1 Overview
Beetle (also called Bug or Cooties in North America) is a classic children's drawing dice game. Players take turns rolling a single die, and each face corresponds to a different body part of a beetle. The goal is to draw a complete bug — body, head, 6 legs, 2 eyes, 2 feelers, and a tail — before any other player. Simple, visual, and wonderful for young kids who love drawing.
Beetle has been played since at least the 1950s and remains a staple for ages 5 and up. No reading required — just match the number to the picture.
2 Setup
- 1 standard six-sided die
- Paper and pencil for each player (or a printed Beetle template)
- 2–6 players; works great with 3–4
- Players sit around the table. Youngest player goes first.
3 Gameplay
On your turn, roll the die once. Check the result against the body part chart and draw that part if you can. Then pass the die clockwise.
Dependency rules:
- You must draw the Body (1) before any other part.
- You must draw the Head (2) before you can draw Eyes (4) or Feelers (5).
- The Head also requires a Body first.
- Legs (3), Tail (6) require a Body but not a Head.
If you roll a part you can't use yet (e.g., you roll 2 for Head but don't have a Body yet), you do nothing that turn. Pass the die.
If you roll a part you already have all of (e.g., you already have 6 legs and roll 3), you do nothing that turn.
First player to draw a complete bug (1 body, 1 head, 6 legs, 2 eyes, 2 feelers, 1 tail = 13 parts) wins!
4 Body Parts & Die Values
| Die Roll | Body Part | Quantity Needed | Requires |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body | 1 | Nothing (first piece) |
| 2 | Head | 1 | Body |
| 3 | Leg | 6 | Body |
| 4 | Eye | 2 | Head (and Body) |
| 5 | Feeler (Antenna) | 2 | Head (and Body) |
| 6 | Tail | 1 | Body |
Total parts needed: 1 body + 1 head + 6 legs + 2 eyes + 2 feelers + 1 tail = 13 parts
5 Winning
The first player to draw all 13 parts of their beetle shouts "Beetle!" and wins the game. Play stops immediately — even if other players are one roll away from finishing.
Optional: let all other players finish the current round so everyone completes their turn count equally, then check who has the most parts drawn for a consolation ranking.
6 Variants
Speed Beetle (Multiple Rolls)
Each player rolls until they fail to add a part (a wasted roll), then passes. This makes turns longer and games faster. Good for younger kids who find waiting hard.
Cooties (North American)
The Hasbro "Cooties" game uses the same mechanic with plastic bug pieces instead of drawing. Great for kids who don't want to draw. Same rules, same die chart.
Team Beetle
2 players per team share a scoresheet. Any team member's roll can add a part to the shared bug. First team to complete their bug wins. Good for large groups.
Drawing Competition
Instead of winning by completion, everyone plays until their beetle is done, then vote on the funniest or most creative beetle drawing. Art prize instead of first-place win.