Best Dart Games for Beginners
New to darts? These 12 beginner-friendly games are easy to learn, quick to play, and perfect for your first time at the oche. Complete rules, scoring, and free score trackers.
If you've just bought a dartboard and don't know where to start, you're in the right place. These twelve games are specifically chosen for beginners — they have simple rules, don't require complex maths, and most can be learned in under two minutes.
We've organized them from the very easiest (Count-Up — just add up your score) to games that introduce slightly more strategy as your skills develop. Every game links to its full rules page with scoring guides, variations, video tutorials, and a free downloadable score tracker.
Count-Up
The simplest dart game — just throw and add. Perfect for your very first game.
Around the Clock
Hit every number in order. Teaches you the whole board without any scoring maths.
301
Your first countdown game. Shorter than 501, so rounds are faster and less punishing for beginners.
Mickey Mouse
A simplified Cricket variant — close numbers by hitting them three times. Visual and intuitive.
Noughts and Crosses
Tic-tac-toe on a dartboard. Great for teams and parties, easy to explain to anyone.
Nine Lives
Three lives, simple targets. The elimination format keeps everyone engaged.
Knockout
Take turns trying to beat the previous player's score. Simple and competitive.
Gotcha
Race to exactly 301, but watch out — matching someone's score resets them to zero.
Baseball Darts
Nine innings of darts. If you know baseball, you already understand the structure.
Killer
A pub favourite. Choose your number, then try to 'kill' everyone else's. Easy rules, great fun in groups.
501
The world's most popular dart game. Once you're comfortable with 301, step up to the full format.
Standard Cricket
The second pillar of competitive darts. Strategic territory control using numbers 15–20 and bullseye.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest dart game for beginners?
Count-Up is the easiest dart game for beginners. Players simply throw three darts per turn and add up their total score. There are no special rules, no doubles to hit, and no subtraction — just aim for the highest numbers. A typical game takes about 12 minutes.
What dart game should I learn first?
Start with Count-Up to get comfortable throwing, then move to Around the Clock to learn the whole board. Once you can consistently hit specific numbers, try 301 (a shorter version of the classic 501). This progression builds your skills naturally without overwhelming you with complex rules.
What are good dart games for 2 players?
For two beginners, Count-Up, 301, and Around the Clock are all excellent choices. For a more strategic two-player game, try Standard Cricket once you're comfortable hitting specific numbers. All four games take 12–20 minutes and have simple scoring.
What dart games can you play solo?
Count-Up, Around the Clock, and Bob's 27 are all great solo practice games. Count-Up lets you track your scoring improvement over time, Around the Clock builds accuracy across the whole board, and Bob's 27 is a challenging doubles drill for when you're ready to level up.