Xoom Cubes
Xoom Cubes Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Letter Races (Five-Letter Word)
Each player gathers one set (color) of dice. Players sit in a circle and place the flag in the middle, within reach of each player. Players agree on a specific challenge, for example, spell a five-letter word.
One player announces, "Ready, Set, XOOM!" and the players roll their set of dice simultaneously in front of them. Each player quickly looks at their roll, and tries to complete the challenge (in this case spell a five-letter word). If the player cannot meet the challenge with the first roll, any number of the dice can be re-rolled.
The first player to complete the challenge grabs the flag. The player's dice are reviewed to make sure the word or words are spelled correctly, and if so, that player has won the round. Play as many rounds as you want to make a game, and the player that wins the most rounds, wins the game.
Variations
- Spell any word with four letters, five-letters, six letters, seven letters, or more.
- Spell any combination of words to use 10 dice, 11 dice, 12 dice, 13 dice, or all dice.
- Race to create a crossword pattern of words that uses all 14 of your dice.
Timed Games
Each player gathers one set (color) of dice. Players agree on a specific time period (normally 30 seconds). One player announces, "Ready, Set, XOOM!" A timer (not included) is started, and the players roll their set of dice simultaneously in front of them. Each player creates words using as many dice as possible.
If a player uses all of his dice before the time expires, he grabs the flag and time is up. Otherwise, when the time expires, the players count the number or dice used from their set, and the player who has used the most dice wins the round. The player's dice are reviewed to make sure the word or words are spelled correctly, and if so, that player has won the round.
Play as many rounds as you want to make a game, and the player that wins the most rounds, wins the game.
Variations
- Players compete to spell only one word, the longest word wins.
- Determine in advance if players can re-roll during the 30 seconds. For more of a challenge, players must only use their first roll, or, for a faster pace game, players can re-roll as many times as they like.
- Build crossword patterns instead of words.
Potluck Games
Each player gathers one set (color) of dice. Players sit in a circle, however, in this version the colors of the dice are not important, and the flag is not used.
One player announces, "Ready, Set, XOOM!" and the players roll their set of dice simultaneously into the center of the table, or the "pot". Each player quickly looks at the pot, and looks for words that can be created from the dice. Players cannot touch the dice, until they can see a complete word.
Once a word is identified, the player grabs the dice that make up that word from the pot and spells the word in the area in front of him. If another player grabs some of the dice that were going to be used and the word cannot be completed, all of the dice that had been removed from the pot for that incomplete word must be returned to the pot immediately.
Players continue to make words until all players agree that no more words can be created from the dice that remain in the pot.
Each player counts up the total number of dice used in their words, and each player's dice are reviewed to make sure the words are spelled correctly. The player that has used the most dice spelling words, wins the round.
Play as many rounds as you want to make a game, and the player that wins the most rounds, wins the game.
Variations
- Introduce a them [sic: theme], and all words must be related to that theme.
- Players can either spell words or build crossword patterns from the pot.
Word Category Races (The Name Game)
Each player gathers one set (color) of dice. Players sit in a circle and place the flag in the middle, within reach of each player. Players agree on a specific challenge, for example, spell the name of any player at the table.
One player announces, "Ready, Set, XOOM!" and the players roll their set of dice simultaneously in front of them. Each player quickly looks at their roll, and depending on the roll decides which name they are going to try to spell and then tries to complete the challenge.
If the player cannot meet the challenge with the first roll, any number of the dice can be re-rolled. The first player to complete the challenge grabs the flag. The player's dice are reviewed to make sure the name is spelled correctly, and if so, that player has won the round.
Play as many rounds as you want to make a game, and the player that wins the most rounds, wins the game.
Variations
- Spell a celebrity's name.
- Spell a favorite hobby or sport.
- Spell a school, the name of a city in your state, or any country in the world.
Hint
The possibilities and categories you can choose from are endless. Depending on the group you are playing with, certain categories or themes of words may play well with the group. For example, if you are playing with a book club, you could choose the names of characters in a recent book. In a school, choose a list of vocabulary words, race to spell the names of a past president, or biology term. At a class reunion, spell the name of a favorite teacher. As a family, race to spell a word that ties in with a recent vacation, favorite tradition, or a holiday (for example a word related to Christmas).
While you can race to complete a specific word (for example, everyone race to spell "California"), playing to spell a word related to a theme (any word related to "California") will allow more creativity, helps the players learn about each other, and often leads to some very funny and creative answers.
XOOM CUBES is a collection of games and challenges that will provide hours of fun. You can use our rules, but once you start playing, you won't be able to stop creating your own versions of the game.
General Tips
XOOM CUBES come in multiple color variations. Get a second color set and play with up to 8 players.
For general word games, proper nouns are not allowed to be used. For theme and name games, proper nouns can be used.
If there is question [sic: question] about the use of a word, a vote is taken about whether a word is allowed or not, and majority wins. If it is a tie, the word is allowed. The player whose word is being challenged cannot vote.
The minimum number of letters for an acceptable word is three.
For each color set of dice, there are two wild sides with the CUBE HEAD logo on it. The wild sides can be used for any letter you want.
XOOM CUBES will provide endless hours of fun and laughter.