BANG! The Dice Game Review

“I’m gonna bang you.”  Taken out of context, one might be slapped for saying such things.  While playing a rousing game of BANG! The Dice Game, it’s only too common.  To “bang” someone (in this game) is to shoot them.  With a gun.  While Purple Phoenix Games does not condone violence or murder, you gotta admit that banging your friends with no risk of bodily harm is definitely exciting!

BANG! The Dice Game (2013)dV Giochi
3-8 Players15 minutes
Ages 8+BGG Weight – 1.28 / 5

Okay, so at its Wild West heart, BANG! The Dice Game is just that: a dice game.  Have you played Yahtzee! before?  Or anything with the Yahtzee! mechanic?  You know, you throw some dice, save one or more for scoring, and can re-roll up to twice more to try to get the desired result?  Well now you know how to play BANG! The Dice Game – mostly. 

DISCLAIMER: There are several expansions to this game, but we are not reviewing them at this time. Should we review them in the future we will either update this review or post a link to the new material here. -T

What makes this different and more exciting than Yahtzee! is that everyone will have a special identity which affords them a special player power.  It could be re-rolling a specific die face again, or minimizing damage from an attack.  Add to that the fact that everyone is also dealt a role card to determine their team affiliation – Sheriff and Deputy, Outlaws, or the Renegade.  The Sheriff wins if the bad guys are eliminated, the Deputy wins if the Sheriff survives, the Outlaws win if the Sheriff is eliminated, and the Renegade wins if they are the last one standing.  

Now, I didn’t mention that there are “Indians” who could possibly shoot arrows at the players because it’s not politically correct, but this is set in the Old West, and that’s unfortunately what they called Native Americans, and that’s the terminology that is used in the game.

This game boasts a play experience that is fast, engaging on every turn (even the other players’), easy to learn, and just plain hilarious fun.  Yes, you could be eliminated in a game, but games typically last like 15-20 minutes, so you don’t have to wait long to get back in the fight.

With easy, fast, and fun gameplay, an interesting theme to role play, and great components, Purple Phoenix Games gives this one a rootin’ tootin’ 13 / 18.