There is always lots of laughing and anybody can win, not just the best reader. Another way is to have them write or dictate the words into a sentence and later go back and identify the Dolch words in the sentence. Here is a simple game my students love. I use it as a center or small group game. Write high frequency words on small index cards and put them in the can.
Students pass the can if they can read it they keep the card.
If not it goes back in. The can is passed even if the word is correct. Play ends when all the cards have been drawn. The player with the most cards wins. Actually, they all win because it's great practice.