It’s that time of year again where the house is full of tasty smells and there are cousins, aunts, uncles and random people (or is that just us) everywhere. And the thing everyone waits for, that is a center piece all of its own…the turkey. Today’s game is the Turkey Run—the dice game where you don’t want to be the slowest turkey.
This is an easy to learn and play game that will have you laughing and shaking your head. You can add Turkey Run to the Thanksgiving games or the Christmas games you already love or you can play it any day of the year because who doesn’t want to be a turkey?
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What You Need for Turkey Run
For this game you’ll need five dice per player. (See below for an alternative play that uses less dice.) If you need to get more dice, we suggest getting coloured dice so that everyone can have dice in their favorite colour. (Canadians can get their dice here.)
Playing Turkey Dice
You are all turkey in this game and your goal is not to be the slowest turkey, that is the turkey that gets caught.
Everyone starts with five dice. One person will call “Gobble gobble Go.” Now all players roll their dice trying to get a straight. A straight is the numbers 1 to 5 or 2 to 6 in a line.
All players roll their dice at the same time and can choose which dice to set aside and which ones to reroll. When a player gets all of her dice in a straight she says “Gobble Gobble.” Now she waits.
The last player to get a straight is the slowest turkey and is now out of the game.
The second round is played the same, with one less turkey, as are all other rounds.
Winning Turkey Run
When the game gets down to just two turkeys, the race is really on. The plyers play as before but the first player to get their dice in a straight shouts “Top Turkey.” This player has now won Turkey Run.
Turkey Run Variations
The first rule change is to make the game harder by adding a sixth dice and having players get a straight from 1 to 6.
The second variation is to have turkeys face off two at a time. To play Turkey Run this way, two players each have a set of dice. The first player to get the straight wins the round and then faces off against the next player. The game continues until all players have had a chance to play. In the last round, the player who gets the straight first wins.
The first way to play Turkey Run is to have everyone have just one die. In this variation, players are rolling for the number 1 on the first round. The last player to roll the 1 is out. The second round players would be rolling for the number 2 and so on until there is just the Top Turkey left. If there are more than 6 players, the number needed in the roll goes from 6 to 1 and starts over.
Dessert Time
Turkey Run can be played while you’re waiting for the bird to cook or while you’re sitting around feeling a stuffed as the turkey. It’s prefect for players of all ages and skill levels. It makes any time a full of laughter and merriment.
If you’re looking for even more turkey craziness, check out our Gobble card game but be warned, it’ll get the flock even louder as they follow all the silliness. If you’re looking for a quieter game, check out our Fall Outburst game or Scattergories Categories game.
And if you’re planning a great Thanksgiving day check out our 19 Thanksgiving games here. If it’s Christmas you’re planning, be sure to check our list of the Best Christmas Games too.
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