Quixx is a “fast family dice game” from Gamewright. It is great for developing strategizing skills and probability concepts with some bonus addition practice. The game takes only about 15 minutes to play. It is fun whether you play with just 2 players or up to 5. Even better, it has a small portable box with a flip up lid. It has won multiple awards including Mensa Select, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, Parents’ Choice Silver Honor, and Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Products.
Rules of Playing Quixx
Each player has a scoresheet with the numbers 2-12 in four colors (two count down from 12 and two count up from 2). You get points by marking off as many numbers as possible. However, once you mark a number you can’t mark any number that came before it in its row.
When it is your turn you roll all six dice: two white and four corresponding to the colors on the score sheet. Anyone playing can choose to mark off the sum of the two white dice on one of their four rows. The person who rolled the dice has the additional option of marking off the sum of one colored die and one white die in the row that’s the same color as the die. If you can’t make either move using the numbers rolled on your turn, you must mark one of four penalty boxes on your scoresheet. When anyone marks off the last number in a row and has at least five numbers marked in that row, the color is locked and that color die is removed from the game.
When either any player has all four penalty boxes marked or locks a second color, the game ends immediately. Players then tally their points for each color according to the key at the bottom, add all of their totals, then subtract five points for each marked penalty box. I use this time to have the kids practice strategies for mentally adding double digit numbers. Whoever has the highest score wins. (As with all games I always have kids subtract the low score from the high score to see how many points the winner won by. This reinforces mental subtraction as difference.)
Variation
Amazon also sells a “Deluxe Version” for up to 8 players which uses dry erase boards/markers instead of score sheets. On the reverse side of the board it mixes the numbers for a “Quixx Mix bonus game.” This makes the game quite a bit larger (the original one is easily portable.) Also, Amazon reviews consistently state that the dry erase boards are poor quality and quickly get to the point where they can’t be erased. I would recommend getting the original game. You can always laminate the score sheets yourself.
Other Games By Gamewright
For other Gamewright games see my posts: