Editorial Review

Four hippos try to eat as many marbles as they can--as fast as they can. This game is fast-paced and riotous for kids who get to take turns popping a white marble into the ring, then furiously pressing on their hippo's levered tail to catch the prize. As if that's not enough, in the advanced game, all 20 marbles are released at the same time. Utter mayhem ensues, and whoever snares the most marbles wins. If only it would get kids to clean their plates as well as those pudgy hippos do! --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Awesoma Power!
THIS IS THE BEST GAME IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BUY IT AND/OR CRY, NOW!!!!!!!!!

Do not bother with it.
I loved this game as a child and wanted to buy it for my 3 year old son.Great game, now made into a piece of PLASTIC GARBAGE!. The light weight marbles are terrible and the heads of my hippos don't even lift up most of the time.
It's truly a shame they have to ruin these type of games with cheap materials.

GREAT GAME, TOO BAD THE PLASTIC CAN'T HANDLE THE HUNGER...
Why is it that companies who decide to reissue classic games from the 50's, 60's and 70's seemingly ALWAYS do so using the cheapest of plastics?Gone are the days of thick precisely engineered plastics, strong metal supporting parts and ready-to-play-out-of-the-box sturdy construction.Instead, we get cheap inferior versions (Spirograph) and flimsy "assembly required" thin plastic versions that don't work properly (Hungry Hippos, Hands Down).C'mon folks, we're talking PLASTIC here...the stuff is plentiful and inexpensive: spend an extra 5 cents on the manufacturing end and give me a better product.

My beef with this toy is that it appears no one at the manufacturer bothered to play-test it.The lightweight plastic pellets go flying everywhere (you can't call 'em marbles anymore), the hippos get stuck or they fall off during play, and you can count on a plastic piece eventually breaking off or cracking, leaving you with crying children and extremely disappointed adults.(However, there IS satisfaction to be had after it breaks...go outside, place it in the driveway and stomp on it until it's reduced to nothing more than itty-bitty colored plastic pieces.Great for getting out the aggression this crappy toy provokes!)

Forget this rubbish, you're better off getting an original.Thank goodness for eBay, second-hand stores, and flea markets.Happy hunting! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Animals    5. Hippos    6. Preschool   

Editorial Review

Battleship captains plot their strategies, send out torpedoes, and as the last ship (often the smallest, two-peg patrol boat) hides in an unsuspected corner, anticipation mounts. Like many classic games, Battleship walks a fine line between strategy and luck. The goal is to conceal the location of your ships while finding and destroying your enemies' fighters. The playing arena is a notebook-size plastic board updated for '90s sensibilities: the "floor" of the board is printed with waves and the exterior vaguely resembles a laptop. The design mimics the view a submarine captain would have, complete with a glimmer of radar waves. The game is perfect entertainment to share: simple enough for children, yet gratifying enough for adults to enjoy. One design decision keeps this edition from being truly stellar: the playing boards don't lock securely, allowing the small pegs to fall out and spill from the sides if jostled. --Jennifer Buckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (46)

A great little logic test.
This game is a classic and it really gets kids thinking about plotting the possibles and probables. They don't even realise it's educational as it's such fun. The design makes it a perfect travel game. A great one to get out when the chorus of "are we there yet?", is driving you crazy and playing "eye spy" is making everyone loose the will to live rapidly!
I even get away with playing my knid of music without the children moaning or noticing!

Lots of fun...
This game is pretty fun, you don't have to think too much and the instructions are easy enough as well. I do agree with the one reviewer who saaid that the pegs can be horrible if scattered everywhere. What we do is keep them in seperate plastic bags, and unwrap them before the game starts. It's a little bit more time-consuming, but that way it keeps them from winding up in a kid or pet's mouth.

You've Sunk My Battleship!
I just bought this game, because I remembered how much fun I had playing it when I was younger.This is one of those games that never gets old, and anyone from a child, to an adult can have fun playing it.

