Dice Games for Kids with Step-by-Step Instructions

There are many dice games games for kids nowadays. While you can still play the fun, made-up classic dice games that you only need dice to play, there are games you can purchase too. Check out this list of dice games for kids with step-by-step instructions to make playing easy. There are free dice games as well as our favorite dice games with scoring sheets and game boards. The best part is, it’s fun screen-free time your kids will love. 

Dice Games for Kids

Dice games seem to be one of the easiest games that kids can play that incorporate basic math skills. Counting numbers to 6 and motor skills simply aren’t the only benefit of playing with dice. There is so much strategy involved in dice games for kids! 

Benefits of Playing Dice

Add board games and cards take dice games to a whole different level. However, just the dice themselves hold many benefits that are of great use to our children and their learning process.

Here are a few benefits of playing dice at home:

• Motor skills
• Counting
• Manual dexterity
• Basic addition
• Number recognition (early math skills)
• Social skills
• Number sense
• Place value
• Possible combinations of numbers 1-6
• Dice total amounts
• Math facts
• Visual perception
• Math calculation skills
• Math Reasoning
• Computational Fluency
• Introduces the wonders of probability

Dice Games for Family Fun

The best thing about playing dice games with family is the fun bonding time that creates lasting memories. We think we have to spend so much money in order to have fun, but family game nights are epic. 

Dice games improve social skills when people can play together and rather than alone. Family members can make memories, bond, work together, learn patience, take turns, and practice good sportsmanship.

Dice Games for Kids

Playing with dice is perfect for little kids and older kids alike. Dice can be played in many different environments and circumstances – quietly or as loud as you need to be. Dice can be played alone or with many players.

Free Dice Games 

Here are some of the best dice games you can pay for free – no game purchase necessary. Of course, you’ll need to purchase the die! Playing dice is a great way to keep kids engaged and off devices. 

Dice Game: Passage

• Number of Dice Needed: 2
• Players: 2 + players
• How to win: The first player to reach 11 points wins.

How to Play Passage

The Passage dice game is a simple dice game that can be played with any amount of players and needs only two dice. To play Passage, each player takes a turn rolling the die. The player with the lowest number is “setting the point” and the highest number throwing first in the game.

The goal of the game is to roll the dice and score one for every occurrence of the point number. And as stated above, the first player to reach 11 points won the game.

Run for It Dice Game

• Dice Needed: 6
• Players: 2+ players
• How to win: The first player to reach 100 points wins.

How to Play Run for It

Each player has a roll of one dice before the game begins and the player with the highest roll goes first. The main objective of the Run for It dice game is to be the very first player to reach 100 points. It’s a lucky dice game where the players build straight in each turn.

To continue building your straight, you must roll a one. Getting a 1 means you can get rid of s many dice as possible. If you choose to roll again and fail to get the desired number then, you lose your turn. So, proceed with caution!

Stuck in the Mud Dice Game

• Dice Needed: 5
• Players: 2+ players
• How to win: The player with the highest score wins.

How to Play Stuck in the Mud

In the Stuck in the mud dice game, you need 5 dice but as many players as you want. The first player will roll all 5 dice. But be careful… if the player rolls a 2 or a 5 then they are “stuck in the mud” and have to be set aside and let the other players play.

If the player does not roll a 2 or 5, then all the die are added up for that player. This goes for every player – roll a 2 or 5 then the player is out for that round until everyone has gone. If they don’t roll a 2 or 5, the numbers are all added up. At the end of the game whoever has the highest number wins. Many play this game so that whoever gets 500 first, wins.

The Dice Game

To play this classic Dice Game, roll six dice. Some of the combinations of dice can be counted to score points, but others will not.

Players can either take out the dice that score points and keep the score or re-roll the other remaining dice to try to score even more points. Here is the kicker – if you choose to roll again and don’t make points, then you will lose the score that you have earned so far. This risky game is super fun to play and moves really fast.

Beat That Dice Game

• Dice Needed: 2 dice (if young children) or 7 for older kids
• Players: 2+ players
• How to win: To make the highest number possible

How to Play Beat That Dice

Beat That! The dice game is a mathematics game that helps kids practice value and greater than or less than.

Players will roll the dice and place them in order to make the highest number possible. For example, if you use two dice and get a 5 and 3, then the number would be 53.

If there are three dice, and you roll a 1, 4, and 6 then the number would be 641. Then your next player is challenged to beat your number.

Fifty Dice Game

• Dice Needed: 2
• Players: 2+ players
• How to win: The first player to reach 50 points wins.

How to Play Dice Game Fifty

The Fifty Dice Game will be a hit. There are actually two ways to play the Fifty game.

1st Fifty rules – With only one set of dice, every player takes a turn to roll his or her dice and keeps rolling. Add their scores until someone reaches fifteen points.

2nd Fifty Rules – This Fifty game is a little chaotic. Every player rolls his or her dice and just keeps on rolling. The scores are added up until someone reaches fifty.

Catch Up Dice Game

• Dice Needed: 2 dice
• Players: 4-8 players
• How to win: The first player to win 3 counters.

