Wouter & Ymke 
As board gamers, we’re all too familiar with shelves bursting at the seams with games. But this time, we’re turning the tables (or should we say shelves?). Instead of just stacking up board games, we’re carefully arranging books, plants, awards, and even cats (yes, cats!) alongside our beloved games. The challenge? Finding just the right spot for each item. Think you’ve got what it takes to craft the perfect shelf?
👥 2-4 players, ages 8+
⌛ Playing time: 20 minutes
📝 Designer: Simone Luciani
🎨 Artwork: Sara Valentino
🏢 Publisher: Cranio Creations (review copy provided)
Gameplay Overview
My Shelfie: The Dice Game is a quick and competitive dice game where players compete to fill their shelves first and most efficiently. The game continues turn by turn until one player completely clears two of their shelves, leaving no spots for new items.
On your turn, you’ll roll six dice and have up to two rerolls to improve your results. Once you’re satisfied (or out of rerolls), it’s time to get to work. The dice results allow you to mark items on your player board, but only if you gather enough matching symbols. Each row on your shelf has five items, requiring between one and five symbols to fill them. Luckily, there’s a joker that can stand in for any symbol, but only one per combination, so use it wisely!
Now the real challenge begins. If you manage to complete all five items in a row or column, your opponents must cross off those items from their own boards, even if they weren’t finished marking them. That means making your move at just the right moment can throw a wrench into their plans.
As the game progresses, things get trickier. With fewer options to mark, it becomes harder to fill your shelves. If you ever roll and can’t mark anything, you’ll be forced to cross off all the remaining items in one shelf of your choice. This could even trigger the end of the game if you end up with two shelves where all items have been crossed off and are no longer available.
When the game ends, everyone tallies their points. Shelves and columns are only scored if at least three items are marked on them, so a little strategy goes a long way. Add up your scores, and the player with the most points is crowned the ultimate Shelfie Master!
Game Info
My Shelfie: The Dice Game is a dice-driven follow-up to the much-loved 2022 board game, My Shelfie. It’s a lighter, family-friendly twist on the original that makes it easy to dive right into, even if you’ve never played the first game. Designed by Simone Luciani, a household name in the board gaming world thanks to titles like Barrage, Grand Austria Hotel, and Tzolk’in, this game takes a new approach while still holding onto the charm of its predecessor.
Designed for 2-4 players, ages 8+, it’s one of those rare games where the age recommendation actually feels spot-on. We played with our kids, and they dove right in, rolling dice and making decisions without needing much guidance. It’s published by the Italian company Cranio Creations, known for producing games that look as good as they play.
Components, Production, and Artwork
Let’s talk about what you’ll find when you crack open this compact and portable box. The game comes with individual wipeable boards for each player, six custom dice, and markers for writing on the boards. The dice feature symbols like cats, books, meeples, plants, and awards, which you’ll use to fill your shelves. And here’s the kicker: you don’t have to worry about running out of paper sheets. The reusable boards and markers are a nice eco-friendly touch, saving both the environment and your wallet.
The artwork, created by Sara Valentino, plays a big role in making the game as enjoyable to look at as it is to play. It’s both visually appealing and practical. Each symbol is clear and easy to distinguish, which keeps the game flowing smoothly, so there’s no squinting at your board trying to figure out if that’s a plant or a cat.
The box itself is small but sturdy, with a nifty magnetic lid that keeps everything secure. If you’re lucky enough to snag the promo first-player cat marker, it’s an adorable addition. Honestly, though, who wouldn’t want a tiny cat animeeple? It’s a small detail, but one we wish came standard in every copy. After all, a game about shelves feels incomplete without a cat overseeing it.
Gameplay and Strategy
My Shelfie: The Dice Game is quick to learn and even faster to play, making it perfect for a relaxed gaming session. This isn’t the deepest game on the shelf, but it’s got just the right amount of challenge to keep it interesting.
As with most dice games, luck plays a role, but there’s more to it than just rolling and hoping for the best. The further you progress in the game, the more deliberate your decisions become. Rows are trickier to fill because items on the right require more matching symbols, but columns with one or two symbols can be completed more quickly. This opens up opportunities to block your opponents by forcing them to cross off items they didn’t finish. Watching someone wince as you eliminate their carefully planned strategy? Priceless.
There’s also an element of risk management, especially as the game nears its conclusion. Do you go for an ambitious row, hoping for that perfect roll, or play it safe with a column that’s almost done? These choices keep the tension high and the gameplay engaging, even in the later stages.
Final Thoughts
My Shelfie: The Dice Game hits a sweet spot for family game nights or as a light filler to wrap up an evening of heavier gaming. The quirky theme of organizing a shelf full of books, plants, and (of course) cats feels unique and fun, and turns move quickly, so there’s little downtime, which is a big win for those who like to keep the energy up.
If you enjoy games where you can adapt your strategy to make the best of your dice rolls, this one’s for you. It’s charming, competitive, and family-friendly, offering just enough depth to keep everyone on their toes. So, whether you’re a fan of dice games or just a sucker for games with cats (no judgment, we’re with you), My Shelfie: The Dice Game is well worth a spot on your shelf.
📝 We received a copy of the game from Cranio Creations for review purposes.
