As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full details on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
Best games like Farkle (2026): Farkle is the dice game where greed is both your best friend and your worst enemy. You roll six dice, set aside scoring ones and push your luck for more, knowing one bad roll wipes out the whole turn. If your family loves that groan when someone farkles away 1,500 points, these five dice games bring the same push-your-luck thrill, quick turns and easy rules.
Our pick if you love Farkle: Zombie Dice
Zombie Dice is the purest push-your-luck game after Farkle. You are a zombie rolling for brains, and three shotguns end your turn with nothing. A game takes about 10 to 20 minutes, and it costs about $26.
Price band: $20–$30 (about $26) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Games like Farkle at a glance
All five fit in a pocket or a small box.
- Best push-your-luck: Zombie Dice — brains versus shotguns (about $26)
- Best classic: Yahtzee — the original scorecard dice game (about $10)
- Best quick family game: Qwixx — roll and cross off numbers (about $12)
- Best for laughs: Pass the Pigs — roll pig figures, not dice (about $17)
- Best for speed: TENZI — race to roll ten of a kind (about $25)
Why Farkle is so addictive
In Farkle you roll six dice. Ones and fives score on their own, three of a kind and straights score more, and after each roll you must set aside at least one scoring die. Then you choose: bank your points or roll the remaining dice. If a roll has no scoring dice, you farkle and lose everything from that turn. Score with all six dice and you get hot dice, letting you roll all six again. Most groups play to 10,000 points. The games below share that tension between playing it safe and going for one more roll.
1. Zombie Dice — Farkle fans who want the same greed in a sillier theme
Players: 2 or more · Price band: $20–$30 (about $26) · Pick for: Farkle fans who want the same greed in a sillier theme · See Zombie Dice on Amazon
You draw three dice from a cup and roll. Brains score, shotguns hurt and footprints mean the victim escaped, so you reroll those dice. Keep rolling or stop and bank your brains, but three shotguns in one turn and you lose them all. First to 13 brains triggers the final round.
It is Farkle’s push-your-luck turn in its simplest form. Our Zombie Dice rules guide covers the details.
Skip it if: you want lots of scoring combinations. Zombie Dice is simpler.
2. Yahtzee — anyone who wants a classic with more choices
Players: 1 or more · Price band: Under $10 (about $10) · Pick for: Anyone who wants a classic with more choices · See Yahtzee on Amazon
Roll five dice up to three times per turn, then score in one of 13 boxes, from three of a kind to a full house and the famous Yahtzee. You must fill a box every turn, even with a zero.
It is less risky than Farkle but has the same roll-and-decide loop. Compare them in our Farkle vs Yahtzee guide.
Skip it if: you want real risk. You cannot lose a turn’s worth of points.
3. Qwixx — fast family nights
Players: 2 to 5 · Price band: $10–$20 (about $12) · Pick for: Fast family nights · See Qwixx on Amazon
The active player rolls six colored dice. Everyone may use the two white dice, and the roller can also combine a white and a colored die, crossing off numbers in four colored rows from left to right. Skip numbers and you can never go back.
Like Farkle, the question is always whether to take a small sure gain or wait for a better roll. Learn it in our Qwixx guide or compare it in Qwixx vs Yahtzee.
Skip it if: you want push-your-luck turns. Qwixx is about timing your crosses.
4. Pass the Pigs — parties and kids
Players: 2 or more · Price band: $10–$20 (about $17) · Pick for: Parties and kids · See Pass the Pigs on Amazon
Instead of dice you toss two small rubber pigs. How they land, on a side, on their back or standing on their snout, decides your score. Keep tossing to build your turn, but a Pig Out (the two pigs landing on opposite sides) ends your turn with nothing.
It is Farkle’s risk and reward with a lot more laughter. Our Pass the Pigs guide lists every scoring position.
Skip it if: you want strategy. The pigs decide most of it.
5. TENZI — groups who want pure speed
Players: 2 to 4 (more with extra sets) · Price band: $20–$30 (about $25) · Pick for: Groups who want pure speed · See TENZI on Amazon
Each player gets ten dice of one color. Everyone rolls at once, sets aside matching numbers and rerolls the rest until all ten show the same number. The first to shout TENZI wins the round.
It trades Farkle’s patience for frantic speed, and it is a great warm-up. Learn variations in our TENZI guide.
Skip it if: you want quiet decisions. TENZI is loud and fast.
Farkle alternatives compared
| Game | Players | Risk of losing a turn | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farkle | 2 or more | High | 30 to 45 min | Push-your-luck fans |
| Zombie Dice | 2 or more | High | 10 to 20 min | Quick games |
| Yahtzee | 1 or more | None | About 30 min | Classic scorecards |
| Qwixx | 2 to 5 | Low | About 15 min | Families |
| Pass the Pigs | 2 or more | High | About 15 min | Laughs |
| TENZI | 2 to 4 | None | 1 minute a round | Speed |
Which Farkle alternative fits your group?
- Want the same greed? Zombie Dice or Pass the Pigs.
- Want a classic scorecard? Yahtzee.
- Want everyone playing every roll? Qwixx.
- Want chaos? TENZI.
Learn the original in our Farkle rules guide or browse the best dice games.
Games like Farkle FAQ
What dice game is most like Farkle?
Zombie Dice is the closest, since you push your luck and can lose your whole turn.
Is Yahtzee the same as Farkle?
No. Both use dice combinations, but Yahtzee has a scorecard and no risk of losing a turn.
What is a good Farkle-style game for kids?
Pass the Pigs is simple, silly and works well with kids who can add small numbers.
