Groundhog day is a fun holiday that gets us through a long day in winter. And to help make the day fun we’ve created the Shadow Dice game in honor of our friendly Groundhog who might see his shadow (giving us 6 more weeks of winter) or won’t see his showed forecasting an early spring.
Shadow dice is the latest Family Game Shelf original dice game that features an animal. Check out our Turkey Run, Monkey Dice, and Ants dice games to start.
We loved the idea of having to roll dice to match a shadow so much we have three different ways to play!
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Groundhog Game Shadow Dice Variation 1 – Bigger Than Yours
For this game, you will need a pair of dice and a scoresheet. We love to play with everyone having their own dice in their favorite colour (to shop for dice click here, Canadians here.)
Each player will have a turn to be the Groundhog. On your turn as the Groundhog, you will roll both dice and add them together. This is your Groundhog number. Now, all other players have to roll the dice to make their shadow. The sum of their dice (their shadow) needs to be more than your Groundhog number. If their sum is bigger, they are safe. On the other hand, if their shadow is not bigger than your Groundhog number, you score one point.
When everyone has had a chance to beat your Groundhog number, the role of Groundhog passes to the player on your left.
Now that player rolls both dice for her Groundhog number. As before, all other players are trying to roll a sum that is higher than the new number. For each player that doesn’t make a shadow bigger then the Groundhog, she will score one point.
If a player rolls a double six, then the automatically score a point for every player and the Groundhog role is moved to the next player.
The first player to reach 10 points is the winner.
Groundhog Game Shadow Dice Variation 2 – Staying Alive
For this variation of Shadow Dice, you will need a pair of dice and five chips or BINGO markers for each player.
The idea is similar; however, there is no one player who is set to be the Groundhog. Instead, at the binging of each round, the dice are rolled to get the Groundhog number. Next, each player has a chance to roll the dice and create a shadow that is larger than the Groundhog. If your shadow is bigger than you care safe. On the other hand, if your shadow is the same or smaller than the Groundhog number, you lose a chip. The chips go into the middle of the playing area.
When all players have had a chance to roll, a new Groundhog number is rolled and the process starts again.
If the Groundhog number is 12, then all players must put a chip into the middle and a new number is rolled.
The last player with chips is the winner and collects all the chips in the middle.
If there is a tie on the last round, then a new number is rolled and the players roll again to make a large shadow.
Shadow Dice Variation 3: How Long
This version of the game is a little different. To start, everyone gets a chance to be the Groundhog. On your turn, you roll only one dice. That is your Groundhog number.
Now all the other players get a chance to roll both numbers. If they roll a number that either matches or is less than your Groundhog number then score 0 points. On the other hand, if they roll a sum that is larger than your number, they score the difference. For example if your Groundhog number is 3 and player A rolls a sum of 5 then she would score 2 points. If the Groundhog number is 6 and you roll 11 you would score 5 points.
When everyone has had the opportunity to be the Groundhog, the scores are added up. The player with the most points wins the game.
Six More Weeks of Fun
I hope you’ve enjoyed our fast game of Shadow Dice. Any way you play, it makes a great game for Groundhog Day or any other day.
Visit our Family Game Shelf shop for more seasonal fun–including our Groundhog Game pack featuring games like Groundhog trivia, blind drawing, Hog-gories and so much more. Check it out here.
Check out our other animal dice games – Save the Turtles, Zebra Races and Bat dice. And don’t forget, the groundhog will be looking for his Valentine soon so stock up on our Valentine’s Day games: Cupid Daily News, Valentines No No, and Valentine’s Day Whacky Putt—the indoor mii golf dice game!
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