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About BANG! The Dice Game
BANG! The Dice Game keeps the secret roles of the card game (Sheriff, Deputies, Outlaws and a Renegade) and swaps the hand of cards for five dice. You roll up to three times, shooting neighbours, drinking beer, firing the Gatling or collecting arrows that set off an Indian attack on everyone. Turns are fast, games are short, and the dice keep it lively for a big group. It is lighter and quicker than the original, which most groups see as a plus.
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Is BANG! The Dice Game Right for You?
Best for
BANG! The Dice Game is for groups of five to eight who want a fast hidden-role game with plenty of luck and laughter. At fifteen minutes a game, being knocked out stings much less than in the card game, and you can play several rounds in an evening. It works well as a warm-up or a closer for a game night.
Maybe skip it if…
Players who dislike luck should look elsewhere, because the dice decide a lot. At three players the roles change and it loses much of its tension.
How to Play BANG! The Dice Game
Setup
Deal secret roles; the Sheriff reveals theirs. Each player takes a character card and life points as shown, with extra for the Sheriff. Put the arrows in the middle.
On Your Turn
- Roll all five dice, then re-roll any you like up to two more times. Dynamite cannot be re-rolled, and three Dynamite ends your rolling and costs you a life point.
- Take an arrow for each arrow you roll. When the last arrow is taken, the Indians attack and everyone loses a life point per arrow they hold.
- Resolve the rest: a 1 shoots a player next to you, a 2 shoots someone two seats away, Beer heals anyone, and three Gatlings hit every other player.
How to Win
The game ends when the Sheriff dies or when all Outlaws and the Renegade are dead. Win conditions follow each role, as in BANG!
💡 Strategy Tips
Watch who people shoot, not what they say. A player who keeps choosing the Sheriff as their target is telling you a lot.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Re-rolling dynamite. You cannot; once rolled it stays, and three of them end your turn with a lost life point.
- Ignoring the arrows. When the pile runs out, everyone loses life for each arrow they hold, so a big stack is a liability.
- Healing the wrong person. Beer can go to anyone, which tells the table who you think is on your side.
- Forgetting that 1 and 2 results depend on seating. The players you can hit change as people are eliminated.
Advanced Strategy
- Use the Gatling when it suits you. Three Gatlings hit everyone else and clear your arrows, which is a strong move late in the game.
- As an Outlaw, do not spend every shot on the Sheriff at once. Take out the Deputy who would heal them first.
- As the Renegade, stay out of the spotlight and let the two sides wear each other down.
- Know when to stop rolling. One more roll for a better result can bring a third dynamite or more arrows.
Variants & House Rules
Old Saloon
The first expansion, adding new characters and special dice for extra options on your turn.
Undead or Alive
A later expansion with new characters, duel dice and a boneyard deck of cards.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
BANG! The Dice Game takes the best part of BANG!, the hidden roles and the shootout, and makes it fast enough that elimination hardly matters. It is very luck-driven, but it is short enough that this is part of the fun. Our pick for a quick hidden-role game with a group of six to eight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know BANG! to play?
No. It is a standalone game with its own simple rules, learnt in a few minutes.
What is the best player count?
Six to eight. With fewer players the roles are easier to guess, and at three the game uses a different set of roles.
How long does a game take?
Around fifteen minutes, which makes it easy to play several in a row.