Dean(ish)

We’ve recently come across a fun dice game for all ages called Pass the Pigs. The object is to score 100 points first and can be played with any amount of 2 or more players. Though there is some simple math involved, it’s really a game that can be played from any age 3+.

The first time I played Pass the Pigs was at work a couple months ago. I work in sales so we ran a contest where every time a sales rep made so many activations, they got to roll the piggies. I was instantly amazed at how many people knew and loved the game, as I had never heard of it. Watching them play, I noticed how easy it was to pick up and get excited about.

A few days later, we went to Joe & Becky’s house for the weekend and they had Pass the Pigs at their house. We played for an hour or so, with Sierra (who can’t add yet), and had a blast. I wanted this game.

To score points, a player rolls two pigs like dice to see how their pigs land. Different landing positions have different names - Sider, Snouter, Trotter, Leaning Jowler, and Razorback - and are worth different points. A player may continue rolling as long as they’ve rolled a combination that does not lead to a Pig Out (two Siders of opposite sides, causing you to lose that turn’s points) or an Oinker (where the two pigs land touched and all of that player’s points are lost for the whole game).

Snouter + Sider = 11 points

If you’ve never played dice games before, this game is a great one to start with. If you’re a fan of 500, this is a great way to get the little kiddies into dice at a young age (as long as you don’t mind doing the math for ‘em, which can be a pain sometimes).

I have only one gripe about the game: Sometimes, the pigs land in positions that aren’t described in the rules. They’re often in a Siding Trotter position (2/3 standing, 1/3 on its side) or a Trotting Sider position (2/3 on its side, 1/3 standing). Very weird. And it’s only happened with our set, which is newer than both Joe & Becky’s set and the set at work, which leads me to believe that they’re manufactured differently now than they once were. They should go back to the old-school style.

This is the new case; I recommend the old one, if available.

I picked up my Pass the Pigs from Rainy Day Games on TV Hwy, but you can also find it at Toys”R”Us and many online retailers. You can also play an online version to try before you buy.

What I love about Pass the Pigs is that it’s really easy to play, even for little kids, especially once you’ve memorized the scoring. Because it’s easy, it can get old after about an hour (more so when you’re playing with little kids; adults can actually be a better audience for this one). All in all, this is a fantastic family game that’s sure to provide many nights of enjoyment.

My Experience: 9/10 - Great game.

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