Skip-Bo Dice is Mattel’s dice-based spin on the classic Skip-Bo card game — a fast, roll-and-race game where everyone throws their dice at the same time and shouts to grab cards. If you have picked up a tin of Skip-Bo Dice and want the rules, or you are trying to tell the different dice versions apart, this guide walks through exactly how the game works, what is in the box, and how to win.
Quick Facts
| Game | Skip-Bo Dice Game |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Mattel |
| Released | 2011 |
| Players | 2–4 |
| Age | 7+ |
| Contents | 12 dice (three each in four colours) + 17 Skip-Bo Mission cards |
| Object | Be the first to collect five Mission cards |
| Play style | Real-time, simultaneous rolling (fast rounds) |
| Availability | Out of print — secondary market only |
What is the Skip-Bo Dice Game?
The Skip-Bo Dice Game is a Mattel party game, released in 2011, that turns the sequence-building idea behind the original card game into a real-time dice race. Instead of taking turns, all players roll at once and try to be the first to match a target shown on a card. It plays with 2 to 4 players and is rated for ages 7 and up.
If you are new to the brand, it helps to first understand what Skip-Bo is as a family. The card game is a slower, tactical game about emptying a stock pile; the dice game keeps the number-sequence theme but swaps careful play for speed and quick reflexes.
What is in the box
A standard Skip-Bo Dice Game tin contains two things:
- 12 dice — three dice in each of four colours, so up to four players each get a matching set of three.
- 17 Skip-Bo Mission cards — the target each roll is trying to match.
The dice and the wild logo
Each three-dice set is not quite standard. One die is an ordinary six-sided die (faces 1 to 6). On the second die, the 2 is replaced by a Skip-Bo wild logo; on the third die, the 4 is replaced by a wild logo. The wild logo is a wild — it can stand in for any number you still need to complete a mission.
There is one important limit: only one wild may be used to complete a mission, and at least two of your three dice must show the actual numbers required. You cannot win a card on wilds alone.
The mission cards
The 17 Mission cards come in two flavours:
- Number sequences — three specific numbers you must roll, such as 1-2-3, 2-3-4, 3-4-5, 4-5-6, 1-3-5 or 2-4-6.
- Number sets — a described condition rather than exact numbers: all dice even (2, 4 or 6), all dice odd (1, 3 or 5), or all dice the same.
How to play the Skip-Bo Dice Game, step by step
Setting up
Shuffle the Mission cards and place them face down in the middle of the table. Each player takes one set of three same-coloured dice. That is the entire setup — the game is designed to start in seconds.
A round of rolling
Turn over the top Mission card so everyone can see the target. Then, all at the same time, every player rolls all three of their dice and tries to match the sequence or set shown. Because there are no turns, the table is racing:
- Roll all three dice at once.
- Keep any dice that already help — set them aside.
- Re-roll only the remaining dice, as many times as you need.
- Repeat until your dice match the card.
For example, if the card shows 3-4-5, you need one 3, one 4 and one 5. If your first roll gives a 1, a 2 and a 6, you might keep nothing useful and re-roll everything; if it gives a 3, a 2 and a 6, you keep the 3 and re-roll the other two.
Using the Skip-Bo wild
A wild logo can fill in for one missing number. On a 3-4-5 card, if you have rolled a 3 and a 4 but not a 5, a single wild can count as that 5. Remember the cap: just one wild per mission, and the other two dice must be genuine matches.
Winning the game
The moment your dice match the card, shout “Skip-Bo!” and grab the card. Turn over the next card and start rolling again. If two players match at the same instant, whoever yells and grabs the card first keeps it. The first player to collect five Mission cards wins.
Skip-Bo dice games: which edition do you have?
Because “Skip-Bo Dice” has been used for more than one product, it is easy to buy or inherit a different game than you expected. There are three you may run into:
- Skip-Bo Dice — an earlier, now hard-to-find dice adaptation that plays differently from the 2011 game.
- Skip-Bo Dice Game (2011) — the mission-card racing game described above, sold in a soda-can-style tin. This is the version most “skip bo dice rules” searches are looking for.
- Skip-Bo Roll & Write — a more recent, still-in-production game that uses six dice and dry-erase boards. Players fill in numbered “Build Piles” from 1 to 10 and score points, so the rules are completely different from the tin dice game.
Editions at a Glance
| Edition | Dice / components | Core idea | Players | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skip-Bo Dice (earlier) | Dice set | Older dice adaptation; different rules | 2–4 | Out of print |
| Skip-Bo Dice Game (2011) | 12 dice + 17 Mission cards | Race to match sequences/sets; collect five cards | 2–4 | Out of print |
| Skip-Bo Roll & Write | 6 dice + dry-erase boards & markers | Fill Build Piles 1–10; most points wins | 2–4 | In production |
Where to find the game today
The 2011 Skip-Bo Dice Game is out of print, so you will usually find it only on the second-hand market — auction and resale listings, thrift shops and board-game trading sites — where completeness and price vary. If you want a Skip-Bo dice game that is still on shop shelves, look for Skip-Bo Roll & Write instead, keeping in mind it is a different game. Whichever you buy, check that all 12 dice (or the boards and markers, for Roll & Write) and the cards are present, since loose components are the most common thing missing from used copies.
Common mistakes and quick tips
- Using two wilds. A frequent error is completing a mission with both wild faces. Only one wild counts — at least two dice must be real numbers.
- Forgetting you can keep dice. You do not have to re-roll everything. Setting aside dice that already match is the fastest way to win a card.
- Not calling it out. Matching quietly wins nothing. You must shout “Skip-Bo!” and grab the card, especially in a tie.
- Confusing it with the card game. The dice game does not use a stock pile or building piles — if you want those, see the rules for how to play the original Skip-Bo card game.
Who the Skip-Bo Dice Game is for
This is a light, noisy, quick-to-learn game that suits families, casual gatherings and younger players from about age 7. There is no deep strategy — it rewards fast rolling and fast reactions — so it works best as a filler or warm-up rather than a main event. Gamers who prefer the tactical planning of the card game may find the dice version too simple, but it is an easy win for mixed-age tables and travel because the whole game fits in a small tin.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many dice come in the Skip-Bo Dice Game?
The 2011 Skip-Bo Dice Game includes 12 dice — three in each of four colours — plus 17 Skip-Bo Mission cards. Each player uses one set of three matching dice.
What does the Skip-Bo wild logo on a die do?
The wild logo can count as any number you still need to complete a mission. However, you may use only one wild per mission, and the other two dice must show the actual numbers required.
How do you win the Skip-Bo Dice Game?
Players roll simultaneously to match the face-up Mission card, then shout “Skip-Bo!” and grab it. The first player to collect five Mission cards wins the game.
Is the Skip-Bo Dice Game the same as Skip-Bo Roll & Write?
No. Skip-Bo Roll & Write is a separate, more recent game that uses six dice and dry-erase boards, where you fill in Build Piles from 1 to 10 and score points. The 2011 tin Dice Game is a real-time race to collect mission cards.
Is the Skip-Bo Dice Game the same as the Skip-Bo card game?
They share a name and a number-sequence theme, but the rules differ. The card game is a turn-based game about emptying a personal stock pile, while the dice game is a simultaneous roll-and-match race.