You each have a console, with 2 grids: your ocean grid where YOUR ships are, and the striking grid.The object of the game is to shout out coordinates to try and sink your opponent's ships.By marking them in the grid above, you then strategize where your opponent has placed his/her ships.You either have a "hit", or "miss".Play continues until you have sunk all of the ships on the other player's console.

There are many ways you can play this game.You can even make a few rules up if you like.There are also different forms of play in the instructions, inside the box.

One example of play that I like: if you sink your opponent's Battleship, the game is automatically over, and you've won.

All in all, this game is alot of fun.The consoles are pretty durable, and there are spots for you to store the ships, and the hit/miss pegs.As far as educational value, I think it would help children to work with grids, and strategizing.You have to be aware of what size ships you are dealing with and where they will fit on the grid (in the NON-hit spaces that remain on your opponent's grid).

I prefer this version to the electronic version.There are no sound effects and no noise, which I think makes it easier and less hassle.

If by chance you haven't played this game, buy it today! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Classic Games    3. Board Games    4. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

SET is a card game of quick recognition and deduction. Each card contains one of three symbols (squiggles, diamonds, ovals) in varying numbers (up to three), colors (purple, green, red), and degrees of shading. A dealer arranges 12 cards, face up, and the players--without taking turns--hastily scrutinize the images for logical "sets" of three cards linked by combinations of sameness or difference. It's not as complicated as it sounds: examples include a trio of paired ovals with increasing levels of shading between cards, or disparate symbols in different colors which increase in number on each card (card one has a green squiggle, card two a pair of purple ovals, card three a trio of diamonds). The trick is to keep calm while trying to make the rapid connections. The Darwinian nature of the game (remember: everyone plays simultaneously) is certain to cause some feistiness among more competitive players. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (91)

Our favorite game for years
Forget those expensive boxed party games... Set beats them hands down. Truthfully, this has been our favorite for years. Why? Here are my reasons:

* Any number of players can enjoy the game. How many great games are there on the market, but they are limited to 3-4 players? With Set, my wife and I can enjoy a quiet game at home, or we can take it to a party and invite all takers.

* It doesn't discriminate. Truthfully, I think any kid ten years or older would be at no disadvantage vs. adults. It's simple pattern recognition, and it's surprising sometimes which players are good at it and which players aren't so good.

* It's portable. Seriously, just keep a deck in your car, and take it anywhere.

* It's online! I play the Setgame daily puzzle every day, and it is a great way to keep in practice. Try it out for yourself at the company's website.

Set is a fantastic game. It's true that sometimes new players are frustrated for a while (they will typically see three of the four patterns, and make a lot of false calls), but if you're patient with them while they learn, they catch on fairly quickly. By your second time through the deck, they are doing fine. Get this game; you won't regret it.

The BEST game for all ages!
I got this game for my 5 year-old daughter at Christmas, and we are hooked!It's challenging for her, but she gets it; I am so addicted to it that I go to the SET website every day to solve the daily puzzle!(Which, I might add, is excellent for learning how to play the game and for practice.)At the SET Enterprises site, you can also buy a PC version of the game if you prefer this to using cards, as I do.

I gave this three stars for durability only because this is played with cards--like any card game, they can get lost, bent, whatever.I keep this in MY room so the cards don't get lost (and so I can play after my daughter goes to bed)!

This might be too difficult for most young kids (it's perfectly suited to my daughter's learning/thinking style) so beware the frustration factor.However, you can play easier versions as well to start (by using only one color, for example) and progress to the full game for them.TEN stars for educational value--it's a great brain workout!

Anyone who likes puzzle-type games will love this!

