Chuck dice across the table, aiming for targets to score points for your team and knock your opponent’s dice aside.
Published by Mike Petty Games, O-Zone is a dexterity dice game designed for two teams and played in 15-30 minutes.
Gameplay
At one end of the table, the three circular targets are placed. Players gather at the opposite end of the table. The two foul disks are placed across from each other, midway between the players’ side of the table and the center of the table, to form the foul line. Players split into two teams and each take one set of colored dice.
Teams take turns, tossing one die from their side of the table towards the other. After both teams have tossed all five dice, the round ends. When a die is tossed, it must roll on the table, and it must come into contact with the table before crossing the foul line, otherwise it is considered a fouled die and is removed from the table. If a fouled die moves another die that is already on the table, it also earns its team -4 points.
The goal of the game is to get the dice as close to the targets as possible. If a die stops on one of the targets, even partially, it is removed from the table and scores its team 10 points. The die that is closest to the far edge of the table earns its team double its value. And for each of the three targets, players check which die is closest to it. The die that is closest to it earns its team its value plus three or six (depending on the target). Players then prepare to start another round. The game ends once at least one team has reached 100 points, and the team with the most points wins.
Review
O-Zone is light, portable, and a fun mix of luck-of-the-roll and dexterity. More points are earned from lucky rolls of high values, but you won’t get anything if you can’t get those dice close to the targets.
Dice can knock an opponent’s, changing the value, and except for those that actually land on a target, dice aren’t scored until the end of the round, so teams can actively try to push each other’s dice aside. We chose to play this on a slightly smaller table, just so we could get more of that interaction.
It’s not the fanciest production value, but it’s well thought-out just the same. The targets are a bit flimsy, but the dice are a nice size for tossing, and string has been helpfully provided to help players measure which dice are closest to a target when necessary.
O-Zone is fast to teach and comes in such a small box that it’s an easy one to pack and take to a party or on a trip. It’s always fun to find a game that has players moving around and gets them on their feet. The dexterity element here is simple and easier than flicking, but enjoyable to master. It’s a fun, little game that is engaging in its simplicity and that comes with the flavor of a party game.
Pros: Ability to knock each other’s dice, portable box, fun scoring system
Cons: Component quality could be improved
Disclosure: we received a complimentary review copy of this game.
