23 Fun & Competitive Dice Games for Adults to Play

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Games expert Jonathan Wells shares his favorite game to play with dice

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Bunco

2 Write to 100

3 Zanzibar

4 Sevens

5 Beetle

6 Farkle

7 Going to Boston

8 Pig

9 Ship, Captain, and Crew

10 Chicago

11 Against the Monstrous Horde

12 Lock In

13 Jackpot

14 Aces in the Pot

15 LCR (Left, Right, Center)

16 Liar’s Dice

17 Macao

18 Mafia

19 Roller Coaster

20 Shut the Box

21 Stack

22 Stuck in the Mud

23 Yahtzee

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Co-authored by Jonathan Wells and Dan Hickey

Last Updated: January 13, 2026 Fact Checked

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Dice games have been around for roughly 5,000 years, dating all the way back to ancient Mesopotamia! Easy to play and requiring little more than dice (and a few other items like scorepads or chips here and there), these games are a fun way to spend time with friends and family. If you want to learn some popular dice games for adults, keep reading! We’ve compiled a list of the top dice games for you to enjoy at your next game night.

The Best Dice Games for Adults

Games expert Jonathan Wells says his favorite dice game is Write to 100. In this game, players try to roll a 7 to be the first one to write the numbers 1 through 100 on their sheet of paper. Other fun dice games to play include:

• Bunco: Try to roll a specific number each round to score points.
• Zanzibar: Make a secret roll and bluff your way to get rid of chips.
• Sevens: Try to roll a 7 each round to score the most points.
• Beetle: Be the first to draw a beetle, part by part, based on the numbers you roll.
• Farkle: Roll for specific combinations and be the first to reach 10,000 points to win.

Steps

1

Bunco

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1. 
   With origins in 19th-century England, Bunco has become a social dice game that anyone can learn to play. Each round targets a specific number from 1 to 6. Players roll 3 dice and score points for each die that matches the number for that specific round. If all 3 dice match the round number, you’ve scored a Bunco. Yell “Bunco!” (just like yelling “Bingo!”) to announce you’ve won!

   • You’ll need: 12 players (although more or fewer also work), 3 dice per table, score sheets and pencils, and a bell or buzzer per table.
   • Full rules: Read our tutorial on how to play Bunco!
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2

Write to 100

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1. 
   Wells says Write to 100 is his favorite dice game. In this fast-paced game, players try to score a roll of 7 so they can write the numbers 1 through 100 (in sequential order) on a piece of paper. The game begins with a player rolling 2 dice. If they don’t score a 7, they pass the dice to the next player. If they score a 7, they start writing. However, the dice continue to get passed around as they write. If another player’s dice add up to 7, they steal the pen and begin writing. As an added twist, if a player rolls a double (two 1s, two 2s, etc.), every player passes their sheet of paper to the left. The first player to reach 100 wins!

   • You’ll need: 5+ players, 2 dice, a sheet of paper for each player, and 1 pen.
   • Full rules: Read through this guide by Dig The Games.

3

Zanzibar

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1. 
   Zanzibar is similar to poker, except with dice instead of cards. This is a game where bluffing is key, as everyone rolls secretly and tries to persuade the other players they have the best “hand” (roll). Then, players take turns figuring out whether to believe the player or call their bluff. You can lie and cheat all you want, but you’ll have to take on extra chips if you get caught, which is not what you want, since the goal is to be the first player to lose all their chips.

   • You’ll need: 2+ players, 3 dice, and 20 chips or counters per player. These can be Poker chips, coins, candies, or anything you have on hand.
   • Full rules: Check out this tutorial from Dice Game Depot.
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4

Sevens

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1. 
   Sevens is a dice game of luck and arithmetic! All players have to do is roll and add up their dice. You earn points if your total is the number 7, but if you roll any other number, you can either pass or roll again. Don’t get caught up rolling too many times, as part of the game’s strategy is knowing when to stop. The game continues for the number of rounds that was originally agreed upon or until a player reaches the highest score.