Hooked for years!
I was introduced to this game as a Senior in high school while on a Girl Scout trip to Michigan.We played it every chance we got between planned activities.It gets loud and fast.It wasn't too tricky to learn, just to 'see' the sets.
When I got home it took months to find a toy store that had it, let alone heard of it.
Once I found it I introduced it to my friends and half of them loved it, the other half never wanted to play me again.Most of the people who loved playing it were very math oriented in their thinking.People who are language people seem to have more trouble at first for some reason.
It definately helps develop perception, thinking and pattern recognition skills.Not to mention addictive.I would recomed it for anyone over the age of about 8. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Brain Games    3. Cards    4. Memory    5. Activity    6. Card Games   

Editorial Review

"Once upon a time, King Kandy, the Imperial Head Bonbon and Grand Jujube of Candy Land disappeared." Thus begins the magical journey of Milton Bradley's classic Candy Land board game. Captivated by the story of a kidnapped king and eager to help find him, little ones move their gingerbread pawns along a rainbow path and through a land of candy characters, all subjects of King Kandy's realm.

Playing cards thoughtfully designed for non-readers are coded with colorful squares matching the jeweled stepping-stone path or an occasional token matching one of the characters' symbols: draw a blue card, move to the nearest blue stepping-stone; draw a snowflake and earn a visit to Queen Frostine's iceberg. There are occasional pitfalls, too: land on the wrong square and you might be stuck in Molasses Swamp until a red card is drawn. With all these enticing, sugarcoated images (and King Kandy plainly visible at path's end), children can't help but be delighted by Candy Land. It's delicious! Instructions are in both Spanish and English. Candy Land is for two to four players) --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (54)

I love this game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This game is soooooooo fun to play with. Me and my friend love this game and we play with this game all day.

Fun First Game
I got this game for my 3 yr old and he just loves it and we play with it all the time. this is a great FIRST game.

CandyLand General Reveiw
When I was three, I played this wonderful game with my family and friends. With a great educational value and high fun level, this game was my favorite at the time! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Preschool   

Editorial Review

It's "the game that ties you up in knots"! Twister has beenaround forever, and it's still as much fun as you remember. The gamebox contains a spinner, a plastic mat marked with colored circles, andthe rules, which are brief. You don't need anything else except a groupof friends. A referee spins the spinner to come up with a color andwhether a hand or a foot is to be placed in a circle of that color.It's easy at first, but after four or five spins you'll be more tangledthan a plate of spaghetti. If you fall, or if any part of you except ahand or a foot touches the mat, you're out, and the last player left isthe winner. If you're looking for something to break the ice atparties, this game is it. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

A classic for all ages really
Surely everyone knows Twister? My first encounter was when my sister got the game for her birthday in 1976.
She and her friends had a ball with it at her party, then the adults had a go; or rather the Dads.
The Mums all seemed to wear frocks in those days and they didn't want to disgrace themselves at my Sister's party! The Dads on the other hand, would be really dumb at the drop of a hat to make us kids laugh.
I remember it being fun whatever age I was (I played a lot of games at college and we were all pretty giddy with wine then, much like the Dads back in 76!).
You can't fail to enjoy it, just be careful if your back is troubled or you have any injuries that are healing. Oh and be careful if you play with someone with stinky feet! the game really is a "shoes off" number, This is a fine idea but I remember back in 76 one of the Dads was not so sweet and one of my college buddies was rank! This means the mat needs a wipe down occassionally, otherwise there is a unfortunate lasting pong every time you open the box!!

It's a blast!
I have played this for years at birthday parties, but finally got one of my own last summer. So I took it to a Summer Youth Camp with me...and about 25 of us teens took turns on there. It was such a blast!
The only thing I would say is, if you have back or neck problems, you might want to skip this one. Or you could always be the spinner person. Either way, this one's tons of fun!

