We researched and considered dozens of dice games from top brands, considering the duration, number of player, and age range of each. Based on these factors, Left Center Right is our best overall pick. The fast-paced game is extremely easy to play, perfect for all ages, and suitable for large groups and parties. Here are the best dice games on the market. To play, you roll the dice (there are three total) and pass chips, and the game is entirely based on luck rather than strategy. If you roll an “L,” you pass a chip to the person on your left; if you roll an “R,” you pass a chip to the person on your right; and “C” means you put a chip in the center. Some sides have dots, and if you roll one of those, you do nothing. As you run out of chips, you roll fewer dice, and the game ends when only one player has chips left. They get to keep those—as well as the center pot. There’s really no limit to how many people can play, but since the game only comes with 24 chips, you may need to create new ones for additional players. Price at time of publish: $12 The game doesn’t get old—thanks to the randomness of the dice outcome, there are more than 60,000 grid possibilities. It’s also a great way for kids to practice skills such as logic, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving. Think of it as a screen-free and more interactive version of popular video games like Tetris. Price at time of publish: $35 The goal is to earn the highest score in the game above 10,000 points. You earn points based on the combination you roll, and when nothing is earned, that’s called a “farkle.” When this happens, you lose your running total and start over, so you’ll need to balance wanting to keep rolling for more possible points or stopping and staying safe. Farkle is sold in three different sizes: This traditional version, which comes with a score pad; the Dice Cup version (just dice and a cup); and the Nano Keychain, which is a small cup with tiny dice inside. Price at time of publish: $18 Some players might roll and split dice into groups of three for beginning, middle, and end. Others might choose the first image that jumps out at them. The creators of the game say there’s no wrong way to play and that often your first instincts are the best. In addition to the the original classic storytelling set, there are additional sets available with different themes, such as “mystery” and “voyages.” For an added challenge, ask your older kids to write up the story they’ve created and read it aloud. Price at time of publish: $10 Examples might include “real estate agent + twerking” or “penguins + enjoying a fart.” You earn points either by drawing pictures that others can identify or by guessing what others have depicted. The game is definitely aimed at the 18 and older crowd, thanks to a handful of sexual references—both obvious ones and innuendos. Price at time of publish: $15 TENZI is fun for game night because it’s easy to learn and each round goes quickly, making it easy for players to jump in and out. You’ll also get instructions for playing eight other variations, but in this version, you’ll get four sets of differently colored dice, but you can also buy others separately if you’d like to add more players. Price at time of publish: $25 As the name suggests, the game moves quickly, and there are specific rules to follow. One is that you can only cross out numbers moving from left to right. Others involve what the active player is allowed to do, such as adding other numbers to the white dice totals. The object is to be the first person to cross off two rows on the score sheet. The rules might be simple, but the game keeps players engaged—and wanting to play more—because they’re forced to take risks and make fast decisions. Price at time of publish: $13
Game Time
No one wants to pull out a three-hour-long game 90 minutes before bed. Thankfully, many dice games are relatively short and are a fun and quick way to round out the night. If you want to have dice games that will fit a variety of time slots—whether it’s a 15-minute speed round or an hours-long game session—purchase a few with varying run times.
Age Range
Not all games are great for all ages. Some, like Story Cubes, are best suited for a younger audience (and are great learning games), while some are better for a more mature set. When considering age ranges for dice games, pick games that best fit the age range of the social group you’re around most.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Lexi Dwyer researches and writes about board games, card games, and trivia games for The Spruce. She’s a huge fan of the adrenaline rush one gets after playing TENZI and also loves the creative spirit of Rory’s Story Cubes. Additional reporting was done by Rabekah Henderson, a freelance design and décor writer whose work has appeared on MyDomaine, Atomic Ranch, Cary Magazine and American Farmhouse Style.
