Yahtzee for Windows

We're big Yahtzee fans, so when the time came to test Yahtzee!, a software version of the popular game, we were excited, but the thrill quickly wore off. From a sloppy user interface to an incomplete Help file, this game software is plagued with problems.

Yahtzee first appeared in 1956, introduced by Milton Bradley. This game quickly became a favorite because it is easy to understand and play. Players aim to score the highest points by completing certain tasks. These features have kept Yahtzee popular for years.

The digital version of Yahtzee lets you enjoy this classic game right on your computer. You don’t need real dice or paper; the game handles everything. Here are the main features of the Yahtzee app:

• Automated Scoring: The app adds up your scores for you. It covers all the classic scores like full houses, straights, and Yahtzees.
• Multiplayer Functionality: You can play against friends, which makes the game more exciting.
• Simple Interface: The design is straightforward and easy to use, making the game accessible to everyone, regardless of age.

Yahtzee’s adaptation to a computer game shows that it continues to be loved and played. The app keeps all the classic elements from rolling a Yahtzee to planning your next move. 

The program's user interface resembles a Yahtzee notepad, with the scoring combinations listed down the left side of the small window. The dice run along right side of the window, with a large Roll button prominently displayed. The overall look of the interface is sloppy and dated, and some of the text in the window is truncated and hard to read. As fans of the game, we assumed we'd know how to start playing it, but that wasn't the case. The interface lists a Help file, but clicking on it calls up a message stating that it's still under development. Not sure where to begin, we clicked the Roll button. The dice did change to reflect the "roll," but the game offers little direction about the next step. We rolled a second time and came up with a small straight, but it didn't register on the left side of the page. Our scores finally updated once we clicked each of the die, and then clicked the Roll button, but it didn't change our overall frustration with the program.

This software comes as a zip file and uninstalls cleanly upon removal. We recommend that you skip this dud and stick to playing Yahtzee the old-fashioned way.

• Fixed the button response time.