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Top Roll and Write Board Games of 2025

by Mia Apr 11,2025

The roll and write genre has seen a 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 fill in a personal sheet, offering a blend of simplicity and strategic depth. This genre's appeal lies in its accessibility and the immediate gratification it provides, allowing players to customize their sheets while following straightforward rules. This winning formula has made roll and write games a hit among a wide range of players, thanks to their low 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

Rolling Realms

0See it at Amazon
Rolling Realms offers a unique twist on the genre, with each realm based on another board game. Players use the results of a die roll to navigate through mini-games that reflect their inspirations. Over nine rolls, all players engage with the same three realms simultaneously, then draw three new realms out of twelve for the next round, repeating this cycle twice for a complete game. The charm of Rolling Realms lies in its realms, which serve as engaging microcosms of their source games, offering family-friendly puzzles to master. For an added challenge, consider the standalone sequel Rolling Realms Redux, which introduces more complex realms that can be played alone or mixed with the base game.

Marabunta

0See it at Amazon
Marabunta, designed by the renowned Reiner Knizia, brings his strategic expertise to the roll and write genre. This two-player game simulates a battle between ant tribes over hexes of territory, which include tempting cupcakes and other rewards. Players use dice rolls to expand their influence across color-coded hexes or secure bonuses that contribute to their final score. This blend of spatial strategy and mathematical planning showcases Knizia's signature style.

The Fox Experiment

0See it at Amazon
Inspired by a real-life experiment on fox domestication from the 1950s, Elizabeth Hargrave, the creator of Wingspan, designed this intriguing roll and write game. Players use dice to simulate genetic heredity, with each parent fox contributing trait dice to their offspring. The goal is to selectively breed foxes to meet end-game objectives, creating a delightful and strategic gameplay experience.

Twilight Inscription

1See it at Amazon
Twilight Inscription stands out by blending the vast scope of the Twilight Imperium universe with the roll and write format. This game emulates the 4X genre of video games, focusing on exploration, exploitation, expansion, and extermination, all within a 90-minute playtime. Each aspect of the game is represented on separate sheets, offering various sub-sections that players can explore and master. The strategic challenge lies in choosing which sheet to focus on each turn, leading to diverse approaches and a satisfyingly complex experience.

Super Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up

2See it at Amazon
Most roll and write games lack a strong theme, but Super Skill Pinball brings the excitement of a pinball machine to life using just a pen and dice. Players choose one of four tables, navigate through bumpers and targets based on their rolls, and aim to maximize their score without repeating boxes. The game's puzzle-like nature is both fascinating and thrilling, with various sets available, including a Star Trek-themed version. Ramp It Up is the standout choice, even featuring a cooperative table for added variety.

The Best Board Game Deals

Welcome To

Welcome To... Your Perfect Home

3See it at Amazon
Welcome To, while technically a flip and write game, offers a rich experience akin to roll and writes. Players use cards to plan suburban streets, balancing house numbers with building effects to maximize their scores. The game rewards strategic planning and offers additional complexity in its sci-fi variant, Welcome To The Moon.

My City: Roll & Build

1See it at Amazon
Based on Reiner Knizia's popular My City, this roll and write version follows a campaign structure across multiple episodes. Each 30-minute session introduces new rules, gradually increasing complexity without overwhelming players. The game's flexibility allows for standalone episodes, making it a versatile and engaging experience that stands up to repeated plays.

Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition

Railroad Ink

9See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Railroad Ink challenges players to create a transport network on a grid using custom dice. The goal is to connect as many exits as possible while balancing the need to avoid dead ends and leave options open for future connections. This blend of risk and spatial strategy is unique among roll and writes, with various editions offering different themes. The Deep Blue Edition, with its rivers and potential ferry routes, is particularly noteworthy.

Next Station: London

1See it at Amazon
This flip and write game introduces a novel use of colored pencils, with each color tied to a starting station on the player's map. Players draw their transport network based on drawn cards, aiming to cross districts, visit tourist sites, and connect lines. The game's simple yet nuanced mechanics lead to engaging puzzles and colorful maps, enhancing replayability.

Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write

Dinosaur Island: Rawr ‘n Write

4See it at Amazon
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write pushes the genre's boundaries by adding complexity and depth. Players use dice to gather resources and build a dinosaur theme park, managing attractions, concessions, staff, and security. The game's three-turn structure culminates in a tour that scores points, creating a rich strategic challenge with a thematic twist.

Cartographers

Cartographers: A Roll Player Tale

6See it at Amazon
Also at Target
Cartographers introduces player interaction to the genre through a flip and write format. Players map out a fantasy kingdom, fulfilling scoring challenges while occasionally passing their map to a neighbor to place monster icons. This twist adds a personal touch and enhances the game's thematic world-building. The sequel, Cartographers: Heroes, adds dynamic monsters and hero cards for added depth.

Long Shot: The Dice Game

0See it at Barnes and Noble
Long Shot: The Dice Game brings the excitement of horse racing to the roll and write genre. Players bet on horses based on dice rolls, with the option to buy horses for special powers and bonuses. The game's interactive nature and thematic depth set it apart, creating a thrilling experience as players navigate the race's unfolding dynamics.

Three Sisters

3See it at Amazon
Three Sisters takes the concept of achieving specific combinations to the extreme. Players manage a garden, growing crops and flowers and using dice rolls to access a rondel of actions. Completing actions often triggers bonus actions, creating intense action chaining that requires strategic planning. This tactical depth makes Three Sisters a standout in the genre.

Fleet: The Dice Game

0See it at Amazon
Fleet: The Dice Game challenges players to manage a fishing fleet, using dice to buy licenses or launch boats to catch seafood. The game's interconnected options and thematic dice create a fast-paced and engaging experience, simulating the thrill of high-seas fishing without the danger.

Sagrada Artisans

0See it at Amazon
Sagrada Artisans builds on the original Sagrada's concept of arranging gem dice to create stained-glass windows. This version adds coloring to the roll and write format, along with decorative elements for added relaxation. As a campaign game, players complete windows over ten sessions, introducing new tools and challenges while maintaining simplicity and a Zen-like atmosphere.

Motor City

0See it at Amazon
Motor City, from the designers of Three Sisters and Fleet, reflects the car production process in a roll and write format. Players use dice drafting and a blueprint board to coordinate various aspects of vehicle design, engineering, testing, production, and sales. This innovative approach focuses on strategic coordination rather than explosive combos, offering a fresh challenge in the genre.

For more ideas, be sure to check out our list of the best board games of all time and the best puzzle tables featuring a great multi-purpose table (by Bits and Pieces) for playing cards and board games on, too.

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