   • You’ll need: 2+ players, 6 dice, and a paper and pen.
   • Full rules: Go over this handy guide from Dice Game Depot.

5

Beetle

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1. 
   Beetle is a dice game that bridges fun and insect anatomy. Players roll dice to “build” a beetle by drawing it on paper, with each number attributed to a specific beetle body part. For example, a 4 is for the wings while a 2 is associated with the antennae. Order matters, as the beetle’s eyes can’t come before the body. Players take turns rolling and drawing as much as possible during their turn. The first person to complete their creepy crawler is the victor!

   • You’ll need: 2 to 10 players, dice, a pen or pencil, and paper.
   • Full rules: Learn the proper order to draw your beetle with this game guide from BugLife.org.uk.
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6

Farkle

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1. 
   Farkle is a game of luck and risk, traditionally played with 6 dice. Players roll and successfully score if they achieve specific combinations, like 1s or 5s, which are exclusively bank points. You get to roll the dice that didn’t “score” any of those winning numbers again, although you may “Farkle” and lose all the points for that turn. The winner is the first player to accumulate a score of 10,000—good luck!

   • You’ll need: 2+ players, dice, and a pen and paper.
   • Full rules: Check out our tutorial on how to play Farkle!

7

Going to Boston

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1. 
   Despite this dice game’s name, no travel to Boston is required! Instead, players simply try to roll the highest score with 3 tries per turn. When it’s your turn, you roll 3 dice and move the highest die aside. Then, you repeat this for the next 2 turns with the remaining 2 dice. The sum of all 3 dice becomes your score for that round. As expected, the player with the highest total score at the end of all the rounds is victorious.

   • You’ll need: 2+ players, 3 dice, and a pen and paper.
   • Full rules: Read this game guide from Bicycle Cards.
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8

Pig

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1. 
   Pig is the lovechild of Risk and Blackjack. Players take turns rolling a single die, with the ability to roll as many times as they like during a turn. They then add all of these points to their score. Of course, there is a downside: rolling a 1 means you lose all points, and your turn ends. You can choose to stop after one roll or try pushing your luck to see how far it extends! Whoever reaches the agreed-upon target score first is the winner.

   • You’ll need: 2 or more players, 1 die, and a pen and paper.
   • Full rules: Check out this tutorial from Dice Game Depot.

9

Ship, Captain, and Crew

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1. 
   In this fun game, players attempt to roll a 4 (Crew), 5 (Captain), and 6 (Ship) to make a complete set. If you roll any of these numbers on your first try, set those dice aside. Then, you can roll two more times to try to complete the set. The numbers must be rolled in order (for example, you can’t keep a 4 or 5 until a 6 has been rolled). If you roll all 3 numbers during your turn, add up the numbers on your remaining dice (your “cargo”) to determine your score. The player with the highest score wins!

   • You’ll need: 4+ players (although 2+ will work), 5 dice, and a dice cup (optional).
   • Full rules: Read our easy game tutorial on how to play Ship, Captain, and Crew!
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10

Chicago

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1. 
   This easy, luck-based game is fun for all ages and ability levels. Over 11 rounds, players try to roll the target number (the first round is 2, the second round is 3, all the way up to 12 in the final round). Roll the target number to rack up points in this fast-paced game you can play anywhere!

   • You’ll need: 2+ players, 2 dice, and a score sheet (optional).
   • Full rules: Check out this game guide from Dice Game Depot.

11

Against the Monstrous Horde

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1. 
   In this heroic and strategic game, players use a variety of polyhedral dice to score points and defeat monster enemies. The game is reminiscent of Dungeons and Dragons; players roll “character” dice (wizards, rogues, clerics, etc.) to attack enemies, heal other players, perform special abilities, and win points. The first player to reach 100 points triggers the final round of the game so that all players have an equal number of turns. The player with the highest score at the end is the victor!

