Deviled Dice

One wrong roll can turn a useful setup into a crowded corner with no easy escape. Deviled Dice is a fast-paced PlayStation puzzle game in which movement and problem-solving are inseparable. Instead of controlling the dice from a menu, you guide a small devil who runs across them, pushes them from the ground, and rolls them to reveal different numbers.

The objective sounds simple: connect dice showing the same value and remove them from the field. The challenge comes from one unusual rule. The group must contain at least as many dice as the number displayed on their upper faces. Two 2s can form a match, but a group of 5s requires at least five connected dice.

Released in Japan as XI [sai], Devil Dice combines spatial planning with real-time movement. You need to understand how a die rotates, preserve enough space to move, and recognize chain opportunities before the field becomes too crowded.

What Is Devil Dice?

Devil Dice is an isometric action-puzzle game developed by Juicy Beast. It first launched in Japan on June 18, 1998, under the title XI [sai], pronounced “sai.” The international version was released as Devil Dice, with Sony Computer Entertainment and THQ handling publishing in different regions.

The game originated through Game Yarouze, a Japanese development initiative that gave independent creators an opportunity to turn their concepts into commercial PlayStation games. Shift’s unusual dice-matching idea was selected and developed into one of the console’s most distinctive puzzle releases.

Unlike a conventional falling-block game, Devil Dice gives you direct control over a character inside the puzzle. Your route across the board determines which dice rotate, where they move, and which combinations become possible.

How to Play Devil Dice

The playing field contains large six-sided dice viewed from an isometric angle. Your devil can move across the tops of the dice or step down onto the floor between them.

• While standing on top of a die, move in a direction to roll it and reveal a new face.
• While standing on the floor, move against a die to push it without using a separate action button.
• Connect dice that display the same number on their upper faces.
• Make sure the group contains at least as many dice as the displayed number.
• Add more matching dice while a group is sinking to extend the chain.

Once a valid group is formed, the connected dice begin sinking into the field. They do not disappear immediately, leaving a short window in which you can attach another die with the same value and continue the chain.

Devil Dice Matching Rules

The central rule is based on the number of pips visible on top of each die:

• 2s: Connect at least two dice showing 2.
• 3s: Connect at least three dice showing 3.
• 4s: Connect at least four dice showing 4.
• 5s: Connect at least five dice showing 5.
• 6s: Connect at least six dice showing 6.

The number is a minimum, not an exact limit. A group of four dice showing 3 is still valid because it contains more than the three required dice.

Single-pip dice follow a special rule. Known as “Happy Ones,” they can be connected to an active sinking chain. Triggering one this way can remove other Happy Ones from the field, making them extremely useful when the board is running out of space.

How Dice Rotation Works

Learning the orientation of a standard die is one of the most useful skills in Devil Dice. Opposite faces always add up to seven:

• 1 is opposite 6.
• 2 is opposite 5.
• 3 is opposite 4.

Rolling a die changes both the top face and the direction of its remaining sides. If you remember which values are opposite, you can predict future faces instead of rolling randomly and hoping for the number you need.

Direction matters as well. Rolling the same die north and then east will create a different result from rolling it north twice. Skilled players plan a route across several dice while keeping track of how each movement changes the board.

Devil Dice Controls

Devil Dice was designed for the original PlayStation controller. Rolling and pushing are handled through movement, so there is no dedicated roll button.

• D-pad: Move the devil, roll dice while standing on them, push dice from the ground, or navigate menus.
• X Button: Confirm a menu selection or check the character’s position during play.
• Triangle Button: Cancel a selection or check Power Value in Wars mode.
• Start: Pause or resume the game.
• Select: Restart Trial mode or reset the current Puzzle attempt.
• Select + Start: Reset the game from Controller 1.
• L1/R1: Adjust the viewpoint in Puzzle mode.
• L2/R2: Select stages in Puzzle mode.

The D-pad handles nearly every important action. Good control comes from deciding when to remain on top of the dice and when to move down to the floor to push them into position.

How to Build Chain Reactions

A basic match creates space, but chains are the main route to higher scores. When a valid group begins to sink, look for another die displaying the same value. If you connect it before the original group disappears, the new die joins the sinking sequence and extends the chain.

This rewards preparation. Before completing a group, check the surrounding area for dice that can be added afterward. A smaller match with a clear follow-up may be more valuable than a large group that leaves no continuation route.

• Keep matching values close enough to reach quickly.
• Avoid trapping your devil between dice.
• Leave open floor spaces for pushing and repositioning.
• Use the sinking animation as a timer for the next move.
• Save useful Happy Ones for moments when the field becomes crowded.

Devil Dice Game Modes

Puzzle Mode

Puzzle mode presents carefully designed stages with a limited number of moves. Your goal is to remove the required dice before using every available step. Success depends on planning the entire sequence rather than reacting quickly.

Later puzzles introduce special dice and more restrictive layouts. Camera controls allow you to inspect the stage from different angles before committing to a solution.

Trial Mode

Trial is the main arcade-style mode. New dice enter the field as you play, and you must continue creating groups to preserve open spaces and increase your score. In Endless play, the session ends when the grid becomes completely occupied.

