Zombie Dice is a deliciously morbid party game where players take on the roles of ravenous undead seeking to satisfy their insatiable hunger for brains. Created by the brilliant minds at Steve Jackson Games and designed by the imaginative duo of Matt Leacock and Zev Shlomovits, this compact but addictive game offers hours of laughter and competitive groaning (hopefully not actual groaning… unless you’re playing as a zombie).
The concept is delightfully simple: players roll dice representing various brain-hungry zombies with different colored faces. Green faces signify tasty brains, yellow faces represent “shotgun blasts” that force a player to lose a turn, and red faces are dreaded “footprints” symbolizing fleeing humans, causing the player to stop rolling immediately.
Each player starts with three dice and aims to accumulate 13 brains before any other hungry horde member. The dice-rolling mechanic adds a crucial element of luck and strategy, making it an engaging game for all ages and skill levels. Players can choose to be conservative or go for risky rolls depending on their appetite for brain-eating mayhem.
Let’s break down the gameplay:
- Rolling Dice:
Players take turns rolling their dice, aiming to snag those sweet, delicious green brains. But beware! Those pesky shotgun blasts and fleeing footprints can throw a wrench in your undead feasting plans.
- Matching Colors:
The colored faces on each die represent different zombie types. Green brains contribute to your brain count. Yellow shotgun blasts force you to set aside one die for your next turn, reducing your rolling potential. Red footprints mean you must stop rolling immediately and pass the dice to the next player.
- Building Your Horde:
As you collect brain dice, you can choose to keep rolling or bank your brains, hoping no other zombie outpaces your feast.
- Winning the Feast:
The first player to reach 13 brains wins the game, claiming bragging rights as the ultimate brain-eating champion.
Dice Color | Face Representation | Effect |
---|---|---|
Green | Brains | +1 Brain Point |
Yellow | Shotgun Blast | Lose 1 Die on Next Roll |
Red | Footprint | Stop Rolling Immediately |
The Undead Charm of Zombie Dice:
Zombie Dice shines for its compact size, simple rules, and endlessly replayable nature. It’s a perfect choice for parties, game nights, or even a quick solo zombie fix. The charmingly ghoulish artwork adds to the fun, with stylized zombie illustrations that are both goofy and grotesque.
Zombie Dice: Bite-Sized Fun For Everyone:
- Age Range: Suitable for ages 8 and up.
- Players: 2 - 8 Players
- Playtime: Around 15 minutes
This compact game packs a punch, offering hours of entertainment in a conveniently portable package. Zombie Dice is a fantastic gateway game for introducing newcomers to the world of board games.
Beyond The Brains: Expanding Your Undead Feast:
While the core game provides plenty of brain-eating fun, there are expansion packs available that add new layers of undead mayhem:
- Zombie Dice: 2nd Edition: This updated version includes improved dice with clearer symbols and a redesigned box for easier storage.
- Zombie Dice: The First Bite: A smaller expansion pack offering additional dice with different zombie types and unique abilities.
Zombie Dice is more than just a simple dice-rolling game; it’s an experience that celebrates the joy of rolling, laughing, and indulging in your inner undead hunger. It’s a reminder that sometimes, all you need for a fantastic time is a handful of dice and a few friends who are willing to embrace the zombie horde within!