   • You’ll need: 2-6 players, a 7-piece polyhedral dice set per player, four 20-sided dice, three 4-sided dice, four 6-sided dice, and five 10-sided dice.
   • Full rules: Read this game guide from Dice Game Depot.
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12

Lock In

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1. 
   In this easy-to-learn game, players roll their dice and choose a target number from their roll, setting that dice aside. Roll again to try and hit your target number again—if you don’t, you can spend 1 chip to reroll. Continue rerolling as long as you have chips or hit your target number. If your roll contains 2 or more of your target number, you earn 1 chip from your discard pile. Each die you set aside is worth a point, and the remaining chips are worth 2 points. Whoever has the most points after the final round wins!

   • You’ll need: 2+ players, 9 dice, 10 chips (or other items) per player, and a pen and paper.
   • Full rules: Peruse this rules guide from Dice Game Depot.

13

Jackpot

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1. 
   In this exciting game, each player starts with 20 chips and rolls the dice to try and win more. On your turn, roll and add your numbers together. Depending on the total, you’ll either add chips to the board, win chips from the board, or win the entire jackpot (all the chips on the board). If you ever lose your last chip, you’re out of the game. The player with the most chips at the end is the winner!

   • You’ll need: 4-8 players, 2 dice, 20 chips (or other items) per person, and a circular game board (or piece of paper) split into 9 equal slices labeled 3 through 11.
   • Full rules: Read this game tutorial from Dice Game Depot.
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14

Aces in the Pot

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1. 
   Each player begins with 2 chips and a pot placed in the middle of the table. Roll the dice—for every 1 you roll, put a chip in the pot. For every 6 you roll, give a chip to the player on your left (if you run out of chips, you’re out until you get passed more). Rolls continue clockwise until all the chips are in the pot except for one. The player with the last chip rolls 3 times to win the pot—if they roll no 6s, they win the pot and the game!

   • You’ll need: 3+ players (best with 4-8), 2 dice, and 2 chips or other items per player.
   • Full rules: Watch this video tutorial by Gather Together Games on YouTube.

15

LCR (Left, Right, Center)

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1. 
   Players sit in a circle around the pot and roll to determine which direction they pass their chips. On your turn, roll the dice ( if you have 3 chips, roll all 3 dice; if you have 2 chips, roll 2 dice, etc.). The numbers you roll indicate what you do next—a 4 means you pass a chip to the left, a 5 means you put a chip in the pot, and a 6 means you pass a chip to the right. Nothing happens if you roll a 1, 2, or 3. If you run out of chips, you’re out until you’re passed more. When only one player has any chips, they win!

   • You’ll need: 3+ players, 3 dice, and 3 chips (or other items) per player.
   • Full rules: Read our game guide on how to play LCR.
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16

Liar’s Dice

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1. 
   This game involves bluffing and mind games to come out on top! To start each round, all players roll their dice and keep the results hidden from other players. The first player states a bid (like “five 2s” or “three 4s”) to guess how many of a number have been rolled by all players combined. If another player challenges the bid, everyone reveals their dice. If the bid is matched or exceeded, the bidder wins. The player who lost the round removes one of their dice from the game by placing it in front of their dice cup, and when a player loses all of their dice, they’re out of the game. The game continues clockwise, and the last player with any dice remaining wins.

   • You’ll need: 2+ players, 5 dice per player, and 1 dice cup per player (optional).
   • Full rules: Check out our tutorial on how to play Liar’s Dice.

17

Macao

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1. 
   This simple game is easy for any newbie to pick up. On your turn, roll your die as many times as you wish and keep a running tally of the sum of your rolls as your score. Beware—if you exceed 9 points, you score a 0 and are out for the rest of the round! The player at the end of the round with the most points is the winner and receives 1 chip. The first player to earn 3 chips is the winner!

