Bar Dice: A Game Night Game Your Friends and Family Will Love
Lemme put it this way, if you’re sick of game nights where everyone’s tired of Monopoly and Uno,try the bar dice game.
It’s the perfect solution for family fun and adult game nights.
This dice game is so simple that even your most socially awkward friend or shy kiddo can jump right in for some face-to-face fun.
Let me break it down for you…
The Basics for the Bar Dice Game (Because Everyone Loves a Fresh Start)
Tell you what… all you need is five dice and some enthusiasm.
Get this, the game’s actually perfect for those nights when you want something more exciting than watching Netflix but less complicated than learning chess.
Game Setup:
- Five regular dice per player (and maybe some backups because dice have a magical ability to vanish)
- Dice cups (one per player – old yogurt containers work great for kids!)
- Score sheets (or a whiteboard if you’re feeling fancy)
- A flat surface (kitchen table, coffee table, that IKEA folding table you bought for “temporary” use three years ago)
That’s it! For a simple dice game that’s easy to transport, a dice tray can also be handy.
You can even slip it into your bag and set it up on your lap during a road trip or in a tiny hotel room.
If you’d prefer another fun dice game to keep things rolling during lazy weekends, check out the Lazy Dice Game. It’s just as easy to set up.
Wait! You Need These 5 Addictive Dice Games in Your Life!
Want to have fun on the go (or even a game night) WITHOUT 3 hours of prep and a minor emotional breakdown? Grab some dice and SNAG the No-Fuss Fun Dice Game cheatsheet to play easy-to-learn, FUN dice games whenever boredom strikes. Your sanity (and your hair) will thank you!
Bar Dice Game At-A-Glance
| Game Details | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Number of Players | 2-8 players (any more and you’ll spend half the night waiting for your turn) |
| Game Objective | Roll five of the same number before everyone else does – sounds simple until you’re actually trying to do it OR hit the previously agreed upon score before anyone else does |
| Playing Time | 15-30 minutes per round (unless someone gets crazy lucky in the first roll) |
| Perfect For | • Bar hoppers who need something to do besides staring at their phones • Competitive friends who can handle losing gracefully (good luck with that) • Anyone who enjoys games of chance but doesn’t want to think too hard • Party groups looking for a quick game between other activities |
| Not Great For | • People who hate random chance games • Sore losers (you know who you are) • Those expecting deep strategy (it’s dice, folks) • Players who take forever to make decisions |
How to Play Bar Dice Game (Because No One Wants to Be Confused When They Play)
- THE WILD ONE RULE! ? First things first – you NEED to roll at least one “1” to keep any dice. “1″s are WILD and can be number you want them to be.
If you don’t get a “1” in your roll, tough luck – your turn is OVER right there! No second or third rolls for you. Pass those dice to the next player and better luck next time! - THREE SHAKES, THAT’S ALL YOU GET! After getting that “1”, here’s what happens. You’ve got up to three chances to roll your best combo. After getting that “1”, here’s what happens:
- Look at all your dice. Keep the matching numbers you want (for example, if you rolled a 1, two 6s, and two 4s, you might keep those two 6s)
- Set aside any dice you want to keep
- Re-roll the remaining dice trying to get more matches with what you kept
- Remember those “1s” are wild and can become any number you want to match with!
- You get up to two more re-rolls with your remaining dice to build your best matching set
- AIM FOR AWESOME COMBOS The goal is simple: get as many matching numbers as possible! Four sixes? Amazing! Five of a kind? You’re a dice wizard! Remember, those wild ones can transform into ANY number you need.
- WINNER WINNER! Whoever gets the highest matching combo in the fewest rolls wins! If there’s a tie in the number of matches, the higher number wins (like five 6s beats five 4s).
Please don’t be the one who slings their dice cup all over the place and the dice roll everywhere and then everyone has to stop playing and help you find all your lost dice – including the one that somehow ended up in Aunt Mabel’s croc that she’d tossed by the kitchen door. Not that this has happened to me *ahem*.
Here’s a handy dandy table for how you score points in the bar dice game:
| Combination | Points | Description | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Pair | 2 | Two dice showing same number | Easy |
| Two Pair | 4 | Two different pairs | Moderate |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | Three dice showing same number | Moderate |
| Four of a Kind | 8 | Four dice showing same number | Hard |
| Full House | 5 | Three of one number, pair of another | Hard |
| Small Straight | 4 | Four sequential numbers (1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5, or 3-4-5-6) | Hard |
| Large Straight | 6 | Five sequential numbers (1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6) | Very Hard |
| Five of a Kind | 10 | All five dice showing same number | Extremely Hard |
| Nothing | 0 | No scoring combination | Common |
Making the Bar Dice Game Fun for Everyone
Want to know the secret to epic family game nights? Take a classic bar dice game, ditch the drinks, and add a hefty dose of creative chaos.
Nothing brings out the family competitive spirit quite like battling for the right to pick tomorrow’s dinner or avoiding dish duty.
Here’s how to transform this pub favorite into your family’s new obsession.
Fun Family Twists:
- Winner gets to pick tomorrow’s dinner
- Loser does the dishes (always a crowd pleaser)
- Tournament brackets for family game night
- Special themed dice for holidays
- Create a “Dice Master” crown for the winner
- Keep a “Family Champions” board
- Award silly prizes (dollar store treasures work great)
- Take photos of epic rolls
Honestly, the “Family Champions” board and the silly prizes have always been big hits in my house.
But, you’ll figure out what works well for your family.
For Adult Game Night:
- Create a traveling trophy
- Keep season rankings
- Award a “Most Dramatic Roll” prize
- Document legendary moments
- Loser hosts the next game night
- Winner picks the snacks for the next game night
Playing with kids and don’t want to be tortured by the sound of dozens of dice hitting the table and floor? Invest in a few few foam dice. You’re welcome, lol.
Bar Dice Age Group Adaptations and Special Family Rules (for the Youngsters)
Feel free to use these, if you need to:
- The Magic Re-Roll: Each player gets one “magical power” per game to re-roll any turn
- Team Play: Younger kids pair up with adults
- Victory Dance Required: Winners must perform a silly celebration dance (trust me, this makes losing way more fun)
Fall in Love with Other Games Like the Bar Dice Game
| Game | How to Play |
|---|---|
| Liar’s Dice | Roll your dice secretly, then bluff about what you’ve got while calling others’ bluffs. It’s basically poker with dice – perfect for those who think they’ve got a killer poker face but can’t actually play poker. |
| Bunco | Team up and roll three dice trying to match the round number. Sounds simple, right? Just wait until you’re frantically passing dice around while trying to remember if you’re supposed to be aiming for 1s or 6s. At least there’s usually wine involved. |
| Farkle | Roll six dice and rack up points with specific combinations. Just don’t get too greedy – one bad roll and you’ll lose everything. It’s like gambling, but you only lose your dignity instead of your money. |
| Cee-lo | Three dice, three rolls, highest combo wins. 4-5-6 is the dream, 1-2-3 is the nightmare. It’s fast, furious, and everyone pretends they know exactly what they’re doing. Spoiler alert: they don’t. |