This will be a much shorter list than normal because I’ve played fewer dexterity games. Though, some of those dexterity games are quite high on my Top 100 games. Dexterity is an element of games that some people really don’t like. Probably because it’s a different type of skill. But, I think when you lean into the silliness and just fun nature of them, they work really well. Plus, I think between balancing and flicking, there is a skill in there that works better for most people.

Dexterity Games Ranking

7. Jenga

Jenga is probably the dexterity game that everyone knows. Though, the next one on the list people won’t know the game but will know the concept of it. Jenga is a fun game, it is one that I consider to be a brewery game for me at this point. By that, I mean I love it when a brewery has a giant version set-up outside. It’s a fun thing to stand around and play with. I don’t need a copy in my collection, but it’ll be a good time playing it.

6. Slide Quest

Slide Quest, I like it better as a game than Jenga, but I’d probably be less likely to always want to play it. This is basically one of those marble puzzles where the ball rolls and you are tilting the board to try and get it to the end. Slide Quest is that as a board game with different maps that you can use as you progress. The concept is great for the game, the execution is solid, but the game play is just okay. But I’d pick it up if I found it very cheap.

5. Tokyo Highway

Tokyo Highway has been in my Top 100, and I think it’ll stay for this coming year, but it’s dropping a little bit. This is a stacking dexterity game, and one that is just gorgeous on the table. I like too how simple the game is, you either go up or down a level. And you want to cross under or over roads. Overall, it is a nice simple game with just enough stress going on.

4. Catapult Feud

Catapult Feud is now something so different. It’s not flicking, it’s not stacking, you are aiming and launching via catapult or ballista foam rocks at your opponents castle trying to knock down their troops. There are cards in this game, and those cards do add to the game element, but aren’t needed. What’s most fun, not surprisingly is just the launching of things.

3. Sonora

These top three I rank really highly. Sonora is a flicking game for part of it and roll and write for the other, and that combo works really well. You flick discs that are basically like rolling your dice. But you pick what number die you flick and you can try and set it up so that you get what you want. Add in the roll and write part where you fill in on the board, that part is amazing. Sonora puts almost any other roll and write with combos to shame with how many it has.

2. PitchCar

PitchCar is a flicking racing game around a track that you build. And building the track itself is a ton of the fun of the game. But if it were just that it’d be unfortunate. PitchCar, however, is a lot of fun with the flicking. What I really like about this and my top game are that you get excited when other players make a great shot. Yes, it might mean you don’t win, but an awesome shot, that’s amazing.

1. Icecool

Icecool, I doubt that it being #1 for me surprises anyone. This is just a blast of a game where one player (two in an eight player game) is a hall monitor. Everyone else are students skipping class to get a snack of fish. So all you are doing is flicking your penguin and trying to get it through a doorway. And then you rotate who the hall monitor is over four rounds until everyone has been. Really fun game and you can mess around with your shots more than you can with PitchCar.

Final Thoughts

Dexterity games probably won’t be for everyone. Flicking or stacking is a bit of a challenge physically. And for some people that is going to be right out. For other gamers, they will find it too silly. But if you can lean in and enjoy that silliness and lean into the excitement of a great shot. Really, I think that most people can enjoy Icecool or PitchCar, even if you aren’t doing that well in it.

And I am always on the lookout for more dexterity games. I have in my collection Flick of Faith, Catacombs, The Table is Lava, Crash Octopus and Rhino Hero Super Battle. I guess I could put Animal Upon Animal on the list, but that’s the toddlers game.

What is your favorite dexterity game?

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