Darts Games

In this guide, I present more than 20 types of darts games, from the great classics like 501 and Cricket to lesser-known variants like Scram or Shooter.

Whether you own a traditional bristle dartboard or an electronic dartboard, you'll discover competition games to test your skills, training games to improve, and party games to have fun with friends.

List of Darts Games

To help you quickly choose the ideal game for your situation, here is a summary table of the main games covered in this guide:

Game	Min. players	Objective	Difficulty	Duration	Best for
501/301/701	1+	Be the first to reduce your starting score to exactly zero.	Easy to Medium	2–7 min	Competition, mental arithmetic, double finish
Cricket	2+	Be the first to "close" all the numbers and have the highest score.	Medium	5–15 min	Strategy, competitive play
Around the Clock	1+	Hit each number from 1 to 20 in order.	Easy	5–20 min	Beginners, training
Shanghai	2+	Score the most points on each number in sequence.	Medium	5–10 min	Mixed skill levels
Killer	3+	Eliminate opponents by hitting their number three times.	Easy	10–20 min	Groups
Halve It	2+	Hit the required target each round or your score is halved.	Medium	10–15 min	Training, groups

501 and its Variants (301, 701, 1001)

501 is the most popular darts game in the world and the one played in all professional tournaments. Each player starts with 501 points and must reduce their score to exactly zero, finishing on a double.

The variants simply change the starting number:

301: shorter game, ideal for beginners or quick matches
701: longer game for experienced players
1001: team format or marathon game

Read the complete 301 & 501 guide →

Cricket

Cricket (also called American Cricket) is the second most popular game. Players must "close" the numbers 15 to 20 and the bullseye by hitting each three times, while accumulating points on already-closed numbers.

It's a game of strategy and positioning, very different from the numerical calculation of 501.

Read the complete Cricket guide →

Around the Clock

Also called Round the Board, this game requires hitting each number from 1 to 20 in order. First player to reach 20 wins. A perfect game for beginners to learn the dartboard layout.

Shanghai

Played over 7 or 20 rounds, each round targets a specific number (round 1 = number 1, round 2 = number 2, etc.). Points are only scored on the target number. A Shanghai (single, double, and triple of the same number in one turn) immediately wins the game.

Killer

Each player throws with their non-dominant hand to randomly assign themselves a number. They then become a killer by hitting their own number as a double. Killers can then eliminate opponents by hitting their numbers. Last player standing wins.

Halve It

A demanding training game: each round has a specific target (single, double, triple, bullseye). Miss the target and your score is halved. Hit it and you add the points scored. Great for improving accuracy under pressure.

Party Darts Games

These games are designed for groups of varying skill levels:

Scram: one player scores, the other blocks by closing numbers
Shoot Out: elimination tournament format, each player has one turn
Mickey Mouse: like Cricket but with numbers 12 to 20
Bowls: score as close to a target number as possible each round
Legs: short 301 legs, lose a "leg" each time you lose

Training Darts Games

To progress technically, these games are particularly effective:

High Score: 3 darts per round, score as many points as possible on a chosen number
Double In/Out practice: work specifically on doubles to master 501 finishes
Bust practice: simulate end-game pressure situations

How to Choose Your Game?

The choice of game depends on your level and objective:

Beginner: start with Around the Clock or 301 to learn the numbers
Intermediate: Cricket and Shanghai add strategy
Advanced: 501 in tournament format to simulate real competition
Group/party: Killer or Scram for maximum fun regardless of level