Beetle Dice Game Rules
Beetle is a dice game for 2-6 players. A game typically takes 10-20 minutes, and the recommended age is 5+.
Rules for Beetle: Roll the die and draw a beetle part by part. The body comes first, and the first complete beetle wins the round.
Setup
Beetle is played with a single die, and every player needs a sheet of paper and a pencil. The game works for two to six players, and the goal is to be the first to draw a complete beetle: body, head, six legs, two eyes and two feelers.
How to play
Take turns rolling the die, one roll each. The number decides which part of the beetle you may draw:
- 6: the body
- 5: the head
- 4: a leg (you need six)
- 3: an eye (you need two)
- 2: a feeler (you need two)
- 1: nothing, the turn passes on
If you already have everything that number gives, both eyes for example, you draw nothing that roll either.

The order of things
The beetle is built in a fixed order. Everything starts with a six: without a body you cannot draw anything at all. The head and legs attach to the body, and the eyes and feelers can only be drawn once the head is in place. Waiting for that first six is part of the game, and usually where the laughter starts.
Winning
The first player to complete their beetle shouts beetle and wins the round. If you want to keep playing, award one point per win and crown an overall winner at the end of the evening.
About this version
These rules describe the drawing game Beetle with one die, where each part of the beetle requires its own roll.
Do you play with different rules where you live, or did you spot a mistake? Send me an email.
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