Welcome, dart enthusiasts! Are you tired of the standard game of darts and looking for something a little more exciting? Look no further! I’ve got a comprehensive guide on some of the most popular games to play on your dartboard. Whether you’ve got a classic board or one of those high-tech electronic dart boards, there’s a dartboard game on this list for everyone!
Dart Game Rules
Before we delve into the best dart games, it’s essential to know some basic rules that generally apply to all games:
- Order of Play: Usually decided by a throw closest to the bullseye.
- Throwing Line: Players must stand behind this line while throwing.
- Scoring: It varies between games but is often based on where your dart lands on the board.
- Turns: In most games, players throw three darts per single turn.
- Winning: Each game has its own conditions for the winning player.
Easy Dartboard Games
Around the Clock
- Object of the Game: To hit every number on the board in numerical order.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: The first player starts by aiming at the number 1, then 2, then 3, and so forth. Miss a target, and your turn is over.
- Winning: The first person to hit all numbers in order wins.
Hare and Hounds
- Object: The ‘Hare’ tries to complete the board while the ‘Hound’ tries to catch up.
- Number of Players: 2.
- How to Play: The ‘Hare’ starts from 1 and moves around the board in numerical order. The ‘Hound’ starts at 20 and moves in reverse order.
- Winning: The Hare wins if it completes the board without getting caught.
Tic-Tac-Toe
- Object: Get three X’s or O’s in a row, column, or diagonal.
- Number of Players: 2.
- How to Play: Players take turns aiming at a target area corresponding to a grid spot. If the dart lands in the spot, they place their X or O.
- Winning: The first to get three in a row wins.
Knockout
- Object: Avoid having the lowest score.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Each player aims at a specific number and tries to get the highest point score they can.
- Winning: The player with the lowest score is knocked out.
High Score
- Object: To get the highest score in a given number of rounds.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Players aim for the highest numbers on the board during each turn.
- Winning: The player with the highest score after all rounds wins.
Bingo Darts
- Object of This Popular Game: To complete a Bingo card of 5 different numbers before your opponent.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Each player gets a Bingo card with five different numbers. On your turn, aim for one of the numbers on your card.
- Winning: The first to hit all their numbers on their card wins.
- Why It’s a Good Game: It’s a great way to integrate strategy into a basic dart game.
Chase the Dragon
- Object: To hit every segment score from 10 to 20 and the bullseye, in that order.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Start with aiming for the segment scoring 10. Hit it, and you can proceed to the next number.
- Winning: The first to hit all numbers up to 20 and the bullseye wins.
- Why It’s a Great Game: This game helps improve accuracy on specific numbers, making you a good player over time.
Half-It
- Object: To maintain the highest total score while avoiding penalties.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Each round has a target number. Hit it to add to your total score. Miss it, and you lose half your total score.
- Winning: The player with the highest total score at the end of predetermined rounds wins.
- Why It’s a Fun Game: It’s a thrilling game where fortunes can change quickly, perfect for casual players.
Tug of War
- Object: To pull the “rope” to your side of the board by hitting higher scores.
- Number of Players: 2.
- How to Play: There’s an imaginary rope across the board. Hitting a higher score than your opponent pulls the rope towards you.
- Winning: To win, you must pull the rope all the way to your side.
- Why It’s a Classic Game: The game offers a unique blend of skill and excitement, much like classic favorites in arcade games.
Call Three
- Object: To hit the three numbers your opponent calls out in a single turn.
- Number of Players: 2.
- How to Play: The second player calls out three different numbers. The first player aims to hit these numbers with a single dart for each.
- Winning: The player who hits all three called numbers with their first throw of each wins.
- Why It’s an Excellent Way to Practice: This is a great game for advanced players to practice hitting specific targets.
Dartboard Games for Kids
Ah, the joys of childhood! What better way to introduce the kiddos to the world of dart games than with some simple, fun, and safe variations. Perfect for younger dart players, these dartboard games offer an excellent way to combine learning and fun. Let’s dive in!
Animal Safari
- Object: To “collect” different animal stickers placed on the board by hitting them with darts.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Stick animal stickers at different areas on the dartboard. Kids aim to hit these stickers with soft tip darts.
- Winning: The player with the most stickers collected wins.
- Why It’s Great for Kids: Helps improve aim while having fun learning about different animals!
Color Match
- Object: To hit darts in predetermined color areas on the board.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: The board is divided into different colors. Each player chooses a color and aims for it.
- Winning: The player who hits their chosen color the most times wins.
- Why It’s Perfect for Kids: Helps in color recognition and improves aim at the same time.
Simple Math
- Object: To hit numbers that add, subtract, multiply, or divide to achieve a target number.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: A target number is set, and players must hit numbers that can be used to create an equation equal to the target.
- Winning: The player who creates the most equations meeting the target number wins.
- Educational Aspect: A fantastic way to practice basic math while having fun.
Balloon Pop
- Object: To pop balloons attached to the dartboard.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Attach balloons to the dartboard. Kids aim to pop them with soft tip darts.
