combined with the creative freedom to personalize one's sheet, have contributed to their widespread appeal across diverse player groups.

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

Rolling Realms innovatively integrates other board games into its realms, each represented by a card. Players use die rolls to engage with mini-games inspired by these games. Over nine rolls, all players play the same three realms simultaneously, and then draw new ones from a set of twelve, repeating this process twice for a complete game. The charm lies in the realms, which offer engaging micro-puzzles that are both tricky and family-friendly. For those seeking more challenges, Rolling Realms Redux introduces even more intricate realms that can be played alone or mixed with the original set.

Marabunta

Marabunta, designed by the renowned Reiner Knizia, brings his strategic expertise to the roll and write format. This two-player game simulates the territorial battles between ant tribes, represented by hexes that include various bounties like cupcakes. Players use dice rolls to expand their influence over color-coded hexes and secure bonuses, blending spatial strategy with mathematical challenges in a way that Knizia excels at.

The Fox Experiment

Inspired by a real-life fox domestication study from the 1950s, The Fox Experiment by Elizabeth Hargrave uses dice to simulate genetic heredity. Players breed foxes, using trait dice from parent foxes to select offspring that align with their end-game goals. This roll and write game offers a deeper level of involvement and a unique thematic experience.

Twilight Inscription

Twilight Inscription adapts the epic scope of Twilight Imperium into a roll and write format, offering a 4X game experience (exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination) in about 90 minutes. Players manage different aspects of their space empires on separate sheets, making strategic choices each turn that affect their overall strategy and lead to diverse gameplay experiences.

Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up

Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up transforms the roll and write genre into a thematic pinball experience. Players choose from four tables and use dice rolls to navigate the ball, hitting bumpers and targets. The game's challenge lies in maximizing scores within the constraints of the table's layout and rules, making for an engaging puzzle. The Ramp It Up set, including a cooperative table, stands out as the best option among several themed versions.

Welcome To... Your Perfect Home

Welcome To... Your Perfect Home uses cards instead of dice, fitting into the flip and write sub-genre. Players plan suburban streets by choosing house numbers and building effect cards, aiming to create ordered streets while maximizing bonuses from features like pools and parks. For a more complex challenge, players can try its sci-fi counterpart, Welcome To The Moon.

My City: Roll & Build

Based on Reiner Knizia's popular board game My City, My City: Roll & Build adopts a campaign structure with escalating complexity. Each 30-minute episode introduces new rules, allowing for a gradual increase in depth without overwhelming players. The game's flexibility also supports one-off sessions, making it a versatile and engaging choice.

Railroad Ink

Railroad Ink challenges players to draw transport networks on a grid using custom dice that provide tracks and junctions. The goal is to connect as many exits as possible, balancing immediate connections with future possibilities. Various editions offer different thematic elements, with the Deep Blue edition, including rivers and lakes, being the most popular.

Next Station: London

Next Station: London, a flip and write game, introduces color-coded pencils as a key gameplay element. Players start from different stations and draw networks based on drawn cards, aiming to cross districts and connect tourist sites. The game's strategic depth comes from managing line expansion without crossing existing lines, leading to colorful and engaging maps.

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write pushes the roll and write genre towards greater complexity. Players use dice rolls to gather resources and build a dinosaur theme park, managing attractions, concessions, staff, and security. The game's thematic depth and strategic challenge come from planning the park and running tours, making it a standout in the genre.

Cartographers

Cartographers introduces player interaction to the genre through a flip and write mechanism. Players map out a fantasy kingdom, fulfilling scoring challenges, but must also deal with monster cards that allow neighbors to place negative icons on their maps. This adds a personal and thematic element to the game, enhanced further in the sequel, Cartographers: Heroes.

Long Shot: The Dice Game

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 unique feature is the ability to buy horses for special powers and bonuses, creating a web of player dependencies and adding excitement and interaction.

Three Sisters

Three Sisters focuses on action chaining, where completing certain actions grants bonus actions. Players manage a garden, growing crops and flowers based on dice rolls, and must strategically plan to maximize these chains. This game offers a deeper tactical experience within the roll and write genre.

Fleet: The Dice Game

Fleet: The Dice Game challenges players to manage a fishing fleet, using dice rolls to buy licenses or launch boats. The game's depth comes from navigating interconnected options and maximizing rewards over 10 rounds, all while using thematic mother-of-pearl dice.

Sagrada Artisans

Sagrada Artisans builds on the original Sagrada by adding a campaign structure and coloring elements. Players create stained-glass windows over ten sessions, with each session introducing new tools and challenges. The game maintains its calming and simple feel while offering a progressively engaging experience.

Motor City

Motor City, from the designers of Three Sisters and Fleet, innovatively represents car production lines in a roll and write format. Players manage different aspects of car design and production using a dice-drafting mechanic and a blueprint board. This game offers a strategic challenge focused on coordination and planning, setting it apart from its predecessors.

For more gaming inspiration, explore our list of the best board games of all time and the best puzzle tables, including a versatile multi-purpose table from Bits and Pieces, perfect for cards and board games.