Yahtzee with Buddies Dice

This take on classic dice game loses the original's appeal.
Yahtzee with Buddies Dice
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Yahtzee with Buddies Dice is a dice game for iOS and Android devices. The game has no questionable content, though players can send messages to their competition, which could include inappropriate comments. Players can also watch ads or spend real-world money to purchase bonus rolls and other extras for gameplay. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared, and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
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This app is a SCAM…DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ‼️
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What’s It About?
YAHTZEE WITH BUDDIES DICE is a virtual version of the classic dice game, except you play against other people online. The point of the game is just like the regular game -- players will roll dice and keep ones they want while discarding others. The setup is similar to Poker games as players try to complete specific sets of dice to score more points than their opponents.
Is It Any Good?
While some board and card games work well on mobile devices, this dice game doesn't translate well to the virtual realm. In Yahtzee with Buddies Dice, you get to play the classic dice game against other people online. On the surface, it seems like that old familiar game you've played for years. In order to score the most points and win, you have to roll five dice and save the ones that are the same number, then roll again to replace the ones you didn't keep. For instance, if your first roll has two 3s, and you save them, and then your second roll of the remaining three dice has two more 3s, you can then submit the four 3s for 12 points. You can also get points for pulling off such Poker combos as 4 of a kind and Full House. And, of course, five of a kind is Yahtzee (and 50 points).
But while this works the same as a physical game of Yahtzee, it lacks the charm of the real thing. Half the challenge of Yahtzee is rolling the dice, something you lose when the computer randomly picks them for you. It also doesn't help that, by playing this virtually, you can't make your opponent play their turn. While testing the game for this review, there were routine times where you could wait 5, 10, even 15 minutes for people to take their turn, even if you were initially challenged by the other player to begin with. It's a good thing you can play multiple games at the same time. But even then, this doesn't work as well as it could, because the menus aren't very intuitive. When it comes to this game, It's better to stick to the real thing than play more Yahtzee with Buddies Dice.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about advertising. While players can buy bonus turns with real money, they can also be earned by watching ads, but why do you think this is an option? Which do you think is the smarter choice, financially?
This game is a virtual version of a game you would normally play with real dice against a real person in the real world, but do you think it's as much fun as playing the real thing? Why do you think some things work better physically than virtually?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: April 9, 2020
- Category: Dice Games
- Version: 7.0.2
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 11.0 or later; Android 4.4 and up
- Last updated: July 26, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love board games
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