Let's Talk Replacement Dice

It doesn’t matter if you’re a serious board game player or just one that enjoys an escape with family and friends on special occasions, we’ve all had the experience of opening up a game only to find a critical piece has been lost. Usually it is the dice, which makes sense because they are the pieces that are rolled (thrown) as part of game play. It doesn’t mean the game is destined for the trash bin as there are plenty of resources at your disposal for suitable (or better) replacements!

Scavenge From Your Other Games

It may seem sacrilege, but now might be a good time to look at games you never play (and never will) and use those pieces for the game you really want to get to the table. There has to be an extra copy of Yahtzee laying around that usually gets you five matching dice!

Check Your Local Goodwill or Yard Sales

If you’re a regular reader, you know every Sunday we feature a game found at thrift. Some are keepers, others not so much. But for a few bits or a dollar or two, we are assured some replacement pieces if the game turns out to be a dud. Again, Yahtzee fills the shelves and the deluxe versions feature some cool dice that are much nicer than you’ll find in your standard Monopoly set.

Peruse eBay for Exact Matches

There is a robust market on eBay for replacement parts for games and you can usually find matches from the exact version you are missing. Especially if you’re simply looking to complete a mass-market game title, there is certainly someone else who gave up and is piecing theirs out for a dollar per item.

BoardGameGeek Might Help

Undoubtedly the largest database about games ever developed, BGG also has an active marketplace and the ability to keep an inventory of games you own, want and are willing to sell. This includes making requests for replacement pieces or listing what you have available to trade or sell.

Don’t Forget Amazon!

Here’s where you’ll find the greatest variety of dice at prices per unit that will compete with anyone. Consider something colorful by Chessex. Or even one of the themed Tenzi sets. You can spring for casino-quality dice or even buy by the pound! I know I have added so many different colors and sets to my wishlist that Santa won’t have any issues finding the right ones for me!

Remember, unless the game specifically calls out for a certain color of die, you can always replace them all with new, unique colors. We also like to have enough dice handy so every player has their own set and eliminate the need to pass them around the table! So don’t give up on that favorite board game just because of an errant die or two. As you can see, they’re extremely easy (and affordable) to replace!

Of course, you could always send me your unwanted games…

Tags: board games, dice

15 thoughts on “Let’s Talk Replacement Dice”

After reading this I’m left with a question: how come I never thought about it before?! haha
Good idea, Scott!

Hey Scott,

I never gave a thought on these different types of dices for different games. Thanks for sharing this post. Its always nice to gain knowledge on various topics. 🙂

I have to say I remember my parents had a whole tin of dice, of all different shapes, sizes and designs – it is amazing how many different ones you can get. x

I didn’t realize you could buy replacement dice for some of these games!! Great idea and way to save a game as well.

Dice are always getting lost and timers are always getting smashed, so picking up ones on eBay is a great idea. I actually never thought of buying some that way. Thanks for a great tip.

This is definitely something I never thought of doing! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost dice to a favorite game. Thanks for the awesome tips!

Hahah this post is rad! Seriously, we lose the dice all the time, and on specialty games where the die are like weird shapes or have special characters it really sucks. Happy to see all these options for replacements without replacing the whole game.