How to Play Yahtzee Jr.
Yahtzee Jr. reimagines Yahtzee for young children. It swaps numbered dice and scorecards for picture dice and a game board, so pre-readers can play with no reading or arithmetic at all.
It’s sold in many themed versions (popular characters and franchises), but the picture-matching heart is the same across them.
Last reviewed 2026-07-27
What's in the box
- Picture/character dice
- A game board
- Matching tokens or chips
- Themed artwork (varies by edition)
Setup
- Give each player a board (or a section of the shared board) and their tokens.
- Place the picture dice in the middle.
- Decide who rolls first — usually the youngest player.
- No scorecards or pencils are needed.
How to play — the rules
Roll and match pictures
On your turn you roll the picture dice, keeping the ones you like and rerolling the rest to try to match as many of the same character as possible — the same “keep and reroll” idea as grown-up Yahtzee.
Instead of adding numbers, you’re simply looking for matching pictures.
Cover your board
When you’ve made a match, you place a token on (or claim) the matching character space on your board. Exact details vary by edition, but the goal is always to fill your spaces by matching the dice.
There’s no math, no writing, and no zero scores — every turn a child either matches or simply passes the dice on.
A turn, step by step
- Roll the picture dice.
- Keep matching characters and reroll the others to build a set.
- Cover the matching space on your board with a token.
- Pass the dice to the next player.
How to win
The winner is the first player to fill their board (or collect the most matching tokens, depending on the edition).
Because it’s all picture-matching, games are quick and every child stays involved to the end.
Strategy tips
- Help the youngest players spot which pictures to keep before rerolling.
- Cheer the “keep and reroll” choice — it’s the same skill that makes real Yahtzee fun.
- Use it as a stepping stone: kids who master Yahtzee Jr. take to classic Yahtzee quickly.
- Pick a themed edition featuring characters your child already loves to keep them engaged.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Yahtzee Jr. for?
It’s designed for ages 4 and up. There’s no reading or math, so pre-readers can play by matching pictures on the dice.
How is Yahtzee Jr. different from regular Yahtzee?
It uses picture dice and a board instead of numbered dice and a scorecard. You match characters and cover board spaces rather than adding up categories.
Do you keep score in Yahtzee Jr.?
No written scoring is needed. You track progress by covering spaces on your board or collecting tokens, and the first to fill up wins.
Are there different versions of Yahtzee Jr.?
Yes. It’s released in many themed editions featuring popular characters, but they all share the same picture-matching gameplay.
House-rule ideas
- Play cooperatively, filling one shared board together for the very youngest players.
- Allow an extra reroll for toddlers who need more tries to match.
- Team up an adult with each small child to guide the keep-and-reroll choices.
Buy Yahtzee Jr.
Yahtzee Jr. Game
The no-math, picture-matching Yahtzee for pre-readers (themes vary).
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