Time-limited variations challenge you to earn as many points or chains as possible before the clock expires. Exhibition also provides a cooperative option for two players.

Battle Mode

Battle is a one-on-one contest against another player or a computer-controlled rival. Players compete to complete the required number patterns first. A claimed pattern may be taken away if the opponent creates the same type of group before the match is decided.

This makes Battle more tactical than a simple score race. You must watch your opponent’s progress while deciding whether to complete your own patterns or interfere with theirs.

Wars Mode

Wars turns the puzzle into a local multiplayer battle. Up to five players can participate when the original PlayStation is connected to a compatible Multitap.

Creating matches and chains damages opponents, and the final devil remaining on the field wins. Wars can also be played alone against computer-controlled characters.

Strategies for Better Scores

Plan Before Completing a Group

Do not activate every match as soon as it becomes available. First check whether nearby dice can extend the chain and whether completing the group will leave enough space for your next movement.

Use the Floor

Staying on top of the dice is useful for changing their values, but the floor gives you a different kind of control. From ground level, you can push dice without rotating their upper faces, helping you connect matching values that are already prepared.

Protect Open Spaces

A nearly full field limits both rolling and pushing options. Clear crowded areas early and avoid moving every die toward the same corner.

Learn the Opposite Faces

Remembering that opposite sides total seven reduces unnecessary movement. This becomes especially valuable in Puzzle mode, where every step may count toward the limit.

Think While Dice Are Sinking

Do not stop after creating a group. Use the sinking period to identify the next matching die, plan the shortest route, and continue the chain before the opportunity disappears.

Devil Dice Game Details

PlayStation has documented the history of Devil Dice and its connection to the Game Yarouze development initiative in an official PlayStation Blog feature.

The History of XI [sai]

XI [sai] began as a concept associated with Game Yarouze, a Japanese competition and development program held during the original PlayStation era. Independent studio Shift received assistance to develop and publish the project as a commercial game.

The Japanese title uses the Roman numeral XI but is pronounced “sai.” It became Devil Dice for its international release. The series later expanded through games such as XI Jumbo, the portable XI Little, XI Coliseum, and the PlayStation 2 sequel Bombastic, known in Japan as XI Go.

The original also appeared through older Japanese PlayStation Network-compatible releases for PS3, PSP, and PS Vita. XI [sai] was included on the Japanese edition of the PlayStation Classic mini-console in 2018.

Can You Play Devil Dice Today?

The original commercial version was released for PlayStation and was designed for offline console play. There is no official PC or native browser edition of Devil Dice.

Older Japanese digital versions were made compatible with systems such as PS3, PSP, and PS Vita. However, no current native PS4 or PS5 edition was found at the time this guide was checked. Availability may also vary by country and PlayStation account region.

Original PlayStation discs and the Japanese PlayStation Classic remain physical ways to access the game. Browser pages using PlayStation emulation should not be described as official browser releases unless they have clear authorization to distribute the game.

Games Similar to Devil Dice

• XI Jumbo
• Bombastic
• Intelligent Qube
• Kula World
• Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
• Bust-A-Move 4

Devil Dice FAQ

Is the game called Devil Dice or Deviled Dice?

The official title is Devil Dice. “Deviled Dice” is a common spelling mistake and is not the name used for the PlayStation release.

What does XI [sai] mean?

XI [sai] is the original Japanese title of Devil Dice. The Roman numeral is pronounced “sai” rather than “eleven.”

How do you remove dice?

Create a connected group of dice with matching top faces. The group must contain at least as many dice as the number shown. For example, you need at least four dice to clear a group of 4s.

Do groups need an exact number of dice?

No. The displayed value is the minimum requirement. A group of five 4s is valid because it contains at least four matching dice.

What are Happy Ones?

Happy Ones are dice showing a single red pip. Connecting one to an active sinking chain can help clear other Happy Ones from the playing field.

What happens when the grid fills up?

In Endless Trial mode, the game ends when the playing field becomes completely occupied and you can no longer maintain usable space.

Does Devil Dice have multiplayer?

Yes. Battle provides one-on-one competition, while Wars supports up to five local players with a PlayStation Multitap. Some Trial options also support cooperative play.

Can I play Devil Dice on PC?

No official PC version was released. The commercial game was developed for PlayStation hardware.

Is Devil Dice available on PS4 or PS5?

No current native PS4 or PS5 edition was found when this information was checked. Older Japanese digital releases existed for PS3, PSP, and PS Vita.

Can Devil Dice be played offline?

Yes. The original PlayStation game was designed for offline single-player and local multiplayer sessions.

Does Devil Dice have a sequel?

Yes. The series continued through titles including XI Jumbo and Bombastic, which was released for PlayStation 2.

Why Devil Dice Still Stands Out

Devil Dice turns a basic action—moving across a board—into the heart of its puzzle system. Every step can change a number, open a route, or make a planned combination harder to complete. That close connection between movement and strategy gives the game an identity that still feels unusual.

The rules are easy to explain, but creating long chains and solving limited-move puzzles requires genuine practice. Learn how each die rotates, protect your open spaces, and treat every sinking group as the beginning of another combination rather than the end of a move.