Roll and write board games (or flip and write games) are a family favorite. We all have different hobbies and interests so getting everyone to the table for gaming can be hard to coordinate. Fast games like Qwixx, Railroad Ink, and Lost Cities Roll and Write offer strategy and planning without setting up a big board game. We can usually fit these games into our routine without much planning while we eat dinner or watch TV.
Castes of Burgundy Dice Game
The Castles of Burgundy: The Dice Game is a dice-rolling variation ofThe Castles of Burgundy, designed by Stefan Feld and published in 2017 by Ravensburger. It is a dice game that captures the spirit of the original game but with streamlined and simplified mechanics. The game shares similarities with the original game in terms of theme and mechanics, but it is a much simpler and streamlined version of it, making it a great option for those who are new to the series or looking for a shorter and more accessible game.
In this roll and write game, players take on the role of nobles competing to gain the most prestige and power in medieval Burgundy. The game is played over several rounds, with each round consisting of a dice roll and an action phase. During the dice roll phase, players roll five dice, which will determine the resources they will have available for the round. In the action phase, players use the resources they have gained to take various actions, such as acquiring new estates, trading goods, recruiting workers, and building structures. Each action earns the players victory points, and the player with the most victory points at the end of the game wins. The game is designed for 2-4 players for around 30 minutes.
Fleet: The Dice Game
Fleet: The Dice Game is a spin-off of the board game Fleet but with streamlined mechanics and a focus on dice-rolling. This game often ranks among the most-loved roll and write games. This is a game for 1-4 players that plays over 10 rounds with two phases, the Boat Phase and the Town Phase. In the boat phase, players roll and select dice to unlock certain licenses and boat launches to catch fish. In the town phase, players roll and select dice to unlock special buildings, ships and go to the market to gain income and generate bonus actions. The game also features a solo mode where players compete for points.
Railroad Ink
Railroad Ink is a popular roll-and-write game published by Czech Games Edition and designed by Hjalmar Hach and Lorenzo Silva. In this game players create a network of railway lines and highways on a small grid of spaces. In each round players roll six dice which determine the types of lines and roads that must be drawn on the grid. Players must then use these lines and roads to connect their starting point to various destinations on the board such as cities, mines, and stations.
The game is played over a series of rounds and players must balance the need to connect their lines and roads with the limited number of spaces available on the grid. Points are earned by connecting destinations and completing certain achievements. The game includes two different modes – a solo mode and a competitive mode. In the solo mode, players race against the clock to connect as many destinations as possible before the board fills up. In the competitive mode, players compete against each other to see who can earn the most points.
Qwixx
Qwixx is a fast-paced dice game for 2-5 players that was a favorite with my son when he was in elementary school. The goal of the game is to score as many points as possible by crossing out numbers on a score sheet. The game is played with six-sided dice, and on each turn, players roll a combination of white and colored dice. Players then cross out a number on their score sheet based on the roll. The game ends when a player has crossed out five numbers in a row on their score sheet, and the player with the highest score at the end of the game wins.
On a player’s turn they roll two white dice and one colored die of their choice. The numbers rolled on the white dice are added together, and the player must cross out a number on their score sheet that is equal to or higher than the sum of the white dice, but is not already crossed out. They must also cross out the number on the row corresponding to the color of the die they chose that is equal or higher than the number on the die itself. Players must balance the need to cross out high numbers with the risk of locking themselves into a row with low numbers. Additionally, players can choose to roll the colored die or to pass their turn, and this choice can be critical to success in the game.
Rolling America
Rolling America is a roll-and-write game set on a map of the United States where each player has a map that’s divided into fifty states. Those states are split between six differently colored areas. Players roll a set of dice each turn, which determine the colors of the states that must be drawn on the map. You must then use those colors to draw states on Players must balance the need to claim useful colors with the risk of drawing states that may not be completed. Points are earned for each completed state, as well as for each connected group of states.
Welcome To.. (Your Perfect Home)Â
Welcome To.. is flip and write game by Benoit Turpin is set in the 1960s where players take on the role of new homeowners in a growing suburban community. Players must build and develop their properties while also working to attract new residents to the neighborhood.
The game is played over four rounds, with each round representing a different decade in the 20th century. In each round, players take turns using a combination of action cards and dice rolls to build houses and other structures, improve their properties, and attract new residents. Players can also earn money and points by completing community goals and by having the most attractive properties at the end of each round.
One of the key features of Welcome to… is the modular board, which is made up of individual tiles that can be arranged in different ways to create different neighborhoods. This allows for a high degree of replayability, as each game will have a unique layout and different challenges to overcome.
Lost Cities Roll and Write
Lost Cities Roll and Write is a roll-and-write game designed by Reiner Knizia that is based on the popular card game Lost Cities. This roll and write version of the game shares many of the same mechanics and themes:
Players take on the role of explorers who are trying to mount expeditions to various lost cities around the world. Each round, players roll a set of dice that determine the cards that are available to be claimed. Players must then use those cards to build expeditions to the various lost cities, with each city having a different set of cards that are needed to be completed. Players must balance the need to claim useful cards with the risk of investing in an expedition that may not be completed. Points are earned for each completed expedition, as well as for each card that is used to build an expedition.
Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age
Roll Through the Ages: The Bronze Age is a dice-rolling and civilization-building game designed by Matt Leacock (Pandemic) and published by Gryphon Games. The game is set in the Bronze Age where players take on the role of leaders of ancient civilizations, competing to build the most advanced and powerful civilization. Roll Through The Ages: The Bronze Age comes with four nice heavy wood planks, chunky wood dice, and place markers for your score instead of pencil or pen.
In this game players roll a set of dice each turn which determine the resources they can acquire and the actions they can take. Resources such as food, goods, and tools can be used to feed your population, build monuments, and advance your civilization. Players can also use their resources to develop their civilization’s culture and government which will earn them victory points. The game is played over several rounds. Players must manage their resources carefully in order to build their civilization and survive disasters such as plagues, invasions, and earthquakes. Points are earned for each monument built, as well as for each culture and government advancement. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
Honorable Mention: Silver & Gold
In this flip and write game from Phil Walker-Harding and Pandasaraus Games, players search for buried treasure by using polyomino shapes by drawing X’s on a card’s map. Hit the right bonuses and you can move to the next card. Quick and fun strategy that plays in about 20 minutes. Silver and Gold on Pandasauraus website.
