Qwixx Deluxe is a dice game for 2-8 players known as a ‘roll and write’. It is intended for ages 8+, but Maci has been able to play since she was 5, with some parent assistance. We got our copy of Qwixx Deluxe at Target. We have also seen it at our local Gaming Goat, or it can be ordered online directly from the publisher, Gamewright.
Gameplay Overview
Qwixx Setup
To set up, each player takes a score sheet and dry erase marker. As a group, choose which side of the board to play. Finally, give the dice to the first active player.
How to Play Qwixx
Gameplay is completed as the rolling of dice and crossing out numbers on the score sheet. Numbers must be crossed out from left to right in each of the four rows. Any numbers that are skipped CANNOT be crossed off on a later turn.
The active player rolls all 6 dice. Then, the next two actions must be done IN ORDER:
FIRST, announce the total of the two white dice out loud. ALL players MAY cross out the number that was announced in any row.
SECOND, the active player only may combine one white die with one colored die and cross out the number matching the sum and the color die they chose.
IF the active player either cannot or chooses to not cross off any number on their turn, they MUST cross off a penalty box at the bottom of their score sheet. Each penalty box crossed off at the end of the game will count as -5 points.
Once all players are ready, the dice are passed clockwise to the next player who then rolls all 6 dice. Play continues in this fashion until one of the two game end conditions are met.
Game End
The game is over as soon as one of two conditions are met:
- Someone has crossed out his/her fourth penalty box OR
- Two dice have been removed from the game (once the row has been locked)
Scoring
Each player scores their own game board by finding the number of xs within each row and using the score chart to give a points total for each color. Add together the total for all colored rows and subtract any penalties received. The player with the highest total is the winner.
The Dad Review
This is a great game to introduce players to roll and write games. This is a game we started with when we began realizing the board gaming world was rather large and there were different styles of games. This particular version (Qwixx Deluxe) is nice because of the dry erase boards. Also, it is two-sided, giving a more complex version but nothing crazy hard.
Maci has been playing this since she was 5, so we’ve definitely gotten a lot of mileage out of this game. If you like this style of game, I’d recommend these other games: That’s Pretty Clever, Twice As Clever, Welcome To, Fleet the Dice Game (most difficult out of the games listed), Cartographers, and Railroad Ink.
Qwixx Deluxe Pros
- Easy to learn and teach
- Just enough depth that it’s not your basic lucky dice chucking game.
- Affordable
- Mensa Select game
- Double sided board gives more replay-ability
Qwixx Deluxe Cons
- Serious gamers may find it too easy and could use interest
- The boards are nice, but can stain
My ranking is a 6/10. If your kids are young and just getting into gaming, I encourage you to pick it up.
The Mom Review
Maci and I like to play games in the morning while we eat breakfast together, and Qwixx is exactly the right type of game for this. It is quick, and the rules are simple and easy to remember. There is also very minimal setup and it is easy to clean up.
As a teacher, I appreciate that players need to add quickly and analyze a variety of number combinations. To make the best decision for which dice combination to make, and how many numbers on their score sheet they are willing to skip, kids have a lot to think about. I am sure this is a big reason this game was chosen as a Mensa Select game.
When Maci was really little, I would help her walk through the different dice combinations because all of the dice sitting in front of her felt overwhelming.
Overall, I give this game a 7/10. It’s a great quick game, and I’m willing to play it, but I wouldn’t want to play it for hours on end.
The Kid Review
I like Qwixx. First, I like rolling the dice and doing the white and a color plus the white dice. I like getting a lot of rows and locking the color dice up (which makes us remove that colored dice). I also like the more complicated side because it is a little harder. It is definitely easy for kids. I played this when I was a lot younger and it was easy for me.
In conclusion, I will give this game 10/10.
Overall Impressions
We like Qwixx. It’s a great, quick roll and write game. It is also easy to teach to people who are new to gaming and plays up to 8 players.
- Overall Rating: 8/10
- Setup: Very Easy
- Learning the Rules: Very Easy
