Reiner Knizia's dice classic Pickomino is now available to play for free on Board Game Arena, giving the twenty-year-old push-your-luck filler a fresh home for online game nights. The game went live on 20 April 2026 and supports 2 to 7 players, with a typical round wrapping up in around 20 minutes.
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See how it worksIf you've not met it before, Pickomino is one of those deceptively simple designs Knizia is famous for. You roll eight dice, set aside all the dice showing a matching number or a worm, and hope the total lets you claim one of the worm-printed tiles in the middle of the table. You can't reuse a number once you've locked it in, and you must roll at least one worm to claim anything. Push too hard and you lose your whole stack, often straight to an opponent.
Knizia is behind an absurd number of beloved designs, from Ra and Modern Art to last year's Rebirth, and Pickomino has long been one of his best-selling dice games, with over a million copies sold worldwide. It was nominated for the 2005 Kinderspiel des Jahres and has been a staple filler for two decades. The Board Game Arena version uses Zoch's recent anniversary edition, reskinning the usual chickens-chasing-worms into meerkats collecting bugs.
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Set up your group for freeThe port was developed by Board Game Arena contributor n_e_s_s_u_n_o, and like every other game on the platform you can jump into real-time or turn-based matches without paying a penny.
If you organise a regular group, Pickomino is a perfect opener or palette cleanser between heavier games. Quick enough that nobody minds losing, loud enough that everyone gets invested. Short online sessions are also a great way to warm up a new group before an in-person meet. Speaking of which, if you're looking for people to play with, find a board game night near you on Backseat Gamer.
Sources: Board Game Arena news | BoardGameGeek | Board Game Arena
