Five Dice
Five dice, three rolls, thirteen boxes on the score sheet: every turn is a small choice between playing safe and taking a risk. The sheet adds itself up, bonus and extra five-of-a-kinds included.
- 1–6 players
- 10–30 min
- ages 8+
- works without a TV
- vs. computer
Score the most points on your sheet after 13 turns.
How it works
- Each turn you roll five dice up to three times. In between you can hold dice.
- Then you score the result in exactly one empty box – with 0 points if necessary.
- The upper section counts ones to sixes. 63 or more points there give a 35 point bonus.
- Lower section: three and four of a kind (sum of all dice), full house 25, small straight 30, large straight 40, five of a kind 50, chance (sum).
- Every further five of a kind earns 50 extra points.
Good to know
- Can also be played alone or against the computer.
- Scratching a box early takes pressure off later.
On the TV and on your phone
What you see and tap, where and when – step by step:
- Set up a game
- Ready and start
- Roll
- Hold dice
What makes Five Dice work
- No paper, no maths – the score sheet fills itself in on your phone.
- Play alone, against the computer or with up to six people.
- Luck and judgement balance out, so anyone can win.
Pick Five Dice when you want a laid-back dice game where kids can keep up.
Skip it when you want lots of talking and tricking each other – everyone rolls for themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What does a second five of a kind score in Five Dice?
If the five-of-a-kind box already holds 50, you get 50 extra points and can enter the roll in any open box. Full house and straights then score in full; if you scratched that box with 0 earlier, there’s no bonus.
Does five of a kind count as a full house?
Normally not, because a full house needs three of one number and two of another. Only when the five-of-a-kind box already holds 50 does it score 25 as a full house.
What counts as a small straight?
Four numbers in a row – 1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5 or 3-4-5-6 – for 30 points. A large straight needs all five in a row and scores 40.
Do I have to roll three times before scoring?
No, you can score after your first or second roll. After the third you must fill in exactly one open box, with 0 points if necessary.
How many points do you need in the upper section for the bonus?
63 points across ones to sixes, which is three of each number. That earns you 35 bonus points.
Can I play Five Dice on my own?
Yes: solo to chase a high score, against the computer, or with up to six people. You don’t need a TV.
Variants and house rules
Gather plays by the rules above. Anything you can set in the app is marked – the rest are agreements you make at the table.
Chasing your best on your own setting in Gather
Five Dice works with one person. Play a game on your own and compare the final total with last time. You keep track of your personal best yourself.
With computer opponents setting in Gather
In the mode with computer opponents the app fills empty seats. Even with two players you get a race for the bonus and five-of-a-kinds.
Three-game series table agreement
Add up the final totals of three games; the highest grand total wins. A bad sheet can still be made up for. Write the totals down at the table.
Good for
- Kids’ birthday party: games with little reading
- Games for Christmas
- Game night for two
- Rainy day: what to play when you’re stuck inside
- Holiday rental evenings: games without a TV
- Easter: games for the long weekend
- Grandparents and grandkids: games for two to four
- An evening on your own: games against the computer
Five Dice compared
- Five Dice or Chess?2 players, pure skill, silent
- Five Dice or Stack Rush?2–6 players, skill and luck, calm
- Five Dice or Corner Chaos?1–6 players, mostly skill, very loud
- Five Dice or Crazy Mau?2–8 players, lots of luck, lively
- Five Dice or Village at Night?5–12 players, mostly skill, loud
- Five Dice or Say It Different?4–12 players, mostly skill, very loud
- Five Dice or Four in a Row?2 players, pure skill, calm
- Five Dice or Nine Men’s Morris?2 players, pure skill, silent
- Five Dice or Checkers?2 players, pure skill, silent
- Five Dice or Rummy?2–6 players, skill and luck, calm
- Five Dice or Sketch Round?3–10 players, mostly skill, loud
- Five Dice or Letter Hunt?2–10 players, mostly skill, lively
- Five Dice or Quiz Night?1–10 players, mostly skill, loud
- Five Dice or Sea Battle?2 players, skill and luck, calm
- Five Dice or Cover Word?4–12 players, mostly skill, loud
- Five Dice or Fib Finder?3–10 players, mostly skill, loud
- Five Dice or Little Max?2–8 players, skill and luck, loud
- Five Dice or Thirty-One?2–9 players, skill and luck, lively
Similar games
Chess
2 players10–40 minworks without a TVCheckmate the opposing king.
Four in a Row
2 players3–10 minworks without a TVGet four of your discs in a row – horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
Nine Men’s Morris
2 players10–20 minworks without a TVTake your opponent's pieces until they have only two left – or can't move anymore.
Checkers
2 players10–25 minworks without a TVCapture all your opponent's pieces or leave them without a move.
Sea Battle
2 players10–20 minworks without a TVBe the first to sink all of your opponent's ships.
Little Max
2–8 players10–20 minworks without a TVKeep your lives the longest – through clever bluffing and healthy suspicion.