How to Play Catch Up

Although this game can get a little chaotic, your kids will enjoy it nonetheless. It’s played with two dice, some counters or tokens, and 4 to 8 players.

One player takes a die and the player on the opposite side gets a die. The players have to sit in a circle chanting and clapping saying:

/Are you / ready? / Are you / ready? /

/ If ~ / so ~ / let’s ~ / go! ~ /

/ Roll now! / slap clap / What have you got? / slap clap /

/ Must you pass? / slap clap / Hope not! / slap clap /

The two players roll their dice when everyone chants “Roll now!” The player who lands a 6 on the dice passes the dice to the next player. This will continue to happen until one player ends up with both dice. 

The player who has both dice takes a token from the center of the circle. The first player to collect three tokens wins.

Knock Out Dice Game

• Dice Needed: 2
• Players: 2+ players
• How to win: The first player to reach 100 points wins or plays a certain number of rounds, and the person with the most points at the end wins.

How to Play Knock Out

The Knock Out dice game is a fun addition activity to learn math facts in an engaging way. On a dry erase board or chalkboard, write down the numbers 2 – 12 and set it in between the two players.

The players take turns rolling the dice and then add the dice together and erase the sum from the player’s side of the board. The first player that erases all their numbers wins the game.

Going to Boston Dice Game

• Dice Needed: 3
• Players: 2+ players
• How to win: The player that rolls the highest total for a round wins.

How to Play Going to Boston

To play the Going to Boston dice game you will need three 6-sided dice. Each player has three throws of dice on their turn. Place the highest number on one side, and the remaining two dice are thrown down and then again, the highest number is put aside. The final dice is rolled and then the player’s score is the total of those three dice.

Choose how many rounds you will play, and let the fun game begin.

Three or More Dice Game

• Dice Needed: 5
• Players: 2+ players (the more players, the more fun)
• How to win: Play a certain number of rounds and the person with the most points at the end wins.

How to Play Three or More

This Three or More is one of those easy dice games that kids will enjoy and want to play often. They will need five dice and a sheet to keep score.

A player who has the turn will get a score of zero, UNLESS they role three of a kind. If they roll two-of-a-kind then they can roll the third die to see if it can match the other two. If no dice match – ring the buzzer because the score is 0 for that turn.

To score, players count the points as below –

3-of-a-kind = 3 points

4-of-a-kind = 6 points

5-of-a-kind = 12 points

At the end of the game, the player with the highest score in the set number of rounds WINS.

Pig Dice Game

• Dice Needed: 1
• Players: 2+ players
• How to win: The first player to reach 100 points wins.

How to Play Pig

Playing the Pig is a simple game with dice that can be played with 2 to even ten players. You only need one 6-sided die, a pencil to write with, and scoring sheets.

The first player tries to score as many points as possible by throwing the dice. He/She can keep rolling and adding up points, but if they roll a number “1” they lose a turn and the turn goes to the next player. The first person to reach 100 points is the winner.

Round the Clock Game

• Dice Needed: 2 dice
• Players: 2+ players
• How to win: The first player to throw all numbers 1-12 in order wins.

How to Play Round the Clock

In the Round the Clock classic dice game, the players attempt to roll the number needed to move forward one hour ahead of the clock. They pass the turn to the next player until the number is rolled.

If the player rolls the number they need, they move one hour ahead and the next player gets a turn. The different players only get one roll per turn.

Dice Games

There are so many more dice games for kids as well as families. We couldn’t leave out popular games like Tenzi, UNO Dice, QUIXX, and my all-time favorite dice game, the Classic Yahtzee! Read on to discover all the fun you can have playing dice.

TENZI Dice Party Game

• Dice Needed:  Set of 10 dice in 4 different colors (40 total die)
• Players: 2-4 players

How to Play TENZI

TENZI Dice Party Game is a fun and fast frenzy of a game that the whole family will enjoy. There are 4 sets of different colors of dice to use with a storage tube for each of them.

Each player gets 10 dice and the object of the game is to roll the dice as fast as possible the first player to get all dice on the same number will have to yell “TENZI!” to win.

For more fun, you can get the add-on 77 Ways to Play TENZI. It is an add-on card set for The Dice Party Game with three different categories of games. There are wonders of probability to play.

UNO Dice Game

• Dice Needed:  11 dice included
• Players: 2-6 players

How to Play UNO Dice

The classic card game of UNO becomes one of the fun dice games to add to your family game night or rainy day fun. This is a speed game that starts with five dice. One other die is rolled if they can’t play their turn. To win this game, players have to match color and number – then be the first to get rid of all their dice.

QUIXX – A Fast Family Dice Game

• Dice Needed:  6 dice
• Players: 2-5 players

How to Play QUIXX

You will need a score pad, 6 dice, and rules of play. This is a quick-playing popular dice game that will have the players engaged and excited from start to finish.

The QWIXX players need score sheets and something to write with. Numbers must be crossed out from the left of the sheet to the right side in each of the four given color rows once the board games are in play.

The first player that rolls a number 6 on the die is considered the “active layer.” The active player rolls all six dice and then two actions need to take place.