- Winning: The player who pops the most balloons wins.
- Why Kids Love It: What’s not to love about popping balloons!
Score Under 20
- Object: To achieve a total score under a certain limit, like 20.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Aim to score points, but not to exceed a total score of 20.
- Winning: The player who gets closest to 20 without going over wins.
- Why It’s Good for Kids: Helps kids practice basic arithmetic and number recognition.
Dartboard Games for 2 Players
Lives Darts
- Object: To hit your own number three times before your opponent.
- Number of Players: 2.
- How to Play: Each player chooses their own number. Players then aim at their own number and then their opponent’s number.
- Winning: Hit your own number three times before the opposing player does.
English Cricket
- Object: To “close” numbers 15-20 and the bullseye before your opponent.
- Number of Players: 2.
- How to Play: Players aim for numbers 15-20 and the bullseye. A number is “closed” after three hits.
- Winning: The first to close all their numbers and the bullseye wins.
Grand National
- Object: To complete a set circuit around the board.
- Number of Players: 2.
- How to Play: Players aim for specific numbers in a set sequence.
- Winning: The first to complete the circuit wins.
Mickey Mouse
- Object: To hit your opponent’s numbers to give them points while avoiding your own numbers.
- Number of Players: 2.
- How to Play: Players choose three numbers. They then aim at their opponent’s numbers to give them points.
- Winning: The player with the lowest score wins.
Football Darts
- Object: To score the most “goals” by hitting the bullseye.
- Number of Players: 2.
- How to Play: Players take turns aiming at the bullseye. A hit counts as a goal.
- Winning: The player with the most goals after a set number of turns wins.
Related : Fun blindfold games
Cricket Dart Games
American Cricket
- Object: To “close” numbers 15-20 and the bullseye and have the highest score.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Players aim to hit numbers 15-20 and the bullseye three times each.
- Winning: The first to close all numbers and have the highest score wins.
Viper Neptune
- Object: Similar to American Cricket but played on the Viper Neptune electronic dartboard.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Same as American Cricket, but the electronic dartboard keeps track of scores automatically.
- Winning: The player with the most inning numbers wins.
Cutthroat Cricket
- Object: To close numbers 15-20 and the bullseye while giving points to opponents.
- Number of Players: 3 or more.
- How to Play: Players aim to hit numbers 15-20 and the bullseye. If a player closes a number, they can give points to opponents who haven’t closed that number.
- Winning: The player with the lowest score wins.
Wild Mouse Cricket
- Object: To hit specific numbers on the board as called out by another player or app.
- Number of Players: 2 or more.
- How to Play: A random number is called out, and players have to hit it.
- Winning: The first to hit all called numbers wins.
No Score Cricket
- Object: To close numbers 15-20 and the bullseye without keeping score.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Players aim to hit numbers 15-20 and the bullseye three times.
- Winning: The first to close all numbers wins.
301 Dartboard Games
Classic 301
- Object: To reduce your score from 301 to 0.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Players take turns throwing darts and subtracting their scores from 301.
- Winning: The first to reach 0 wins.
Double In 301
- Object: To reduce your score from 301 to 0, starting and ending with a double.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: You must hit a double to start reducing your score.
- Winning: The first to reach 0 with a double wins.
Double Out 301
- Object: To reduce your score from 301 to 0, ending with a double.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Players aim to hit any part of the board to reduce their score but must end with a double.
- Winning: The first to reach 0 with a double wins.
Odd/Even 301
- Object: To reduce your score from 301 to 0, but you can only hit odd or even numbers.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: One player can only hit odd numbers, the other only even.
- Winning: The first to reach 0 wins.
Timed 301
- Object: To reduce your score from 301 to 0 in the least amount of time.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: A timer is set, and players try to reduce their score as quickly as possible.
- Winning: The first to reach 0 in the least amount of time wins.
501 Dartboard Games
Classic 501
- Object: To reduce your score from 501 to 0.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Similar rules to 301, but starting from 501.
- Winning: The first to reach 0 wins.
Double In, Double Out 501
- Object: To reduce your score from 501 to 0, starting and ending with a double.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: You must hit a double to start reducing your score.
- Winning: The first to reach 0 with a double wins.
Master 501
- Object: To reduce your score from 501 to 0, but only inner bull’s eye and triples count.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Players aim for the inner bull’s eye and triples only.
- Winning: The first to reach 0 wins.
Premier League 501
- Object: Similar to Classic 501 but in a tournament format.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Players participate in a league, earning points for wins.
- Winning: The player with the most points at the end of the league wins.
Speed 501
- Object: To reduce your score from 501 to 0 in the least amount of time.
- Number of Players: Any.
- How to Play: Similar to Timed 301 but starting from 501.
- Winning: The first to reach 0 in the least amount of time wins.
Whew, that’s a wrap! Whether you’re a casual player or aiming to become a professional, these dartboard games offer a mix of fun and skill improvement. So go ahead, step up to the throwing line, and may your aim be true! 🎯
Happy darting!