Uno Dice Game is a newer version of the older Uno Dice, and incorporates more complex play which should suit people seeking a bigger challenge. Both the old and new versions of Uno Dice make use of dice, but the newer version now has boards with erasable surfaces and marker pens to write with as part and parcel of the game.
This is a much different version from the earlier Uno Dice, and incorporates rolling dice and writing down the results. Read on to find out all about this Uno Dice Game and how to play it!
Uno Dice Game Basics
Your goal in this Uno Dice Game is to be the first player to fill up all the empty spaces/squares on your game board, as well as any added spaces on it arising from any +1 penalties during the game. This is different from other Uno card-based games where you usually have to discard all your cards.
A total of 4 players may take part, due to there being only 4 game boards of 4 different colors (red/yellow/blue/green). There are 4 marker pens provided, and of course, 6 dice for everyone to take turns rolling and building their chains with during each of their respective turns. The marker pens are erasable with tissue paper, and you can of course, use your own marker pens as long as they are erasable.
Uno Dice Game dice. In this image, all the possible die faces are shown, such as the 4 colors, the +1 and -1 symbols, and the Wild star symbol.
Uno Dice Game marker pens and game board, which comes in the usual 4 colors of Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue. Note: Remember to put the caps back onto the marker pens after use, to prevent them from drying out!
Setting Up
Everyone sits in a circle and takes a game board plus marker pen each. Play goes in a clockwise direction and usually the youngest person starts first. Everyone takes one die and rolls it to get a number, which they then write on the first empty space on their game board. Let’s say you gotten a 3 for your die roll and you wrote that down on your board. Now the game officially begins.
In our example, we assume we gotten a 3 on our die roll. Thus, 3 will be number written down on the game board.
Gameplay
Every player should already have a number written on their board in the first empty space/slot before the game actually commences. On their turn, each player will then:
- roll the 6 dice once
- build an initial dice chain starting from that number
- re-roll the leftover dice that could not fit in once more, per turn
- write down their finalized chain (after any amendments)
- assign penalties from +1 or-1 dice (if any) and then….
- call out their last die’s color and number.
Here is an example.
Let’s say on your turn, you rolled the 6 dice and gotten a green 3, yellow 3, yellow 2, red 1, blue 5, and a -1. You can choose either the green 3 or the yellow 3 as the 1st die in the dice chain since it matches with your written number (in this example, we chose the green 3). Take note that the first die can only be matched based on corresponding number with the one on the board, but after that, you can match based on color as well.
In our example, let’s say we rolled the 6 dice for our initial roll and obtained this result, getting a Green 3, Blue 5, Red 1, Yellow 3, Yellow 2, and a -1 Penalty.
In our example, we will select the first die of our chain as the Green 3 die.
Now build your initial chain by matching up the dice based on color or number. There are two yellow dice, the yellow 3 can be joined to the green 3 (number match), while the yellow 2 can be joined to the yellow 3 (color match).
In our example, we built our initial dice chain and there remained a Blue 5, Red 1, and -1 Penalty. These are unable to fit into the dice chain. As part of your turn, you are allowed to re-roll any or all of them once per turn.
The remainder dice cannot be matched up and so are set aside. These can be re-rolled. You can re-roll just one or all of them once during your turn. Let’s say you re-roll all of them and obtain a yellow 4, red 3, and green 5. Now you can rearrange your dice chain again to add in the new dice if they match any others.
The dice obtained after the dice re-roll that one is allowed once per turn. In our example, we chose to re-roll all 3 of the dice (on the right hand side) that could not fit in.
Example Uno Dice Game finalized chain obtained for the turn. There is a Green 5 that could not fit into the chain. Even though it’s the same color as the Green 3, but adding it next to the Green 3 would hinder the other dice from being added in, as they don’t match it.
Your chain is now finalized for your turn, so write down the numbers in your dice chain by filling up the empty spaces on your game board. In our example, the green 5 die is left out, since although it could match next to the green 3, but the other dice would then not match up.
Calling Out Last Die’s Color/Number
After filling up your game board, and assigned any penalties, you must call out the number and color of the last die in your chain. All the OTHER players with the same number written on their game board as their LAST NUMBER, gets to add that number to their game board again. This enables them to fill up another empty space/slot (in their bid to fill them all up).
Also, anyone with a game board that has the same color you called out gets to write that number down, but remember – it’s not you!
Once your dice chain in finalized for your particular turn, write down the numbers onto your game board and call out the last number and color, which in this example, would be “Yellow 4”.
In our example given above, you would call out “Yellow 4”. Anyone else aside from you with a “4” as their last number written on their game board gets to write down another “4” next to it. Also, anyone with a yellow board gets to write down a “4” next to the last number on their yellow game board.
NB: If someone has both the same color and number matching the last called die, they still only fill up one empty space on their game board.
Penalty and Wild Symbols
Now for a word on the Penalty and Wild symbols.
The +1 and -1 symbols can be used as penalties against your opponents, and after your finalized dice chain is built, you can issue penalties to the others if you have any such dice in your hand, unless you decided to roll them as well.
In our example, the -1 was re-rolled because we were keener on increasing our dice chain rather than penalizing other players. But this is entirely up to you.
A -1 die forces an opponent (of your choice) to erase the last number on their game board, but this only applies if they have more than one number written down on their game board. A +1 die forces an opponent (of your choice) to add an extra space onto their game board by drawing the outline onto their board. Both +1 and -1 dice are meant to slow down your opponents in their bid to fill up all the spaces on their game board.
Wild symbols are those with a star on the dice. Each of them only counts for HALF of an empty space on the game board; meaning in order to use them, you need to have 2 of them. If you only have 1 of them, you can choose to re-roll them or set it aside until you obtain another one.
Once you have obtained 2 Wild dice, you can place them side-by-side anywhere in your dice chain and match any dice next to them. You may now draw a star symbol on your game board to represent the Wild die in your dice chain. Note that you can only attempt to obtain those 2 Wild dice during one turn, since all the dice would be used by other players after your turn is over.
“A” shows how a star symbol is written onto the game board once you managed to obtain 2 Wild dice. This is just for example purposes, as ending your turn with a Wild symbol only benefits your opponents. “B” shows how if someone plays a +1 Penalty on you, you need to draw an extra space onto your game board as shown.
Tip: Don’t place a Wild symbol at the end of your chain to end your turn, as everyone can now fill up a space with any number they have.
Winning Uno Dice Game
The winner is the first person who fills up all the empty spaces or slots on their game board, including all the added ones from +1 penalties.
Overall verdict, this new Uno Dice Game is more complex and engrossing than the earlier Uno Dice, which was a simpler game. Both versions can still be found being sold online and offline. For true blue Uno fans, you may consider collecting these old and new versions. Speaking of which, here is the oldest Uno Dice version released in 1987!