Easy Come-Easy Go by Out of the Box Publishing is a new dice game in the vein of Yahtzee. Unlike that traditional family pastime, though, this game is significantly faster due to four notable changes. While the goal is still to roll certain combinations, the first change is that a player only has to get three sets to win. The second change, though, tends to make this unlikely as the winner must hold onto three winning prizes for a full round of turns by the other players as hinted at on the product website: “Win Fabulous Prizes with a simple roll of the dice. Win the game by holding on to your prizes as other players attempt to beat the odds and take them from you.”

The third shift is in the basic mechanics with two specific changes from Yahtzee. First, all four dice always count in a set. There are prizes where only dice of particular values or combinations are counted in the score. The other change is in the fact that there is no scrapping the results of a roll. On each roll, the player must set aside at least one die and can only roll as long as one is left in play. Subsequently, a player can make a choice that limits the turn to two throws out of an absolute maximum of four. This adds another level of strategy to the traditional game as each roll has a fixed impact on subsequent rolls.

The last change, in contrast, is almost negligible, although readily visible as it is a change in the base play device: the dice. There are only four dice and have values from zero to five unlike normal six-sided dice. The slight reduction in dice values is somewhat arbitrary as the game could have been built with the same statistics just by shifting the values of four of the sets by a point or two. The choice does give a few nice target values, though, as well as give the game some unique looking dice.

Easy Come-Easy Go is an easy to learn game with fast game play. The selection of prizes ensures a fair bit of strategy on what is otherwise a game of pure chance. The requirement that the winner hold the three winning prizes during one last round by all the other players makes for a longer, more challenging game with more players. The game design is superb, with bright prize cards, a solid package that holds the dice, rolling cup, prizes, and rules in place, and full color directions that cover all play issues thoroughly. Definitely check out this game and see what wondrous prizes can be won. Just remember, the dice can turn and the competition for the prizes is fierce to the last.

For more details on Out of the Box Publishing and their new dice game, Easy Come-Easy Go, check them out at their website http://otb-games.com and at local game stores.

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