You are here: Home / Games / Fun Game Despite the Name: Drop Dead
Let me introduce you to your next awesome boredom buster.
Drop Dead.
Okay, the name is a little off-putting, I will give you that. But, look. My kids LOVEdice games. They play it over and over. It's quick, requires no strategy or special skills (although it does sneak in some math practice) and any number of players can join. You canjoin in the fun after school or after dinner because it is an easy, no-brainer way to spend a little stress-free, screen-free time with the kids. (Note: this post contains affiliate links.)
You could even play it on the run! Stick 5 dice in your purse and you are good to go. I challenge you to add the Drop Dead dice game to your list of quick boredom busters. Report back to me and tell me how it goes!
How to play Drop Dead Dice Game
Watch our video, or read the instructions below!
Objective: to score as many points as possible. At the start of the game players determine either 1) the target score; or 2) how many rounds they will play.
What you need:
- 5 six-sided dice. Preferably 5 dice per player. We used the dice from our Tenzi game. But there is no reason why you can't play with just 5 total, passing all the dice around the table in turn.
- Pen and paper for keeping score.
- 2 or more enthusiastic players
- Optional: throwing cups. We made our own from cardboard tubes and paper cups.
Rules:
Roll one die to see who goes first. The player with the highest roll starts.
Player one throws all five dice. If his roll contains a 5 or a 2 he scores no points, removes any dice showing a 5 or 2 and re-rolls the remaining dice. If the roll does not contain a 5 or a 2, he adds up the total, records it on the score card and rolls all five dice again. He continues in this way until all the dice are removed from play. Play continues with the next player.
EXAMPLE:
First throw: Player rolls a 1-5-2-6-4. No score, remove the 5 and 2.
Second throw: Re-rolls remaining three dice. Rolls a 3-4-1. Score: 8
Third throw: Rolls the same three dice. Rolls a 2-2-4. No score, removes the two dice showing a 2.
Fourth throw: Rolls remaining 1 die. Rolls a 6. Score: 6.
Fifth throw: rolls 1 die. Rolls a 5. No score.
Total score: 8+6= 14
So there you have it! An easy to learn dice game that keeps kids busy, makes parents giggle and won't let kids forget their math skills.
Fun variation: Play Drop Dead outside with giant yard dice. Kids will move their bodies a bit more, which is always good!
UPDATE: I've since learned that this game is sometimes called "Stuck in the Mud" so if that name suits you better, go for it.
More fun math games and dice games:
- Aces in the Pot
- Cooperative math dice games
- Lu-Lu: A Dice Game from Hawai'i
- Sequences
« Gentle Chapter Books to Read Aloud
Martinetti Dice Game: A Nail-Biting Family Game of Chance »
Reader Interactions
Comments
Jen AM says
Shouldn't that 5th roll say rolls 1 die? not 2? Maybe I'm confused
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Erica says
You are correct! That's a typo. I'll fix it it the morning. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
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RD says
How does the game end? Does everyone take one turn, or you play to a certain score? I didn't see that info.
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Erica says
You can decide if you want to play a certain number of rounds, or play until the first player reaches a score, like 100. Usually my kids play until they feel like moving on. 🙂
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Lauri muse says
Love all the book recommendations.
Could u share how u fit in all the reading? I mean specifically. ..I really want to read more to the kids. I read daily, but not getting in as much as I hope to really ignite their. Love.Reply
Nj Eubanks says
I bought dice with sign language numbers for my classes. This looks like a fun way to reinforce ASL numbers and math skills.
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Carol Jones says
In the initial instructions, after the second roll, you said they roll all 5 dice again, but that is not what the step by step instructions say...did I misunderstand?
Erica says
Hi Carol,
I'm not sure where the exact confusion lies, but you only roll the dice that do not show a 5 or a 2. So only roll all five dice if NONE of the dice display a 5 or a 2. I hope this helps.
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Lana Slater says
In your last paragraph of instructions, right before the example of play.
If the roll does not contain a 5 or a 2, he adds up the total, records it on the score card and rolls all five dice again.
I assume that FIVE is a typo as well, you meant, rolls all THREE dice again.
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Heather Williams says
I just saw the directions for this on another site, and they called it "Stuck in the Mud."
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Sheri says
I dont see any printable directions as noted in the first part of this site? Did I miss them?
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Erica says
Hi Sheri,
The printable instructions are actually on a different post that has more dice games with 5 dice. I'm guessing you started at that post and made it here somehow. 🙂 https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/dice-games-with-5-dice-five-times-the-fun/ Scroll down to the end of that post for the form to get the printable via email. Hope this helps!
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Virginia Bergquist says
Love your games and other info. Wish the dice game rules were PDFs so they could be printed out.
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Ted says
Hi!
Drop Dead rules says that if you get 2 or 5 you set thoses dices aside and no score from the rest of the dices, in Stuck in the Mud if you get 2 or 5 you set those aside but you get scorepoints from the rest of the dices...Reply
Zana says
Just wanted to thank you for all your work and dedication on this site…so beneficial for little kids and big kids.
I think that the games can be played any way you can think of…my kids usually innovate on the rules all the time.Reply
Erica says
I'm so glad to hear you've been enjoying the blog content. And, I totally agree, the games are just as fun when you make up new rules. Your kids sound very creative!
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Kimberly says
I can't see the links to the video instructions, can you tell me where to find them?
Thanks!Reply
Erica says
Hi Kimberly, Thanks for pointing out that the video had disappeared! I've fixed the issue and placed it near the top under the heading "How to Play the Drop Dead Dice Game." If you still have trouble, the video is also on youtube (along with all our other game videos!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9s-JNb4csg. I hope this helps!
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