What Is Dicenstein?
Dicenstein is a monster-building dice game from Petersen Games, publisher of Cthulhu Wars. It's built for 2-4 players ages 14 and up, runs about 45 minutes, and costs $69.99 on the Petersen Games store. You're a mad scientist digging up mismatched parts and stitching together the ugliest, most useful creature you can manage before your rivals do.
Petersen files it under its own "Dice Bash" category, and the store credits the original design to Larval Games. That's a different kind of game than Cthulhu Wars. No faction boards, no spellbooks, no army of 72 miniatures. Just a pile of dice and a table full of people trying to out-build each other's monster.
For readers deep in the Cthulhu Wars collection already, Dicenstein is a change of pace from the same publisher, not a scaled-down version of it. Different game, same production standard.
The box itself signals what kind of game this is before you even read a rule. It's a dice game first, built around a large pool of custom-printed dice rather than cards or miniatures doing the heavy lifting. Petersen's tags for the listing describe "lots of dice" plainly, and that turns out to be the most honest one-line summary on the whole page.
How Do You Play Dicenstein?
Fast, and a little chaotic. Petersen's own product page keeps the description short, so for a fuller picture of the mechanics it's worth checking outside sources. BoardGameGeek's listing describes players excavating a graveyard of monster-part dice, sorting them into head, body, claw, and foot pieces, and physically assembling their own creature turn by turn. According to BGG, the box ships with more than 100 custom monster dice, and the original design is credited to Chris Fernandez and Tom McGinty.
Once your monster is built, you send it after your opponents' creations. Bigger, better-assembled monsters win fights. Weaker ones get picked apart. It's part dice-drafting, part set collection, part table talk about whose creature looks more ridiculous.
The digging happens in rounds. You draw from a shared pool of dice, decide which parts are worth keeping, and pass the rest along. That's the tension: a claw die that's useless to you might be exactly what the player to your left needs, so every pick doubles as a small blocking decision. Reviewers describe the theme as the game's strongest asset. Gaming site PopWrapped covered Dicenstein as a game where players "dig up, collect, and stitch together" parts from famous monster archetypes to build an "Ultimate Creation," which lines up with what's actually printed on the dice and cards.
None of that requires deep strategy training. You'll be building your first monster within a few minutes of opening the box, which matters for a game aimed at existing hobbyists who don't want a 30-minute rules explanation before the first roll.
Who Is Dicenstein Really For?
Not a kids' game, despite the "family fun" tag on the product listing. The 14+ age rating on Petersen's site reflects real rules overhead: you're tracking monster stats, checking part combinations, and managing a dice pool that grows as the game goes on. It rewards players who already like dice-heavy, slightly fiddly tabletop games.
Three groups get the most out of it. Existing Petersen Games collectors who want something lighter than Cthulhu Wars for an off night. Horror and monster-movie fans drawn to the theme before the mechanics. And dice-game enthusiasts who collect games built around custom dice as the core resource, the way Battle Dice fans collect troll-skull sets.
It also works as a palate cleanser between longer sessions. A four-hour Cthulhu Wars campaign night doesn't leave much room for a second game, but a 45-minute round of Dicenstein fits before or after almost anything else on the table. That's a practical reason collectors keep it in rotation even after the novelty of the monster theme wears off.
What Is the Mr. Shiny Expansion for Dicenstein?
Mr. Shiny is a $4.99 expansion for Dicenstein, sold directly on the Petersen Games store. It adds one new monster to the game, along with new strategic options and high-quality components, exactly as Petersen describes it on the product page.
At under five dollars, Mr. Shiny is a low-cost way to keep an existing Dicenstein collection moving. It doesn't replace anything in the base box. It adds a new monster type to draft, build, and fight with, which changes the calculations for players who've already learned the base game's part combinations. If you've got a Dicenstein regular in your gaming group who's started memorizing every monster in the box, Mr. Shiny gives them one more variable to plan around.
This is the same expansion-ecosystem model Petersen Games runs across its catalog. A centerpiece game gets small, focused add-ons that deepen it over time rather than replacing it. Cthulhu Wars does this with faction packs. Dicenstein does it with new monsters like Mr. Shiny, and the pattern is worth knowing if you're the kind of collector who likes to watch a game keep growing rather than gathering dust after a few plays.
How Much Does Dicenstein Cost, and Is It Worth It?
$69.99 for the base game, $4.99 for Mr. Shiny. That's the full picture on pricing as of this writing (always check the live product pages, since prices can shift).
Compared to Petersen's bigger centerpiece titles, that's a modest ask. Cthulhu Wars (O4 Edition) runs $249, Hyperspace Standard Edition sits at $96.99. Dicenstein is priced closer to an entry point than a flagship purchase, which makes sense for a 45-minute dice game instead of a sprawling faction-war centerpiece.
Is it worth it? For collectors who already trust the Petersen production standard and want a faster game between longer sessions, yes. For anyone brand-new to the brand who wants the signature "wow on the table" moment first, start with Cthulhu Wars and treat Dicenstein as a second purchase down the line.
Think about how you'll actually use it. If your group already owns two or three heavier Petersen titles and needs a shorter game for the nights nobody wants a four-hour commitment, $69.99 buys a lot of replay value at 45 minutes a round. If you're testing the brand for the first time on a budget, the $4.99 Mr. Shiny expansion is a cheap way to add depth later without a second big purchase up front.
Where Can You Buy Dicenstein and Its Expansions?
Both are sold directly by Petersen Games. Pick up the base game at petersengames.com/products/dicenstein for $69.99, and add the Mr. Shiny expansion at petersengames.com/products/mr-shiny for $4.99.
In-stock orders process within 48 hours (2 business days, Monday through Friday). US orders ship via USPS Ground Advantage, typically 2-5 business days in transit. Canadian orders ship via DHL Ground, typically 3-7 business days in transit. Rates are calculated at checkout based on destination and weight; there's no standing free shipping offer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dicenstein
What is Dicenstein?
Dicenstein is a monster-building dice game from Petersen Games, publisher of Cthulhu Wars. It's built for 2-4 players ages 14 and up, runs about 45 minutes, and is priced at $69.99 on the Petersen Games store.
How many players does Dicenstein support and how long does it take?
Dicenstein plays 2 to 4 players, ages 14 and up, with a listed play time of 45 minutes per the Petersen Games product page.
What is the Mr. Shiny expansion for Dicenstein?
Mr. Shiny is a $4.99 expansion for Dicenstein from Petersen Games. It adds a new monster to the game along with new strategic options and high-quality components.
Do I need Mr. Shiny to play Dicenstein?
No. Dicenstein is a complete game on its own at $69.99. Mr. Shiny is an optional add-on that introduces one additional monster and extra strategic options for players who already own the base game.
Where can I buy Dicenstein and the Mr. Shiny expansion?
Both are sold directly through the Petersen Games store: Dicenstein at petersengames.com/products/dicenstein for $69.99, and Mr. Shiny at petersengames.com/products/mr-shiny for $4.99. In-stock orders process within 48 hours, with US shipping via USPS Ground Advantage (2-5 business days) and Canada via DHL Ground (3-7 business days). Rates are calculated at checkout.
For more on Petersen Games' broader catalog and production standard, see the Cthulhu Wars collection, or check independent coverage of Dicenstein on BoardGameGeek, PopWrapped, and designer background via Wikipedia's Sandy Petersen entry.
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