Official Pass The Pigs Rules

Last Updated on June 25, 2026 by The Official Game Rules Team

Pass the Pigs is a lighthearted dice game where players roll two pig-shaped dice and score points based on how the pigs land. The goal is to accumulate points by rolling combinations like “the razorback” or “the oinker,” but players must decide when to stop rolling to avoid losing their points. With simple rules and quick turns, Pass the Pigs is a fun game for all ages.

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How to Play Pass the Pigs

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Objective

The goal is straightforward: be the first player to reach 100 points.

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What’s in the Box

Inside the game you’ll find:

• 1 pocket-size pig case
• 2 pigs
• 1 score pad
• 2 pencils

That’s it. No board, no cards—just pigs and luck!

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Setup

Before you start:

• Choose one player to be the swineherd (scorekeeper)
• Decide who goes first
• Play continues clockwise (to the left)

The swineherd tracks everyone’s score throughout the game.

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Gameplay

On your turn, you roll both pigs at the same time and check how they land.

Each roll gives you points based on pig positions (explained below).

After every roll, you face a decision:

• Stop and bank your points
• Or keep rolling and risk it all

That’s the core of the game—press your luck or play it safe.

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Stop Rolling

If you stop:

• Add all points earned this turn
• The swineherd records your score
• Your turn ends immediately
• Pass the pigs to the next player

Simple and safe.

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Keep Rolling

If you decide to continue:

• Roll again and keep adding to your running total
• You can roll as many times as you want
• But your turn ends immediately if you hit a bad roll

There are two risky outcomes:

Pig Out

• You score 0 points for the entire turn
• Your turn ends instantly

Oinker

• You lose all points accumulated in the game so far
• Brutal, but it happens

So yeah—greed is dangerous here.

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Pig Scoring System

Points depend entirely on how the pigs land.

Here’s the breakdown in simple terms:

Basic Rolls

• Sider – 1 point
  Both pigs land on the same side
• Trotter – 5 points
  One pig stands on all four legs, the other is on its side
• Razorback – 5 points
  One pig lands on its back, the other on its side
• Snouter – 10 points
  One pig lands on its snout + front feet, the other on its side
• Leaning Jowler – 15 points
  One pig balances on ear, snout, and foot, the other on its side

Double Rolls (Big Points)

• Double Trotter – 20 points
• Double Razorback – 20 points
• Double Snouter – 40 points
• Double Leaning Jowler – 60 points

These are rare but extremely rewarding.

Mixed Combo

If both pigs land in different scoring positions:

• Add both values together

Example:

• Trotter (5) + Snouter (10) = 15 points

Bad Rolls

• Pig Out = 0 points for the turn
• Oinker = lose all game points
• Piggyback = instant elimination (one pig on top of the other)

Yes, the pigs can actually eliminate you from the game.

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Winning the Game

• First player to reach 100 points or more wins
• You don’t need to hit exactly 100—just pass it

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Optional Rule: Hog Call

If you want more chaos, add Hog Call.

How it works:

Before a roll:

• Any player with 20+ points can shout “Sooee!”
• First to shout becomes the Hog Caller
• They predict how the pigs will land

Prediction Rules

• Must guess exact positions of both pigs
• Cannot predict Pig Out, Oinker, or Piggyback
• Example: “Trotter and Snouter”

If You’re Right

• You earn double points from that roll
• The roller loses the same amount

If You’re Wrong

• You lose double points
• The roller gains that amount instead

Basically, it’s high-risk gambling with plastic pigs.

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Tips to Win

• Stop early when you have a decent score—don’t get greedy
• Learn which pig positions are most common
• Watch other players’ risk habits
• Don’t chase big rolls every turn
• Use Hog Call carefully—it can swing the game fast

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Conclusion

Pass the Pigs is a perfect mix of luck, risk-taking, and chaos. It’s quick to learn, hilarious to play, and always creates those “I can’t believe that just happened” moments when a perfect run gets wiped out in one roll.

If you enjoy this kind of press-your-luck party game, you might also like King of Tokyo, which also mixes risk, dice rolling, and chaotic swings—but with giant monsters instead of pigs.