   • You’ll need: 2+ players (3-6 is best), 1 dice, and game chips or pieces.
   • Full rules: Learn the ins and outs of the game with this guide from Dice Game Depot.
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18

Mafia

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1. 
   In this game, losing all of your dice is how you win. On your turn, roll all of your dice—every 6 is passed to the next player, and every 1 is removed from the game. The game continues until a player (the winner) has no dice left. The remaining players roll all of their dice and add up the value. They then must “pay” the winner that number of chips. (Once a player is out of chips, they’re out of the game.) Whoever has the most chips after a predetermined number of rounds wins!

   • You’ll need: 2-8 players (3-5 is best), 5 dice, a stack of poker chips per player, and a pen and paper for scoring.
   • Full rules: Read this game tutorial from Gather Together Games.

19

Roller Coaster

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1. 
   This is a fast-paced elimination game that’s perfect for an energetic and competitive crew. All players sit around a table or in a circle, and 2 players who are opposite each other each get 1 die. When the round begins, the players with dice roll as fast as possible. If they roll a 1, they pass it to the left immediately. The dice continue getting passed this way until they catch up with each other. If a player ends up with both dice at the same time, they’re out. The last player standing is the winner!

   • You’ll need: 4+ players (6-8 is best) and 2 dice.
   • Full rules: Peruse this tutorial from Dice Game Depot.
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20

Shut the Box

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1. 
   This strategy game has been a pub favorite for over a century. Give the starting player 2 dice and set all chips or markers in the center of the table. Look at the numbers you roll on your turn. If the numbers are different from each other, mark both corresponding spaces (if they’re open) on your board with a chip. Or, use the sum of the numbers to mark an open space. If you’re able to take either action, keep rolling. If you can’t, your turn is over. Record the number-spaces on your board that haven’t been marked each round. The player with the lowest score at the end of 5 rounds wins!

   • You’ll need: 2+ players (2-5 is best), 2 dice, 9 chips or other items, a pencil and paper, and a game board (or piece of paper) with 9 boxes (labeled 1-9) in a row on it per player.
   • Full rules: Check out our guide on how to play Shut the Box.

21

Stack

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1. 
   This fast and straightforward game has you stack your dice on top of your opponents’ to score points. To start, all players roll all of their dice into a large mixed group. When it’s your turn, grab one of your dice and stack it on another player’s die with the same number (you cannot stack on top of your own dice). Once a stack is 4 dice tall, the last player to add to it removes it from the table and receives the same number of points as the number on top. The first to score 200 points wins!

   • You’ll need: 2-8 players, 14 dice of the same color per player, and a large playing surface.
   • Full rules: Read this handy tutorial by Dice Game Depot.
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22

Stuck in the Mud

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1. 
   This luck-driven game is fun for both small and large groups. Players take turns rolling all their dice—if any 2s or 5s are rolled, the player earns 0 points, and those dice are placed in the “mud pit” (they can’t be used for the rest of the turn). Continue rolling with the remaining dice, adding up the values to score points if there are no 2s or 5s, or scoring 0 and moving 2s and 5s to the mud pit. When all of your dice are in the mud pit, your turn ends. The first player to reach 500 points wins!

   • You’ll need: 2+ players, 5 dice, and a pencil and paper for scoring.
   • Full rules: Learn more with this guide from Family Game Shelf.

23

Yahtzee

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1. 
   This beloved game is quick to play, simple to learn, and fun for groups of any size (even just a single player). Over 13 rounds, players roll their dice in an attempt to score as high as they can in one of the 13 categories shown on the score card (categories include numbers, like rolling 6s, or combinations like “3 of a kind” or a “small straight”). Rolling 5 of a kind is called Yahtzee and is worth the most points on the card. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins!

   • You’ll need: 1+ players, 5 dice, a Yahtzee score card, and a pencil.
   • Full rules: Read our article on how to play Yahtzee.
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