Wouter & Ymke 
If you love roll & write games but think dice are a bit old school, then Pick a Pen: Hackers is about to flip the script on you. Instead of rolling dice, you roll pencils. Yes, actual pencils. Then you draft them to scribble your way to victory. It’s a fun little twist that makes for a surprisingly clever and tactical game. Designed by Reiner Knizia, this latest addition to the Pick a Pen series challenges you to crack the code (pun intended) for the highest score.
This time, we’re diving into the Hackers variant, where logical thinking and a bit of luck decide if you’re a cyber-genius or just another script kiddie.
👥 2-4 players, ages 8+
⌛ Playing time: 30 minutes
📝 Designer: Reiner Knizia
🎨 Artwork: Marlies Barends
🏢 Publisher: 999 Games (review copy provided)
Gameplay Overview – Write Your Way to Victory
Every round, the starting player rolls all five pencils and selects one to use. Then, every player in clockwise order also selects one of the remaining pencils to use. The color and number on the chosen pencil dictate what and where you can write on your player sheet. But this isn’t just freeform doodling. Each of the three included levels presents a different puzzle to solve.
Level 1: A Colorful Conundrum
The first sheet eases you into the game. You’ll need to be mindful of both color and number placement because no two numbers of the same color or value can sit in the same row or column. If you break this rule, you’re forced to cross off both numbers, which is about as fun as accidentally closing a tab with 37 open research pages. At the end of the game, the remaining values in each row determine your score. If you manage to at least score something in every row, you get a bonus. Simple, right? Well… just wait.
Level 2: Thinking Ahead (Or Regretting Your Choices)
Now things start getting really interesting. Each time you place a number, you must check if another number of the same value is already lurking in that row or column. If there is, you cross off that row or column’s scoring space. Ouch. You also have to decide when to score. You can wait to add more numbers and aim for a higher total, but if luck isn’t on your side, you might be forced into a suboptimal score instead. It’s a balancing act between patience and risk, like waiting for the perfect WiFi signal at a café, only to realize you should have just used your data.
Level 3: Organized Chaos
Ready for a real challenge? The third player sheet flips the previous rules on their head. Instead of avoiding duplicates, you now want adjacent numbers of the same color or value. At the end of the game, you determine two groups per row or column. One for matching numbers and one for matching colors. Then, you multiply them together for your final score. Sounds easy? Well, good luck balancing all your rows and columns without locking yourself into a scoring nightmare. If you manage to score everything, you get a bonus because, frankly, you deserve it.
Our Thoughts – Pencils, Luck, and Tactical Fun
The Pick a Pen: Hackers variant offers a solid mix of accessibility and brain-burning moments. The first sheet is perfect for newcomers. It’s simple to understand, and while avoiding crossed-off numbers is nearly impossible, it’s a great way to learn strategic placement.
The second sheet turns up the heat, forcing players to plan ahead while trying not to sabotage their future moves. Timing is everything here. Do you lock in your score early or push your luck for a better total?
The third sheet is where the real tactical players shine. The challenge of grouping numbers and colors for high multipliers is tricky, and balancing row and column scoring requires serious planning. Filling an entire row with one color while maximizing matching numbers can lead to massive scores, but if you focus too much on that, you risk leaving other parts of your grid in shambles. It’s a tough, rewarding puzzle for players who enjoy optimizing their moves.
Rolling the pencils is the biggest luck factor, but from there, it’s all about working with what you get. Each sheet demands a different approach, keeping the game fresh and engaging across multiple plays. And yes, there’s always the fun of watching an opponent get stuck with the one pencil they really didn’t want. It’s a small, satisfying moment in every game.
Having played a few of the Pick a Pen variations, I can confidently say that Hackers is one of the more tactical entries in the series. It challenges players to think ahead, adapt, and embrace a bit of randomness. The layered scoring mechanics make each decision meaningful, and the three different levels ensure that both casual players and puzzle enthusiasts have something to sink their teeth into. You can focus on optimizing every move or simply see where the pencils take you. Either way, Hackers delivers a fun and engaging challenge every time.
📝 We received a copy of the game from the publisher, 999 Games, but all failed attempts to optimize our grids are our own.
