Party dice games

Dice make the easiest possible game night: little equipment, short rules and room for everyone. Bunco is the party game among dice games, with several tables playing at once and teams reshuffling between rounds.

Party dice games

Around one table

With a smaller group, Mexican and Farkle work beautifully. Shut the Box suits an evening where the conversation matters as much as the game, and Centennial and Everest are calm races everyone can follow.

Tips for the evening

Start with something simple while people settle in, and save the bluffing games for when the mood has warmed up. Chips or matchsticks keep track of lives and stakes without any money involved.

The party games

Bunco (alias Bunko)

Six rounds with three dice across several tables, where the round number scores points and three of a kind is a bunco.

8-16 players
30-90 minutes
8+ years

Centennial (alias Ohio or Martinetti)

Roll three dice and race from 1 up to 12 and back again, number by number, before anyone else.

2-6 players
15-25 minutes
8+ years

Chicago (alias Rotation)

Eleven rounds with two dice, where the goal is to hit the sums 2 through 12 in order, one per round.

2-8 players
10-20 minutes
6+ years

Aces in the Pot

Aces go to the pot and sixes to your neighbour, and the last player with chips must survive three more rolls.

3-8 players
10-15 minutes
5+ years

Aces to the Centre (alias Aces)

Aces leave the game, twos go left and fives go right, until the very last die decides it all.

3-8 players
10-15 minutes
6+ years

Everest (alias Matterhorn)

Roll three dice and cross off the numbers 1 to 12 twice, in any order you like, before anyone else.

2-6 players
15-25 minutes
8+ years

Farkle (alias Zilch, Greed, Zonk, Hot Dice or Squelch)

Roll six dice, set scoring dice aside and stop before a farkle wipes out your turn.

2-8 players
20-45 minutes
8+ years

Help Your Neighbour

Everyone owns a number, and every time your number shows up on the dice it costs you a chip.

2-6 players
10-20 minutes
6+ years

Jackpot

Roll two dice around a ring of numbered spaces, and empty the jackpot when the sum comes up seven.

4-8 players
15-25 minutes
8+ years

LCR (Left Center Right) (alias Left Center Right)

Roll the dice and send chips left, right or into the pot. The last player holding chips wins it all.

3-8 players
10-20 minutes
5+ years

Liar's Dice

Hide five dice under your cup, bid on what the whole table shows, and call out the bluffs.

2-6 players
15-30 minutes
10+ years

Mexican

Open rolls with two dice where the lowest roll costs a life and 21 beats everything.

2-8 players
10-25 minutes
10+ years

Even Minus Odd

Roll six dice, count evens against odds and settle the difference in chips with the pot.

2-8 players
10-20 minutes
6+ years

Shut the Box

Roll two dice and shut the numbered tiles 1 to 9 before the dice stop you.

1-4 players
10-20 minutes
6+ years

Ship, Captain and Crew (alias 6-5-4)

Secure the 6, 5 and 4 in strict order within three rolls, and let the last two dice be your cargo.

2-8 players
10-20 minutes
6+ years

Zanzibar

Three dice, three rolls and a strict ranking where 1-2-3 beats everything. The loser pays the winner in chips.

2-8 players
15-25 minutes
10+ years

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