Bowling Dice – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Bowling Dice

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Board Game1999

38%

WISE Score

Roll dice, add numbers, pretend you're bowling—basically math homework with a sports theme.

Bowling Dice

Board Game

6+, 1999

38%

WISE Score

Roll dice, add numbers, pretend you're bowling—basically math homework with a sports theme.

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Where to Play

Amazon

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is a product from 1999 that tried to bring bowling home in an era before Wii Sports existed. It accomplishes its stated goal—you can indeed play 'bowling' anywhere with just dice and paper. The problem is that it's not actually fun.

The BGG community has spoken with a 4.58/10 rating: this is a math worksheet with a bowling theme. There are no decisions, no strategy, no excitement. You roll dice, the dice tell you what happened, you write it down. Repeat for 10 frames.

If your kid genuinely wants to learn bowling scoring rules, this will do that. If you're stuck in a waiting room and happen to have 10 dice and a score pad, sure, it's better than staring at the wall. But there are dozens of better dice games (Yahtzee, Qwixx, Farkle) and hundreds of better family games at this complexity level.

The only scenario where this makes sense is if you're a bowling coach who needs a portable scoring practice tool. For everyone else, just go bowling.

Age Fit

Technically works for ages 6-12 who are learning bowling scoring or basic arithmetic, but realistically most kids would rather play almost anything else. The 10-minute runtime is the only thing preventing this from being a complete slog.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Simple, friendly competition with no conflict-inducing mechanics. Bowling theme is universally wholesome and the game supports 1-10 players, making it flexible for solo play or family gatherings. No negative interactions between players—you're just rolling dice and tracking your own score.

Imaginative

This is pure dice-rolling simulation of bowling with zero creative elements. No storytelling, no building, no problem-solving, no decision-making beyond 'roll the dice.' The BGG weight of 1.03 confirms it's about as simple as it gets. It's a math exercise dressed up as a game.

Safe

Completely safe. No mature themes, no social conflict mechanics, no gambling elements beyond standard dice rolling. The game creates no bad feelings between players since everyone plays their own 'lane.' Physical components are just dice and a score pad—no choking hazards for the 6+ age range.

Enriching

Teaches basic bowling scoring rules and arithmetic, which has some educational value for younger kids learning addition. But the entertainment value is minimal—it's essentially a worksheet with dice. The 4.58/10 BGG rating (out of 527 reviews) tells the story: this is not engaging. No strategic thinking, no skill development beyond score-keeping.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Teaches bowling scoring rules without the expense of actual bowling
Quick 10-minute play time means it won't overstay its welcome
Can be played solo for kids who want to practice scoring
Zero conflict between players—everyone bowls their own game

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What to Watch For

The 4.58/10 BGG rating isn't a typo—this is genuinely boring for most kids
No actual game decisions to make, just roll and record
Will likely collect dust after one or two plays
Better alternatives exist if you want dice games (Yahtzee, Qwixx) or actual bowling

Conversation Starters

"Want to go to a real bowling alley instead?"
"Can you figure out why a spare is worth more than just knocking down the same pins separately?"
"What other sports could we turn into dice games?"

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