Twister-4 1/2 Stars
Twister is a very nice, fun, calm game. If you have any sort of party with friends this is a great game to play. And it's not really any age limit, just as long as you know your right from your left. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Classic Games    5. Party Games    6. Grownup   

Editorial Review

Long before TV shows like Battlebots, there were these guys: twoplastic boxers battling it out in a ring, tirelessly jabbing at each other in an effort to knocktheir opponent's block off. Years go by and these fighters (creatively referred to in myhouse as "the blue one" and "the red one") are still at it, still operated by two playersworking simple controllers, and still madly punching in an effort to knock loose the otherfellow's spring-loaded head. As was traditionally the case, it takes a while to maneuverthe robots such that you can even land any punch, let alone a knockout blow. But forintense silly robot fighting, without the hassle of batteries, these guys are still champs.--John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Fun Toy
I think this is a very fun toy.It has two handles.One red,one
blue.I think this is a toy that everyone would enjoy.

HUGELY DISAPPOINTING!
Like many baby boomers, I had the original toy myself as a kid.As much as we may like to believe it, the old classic one was not perfect either.It always seemed like one robots head popped off much easier than the other, or the rubberbands came off underneath.Time has tended to make us look back on these toys much more fondly than we did when we actually owned them.

That said, these "new-fangled" versions are extremely poor quality.First of all it just feels flimsy.It certainly is not as durable and heavy as it used to be.Second it seems that one robot is always overly sensitive while the other needs to be hit with a sledgehammer to get the head to pop up.And of course you don't have the trademark, "ZZZZZZZZZZ" sound that the old metal teeth used to make when the head popped up.Our kids must have thought we were nuts to have enjoyed this so much and we have to try and explain how it "used to be better!"The designers who made this should be forced to play it non-stop for 8 hours a day.Shame on Mattel for ruining a classic toy.

READ THESE REVIEWS BEFORE BUYING - PLEASE!!!
I bought this for my kids and can second all of the reviews I read that are disappointed with the game.The blue guy's head NEVER goes up.The robots are always and easily popping off.And yesterday, one of the yellow posts that holds up the white "rope" around the boxing ring snapped off and is impossible to fix.It's virtually ruined as no replacements parts are available. GOOD LUCK trying to get any help at the MAttel Website or 1-800 number.I am very disappointed in this product and highly recommend you consider something else.It's a shame because I could see where our whole family would have lots of fun if it worked and was sturdier. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games   

Reviews (18)

Excellent "intelligent" game for all ages !!
Games has a simple objective -- get the Red car out of traffice. And boy! it is difficult and changelling at higher level. Set up the *cars* as described in cards and figure out a way to get the Red Car out.The best thing is complexity raange from very easy to very hard. So it captures kids interests and provides the extra incentive to move to the next level !!

Simple rules -- once you have placed the cars on the Grid, you can only move them forward or backward.

A great addition to this game is "Rush Hour 2, 3 and 4 Gift Pack" for less than $12/-. Each set has 40 cards or in total 120 different combinations are possible. The highest level is really really difficult. Meant for the "Pros" only !!!

Challenging and fun
This game is a real attention-grabber for my 5 year old. Keeps him busy and quiet--great for me, too! :)

A game help children learn to use their minds!
I bought this game for my 5 yr old.She loves it and is challenged by the game.Even some of her older cousins enjoyed playing with it over the holidays. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 3-D Puzzles    2. Brain Teasers    3. Activity    4. Games    5. Strategy Games    6. Learning    7. Board Games    8. Family Favorites    9. Brain Games    10. Puzzles   

Editorial Review

Jumbo Sequence is a game of strategy played on a colorful, cushioned vinyl playing mat (32 by27 inches).Each player or team tries to score the required number of five-card sequences before theiropponents can.To begin the sequence, a player discards one card and marks that card on the playing matwith a colored crowning chip.The player or team then attempts to mark a sequence of five cards up, down,across, or diagonally on the playing surface.Jumbo Sequence is an easily understood game fortwo pals or a crowd playing on teams.Includes 104 playing cards and 50 crowning chips in each color:red, blue, and yellow.--Margaret Quinn ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Jumbo cardboard version vs folded up mat
I am planning to purchase Sequence and would like any feedback on whether to buy the Jumbo cardboard version or roll up version of Sequence? because of durability and does the Jumbo cardboard come in a tin box?Friends and family really enjoy playing the game and I am thinking of buying one for each group of my family and close friends.I certainly would appreciate any comments.