The active player adds up the two dice and yells out loud the sum or the active player (but not the others) adds one of the dice together with any one of the colored dice. Then the player crosses out the number corresponding to that sum in the color-row corresponding to the color of the die chosen.

Grab these extra QUIXX scoring pages.

Classic Yahtzee, An Exciting Game Of Skill And Chance

• Dice Needed:  5 white dice
• Players: 2+ players

How to Play Yahtzee

The Classic Yahtzee, An Exciting Game Of Skill And Chance includes dice, a score pad, and eight bonus chips – four red and four yellow. The object of the classic game with dice is to score the most points when rolling five dice to make many combinations.

Dice can be rolled up to three different times in a turn to make one of the 13 scoring combinations. The game has thirteen rounds where each player chooses the scoring combo to be used in that round.

FLASH – The Lightning Fast Game

• Dice Needed:  36 Dice (6 Colors) included
• Players: 2-6 players

How to play FLASH Dice Game

There are three play variations to complete eight challenges to try and rack up points. Players must achieve the highest score. They use the same number of scoring chips for each player who has their name on their own scoring sheet. Each of the players takes 6 dice but they all have to be of the same color.

The first player chooses a challenge from the sheet for the first round of the game, then every other player will try to achieve the dice combination. On the count of 3, all players roll their dice and keep rolling until they players get the desired dice combination.

Once the challenge is complete, the player would need to shout, “Flash!” and then take the highest scoring chip that is available. Every other player keeps rolling the dice until everyone has collected a chip.

Farkle the Classic Dice-Rolling, Risk-Taking Game

• Dice Needed:  Set of 6 Green Dice
• Players: 2 or more players (the whole family, but best with 3-8 players)

How to Play Farkle 

The Farkle includes 6 dice, a dice cup, 25 scorecards, a storage box, and the rules of the game. This challenging dice game has multiple variations and scoring options. The option of the game is to make a score of a minimum of 10,000 points.

One player begins and the game starts clockwise. In each turn, each of the players, their own turn, rolls all six of the dice, and checks for number combinations. Place aside the combinations and roll the remaining dice again.

If all six dice are set aside to score  (also known as having “hot dice”), the player can choose to roll the six dice again and continue adding to their total score. They can also choose to bank their points, end their turn, and pass the dice to the next player. Write down the score and pass it to the next person’s turn.

Yamslam – Roll to Win

• Dice Needed:  5 dice
• Players:  4 players

How to Play Yamslam

Yamslam needs 5 dice, 1 dice tray, rules, and 28 chips to play this fun family dice game. After each player rolls, they have to choose the dice that gets the best combination. Each of the combinations has only 4 chips and is worth various point values. There are special bonuses to achieve along the way and grab the chips before they run out.

Head Full Of Numbers

• Dice Needed:  3 standard dice and 3 custom dice
• Players:  Any number of players

How to Play Head Full of Numbers

Head Full of Numbers is a math facts, equations, and math operations game. Lay the dice out and set a timer to race to write as many variations of equations as possible using only the digits provided in the roll.

Initially, students may only use addition and subtraction but they will gradually step up their equations via multiplication, division, exponents, parentheses, fractions, decimals, and more. The timer is a fun way to make math games exciting and appealing.

Shut The Box Wooden Board Dice Game

• Dice Needed:  4 wooden dice
• Players:  2-4 players

How to Play Shut the Box Dice Game

Even young children can beat adults in this simple yet immersive great dice game. There is no rotation in the traditional Shut the Box game where one player plays all their chances in one single turn. Before they can pass the dice to another player.

Player one throws the dice and the top / upper face number is added up and barring exceptions or variations that will need to be subtracted. The player’s turn stops when they throw a number that cannot be added to a corresponding tile combination.

Dice Wars

• Dice needed: 2-4 + 10 small counters (household items or snacks)
• Players: 2+

Dice Wars dice game is a simple and fun math game for younger children. It helps preschool children and older kids practice their counting, addition, subtraction, and other basic skills to win.

This dice game has each player try to get ten dice to be the same number before all other players can get them. Check out more detailed Dice War instructions.

More Educational Games

There are so many interesting board game facts you can learn and share with your kids. Games are a great way to reinforce learning! Have you ever wanted to learn how to play marbles? That’s another ancient game your kids will enjoy. Life sized board games are crazy fun too!

• Learn about geography while playing a geography board game. 
• Explore various science topics using science board games. 
• Immerse your kids into the Medieval Times while playing medieval board games. 
• Teach your kids all about economics by playing money games for kids.

Free Printable Games

• Free Printable Crossword Puzzles
• Printable Word Searches
• Printable Bingo Games
• Sudoku Printables
• Easy Pictionary Words
• Printable Logic Puzzles for Kids
• Printable Puzzles for Kids

In Conclusion

Dice has been known as one of the oldest games to ever be played, having originated in ancient Egypt about 5000 years ago. Both unskilled and skilled people can play with them. So, enjoy this age-old classic game in different variations. The game of dice is an excellent way to improve early math skills and build critical thinking. Dice is also a great game for small groups.