All our friends are hooked!
We bought the original Sequence game and loved it.So much fun!!Then we went to a friend's house and played the JUMBO Sequence and fell in love with that.It is so much easier to see and reach the game mat.Once you've played the JUMBO version you'll never want to go back to the original.All of our neighbors, friends, and family are hooked on this game and we never tire of it.

We love this game !
This game is great for parties.The mat fits perfectly on the kitchen table.We have teams with 2 people on each team, even the kids join in.The mat is very durable....spills can just be wiped right off. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Cards   

Reviews (16)

Family Fun at it's BEST !
We have 5 grown children that love to play games.. we play Sequence by the hours.. it is good for two players to 8 ! we divide up into teams.. the guys against the gals... couples against couples.. we just love this game.. a 5 year old can play as easily as an adult!
I know you'll enjoy this if your family enjoys playing games.

The deluxe version's the best
I've had this game for a few years now and totally enjoy playing it with my wife. When my relatives from abroad came to stay with us, they too fell in love with this game. I thought I'd buy them the 'jumbo' version of this game, but I wish I had bought the deluxe version instead. Here's why: There are 3 versions of this game (normal, deluxe and jumbo). They're all the same in terms of how the game is played. But the biggest difference is the size of the mat and how it's packed in the box. The size of the deluxe mat is quite ideal - maybe the jumbo size is nice for big groups. BUT, the deluxe is the ONLY version of this game where the mat can actually be ROLLED and packed into the box. For the other two versions, you have to FOLD the mat and put it in the box. And that makes a big difference since folding tends to crease the mat. My relatives (who are now abroad) tell me that they roll up their jumbo mat and store it outside the box - that's no good, but they still enjoy the game of course!
In terms of the game itself, it's quite simple. Just make one or two sequences (depending on the number of players) - corners are wild, two-eyed jacks are wild, one-eyed jacks can remove an opponent's coin. As for the number of players, any multiple of 2 or 3can play the game - so you can have 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 or 12 players.
To summarize, the game is lots of fun and quite relaxing in that you don't have to think too much. And if you are going to buy a version of this game, I highly recommend the deluxe version because you can roll the mat into the box - something you can't do with the other versions.
P.S. I just realized that there's also a kid's version of this game. We actually bought that as well to keep the little folks occupied while the adults played the adult version! The kid's version is nice (the mat is actually a board - so folding is not a problem there). But the number of squares is few and if you have more than 2 kids (or adults!) playing, you could easily get into a stalemate. Just thought I'd mention that since I was comparing different versions of this game.

Awesome game
This is an awesome game.Very fun to play and easy to understand.Does take strategy along with good luck.Excellent for young and old.
Highly recommend this game!!Worth spending more for the Deluxe Edition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Cards   

Editorial Review

Taking a step away from trivia questions and clay sculpting, the makers of Cranium have instead created a game for teaching wee ones a few colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. (And, if you know 3- to 6-year-olds that won't lose all the included cards and balls, they may also learn sharing, cooperation, and imaginative play.) The bottom of the box houses the game itself, with three chutes along the top that the balls are dropped into and three rows of flip-up panels that are decorated with various colored objects. Players draw cards, match them to a panel, flip up the panel, and hope there is a ball underneath it. Once all six balls are recovered a treasure chest pops open and gameplay can begin anew. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (121)

Cranium Cariboo EXCELLENT Starter & All Ages Game!
This is a well thought out excellent board game for everyone!Each child gets to be in charge of the key which is something kids love.You can play with a mixed age group as some can't count yet and older children are bored with simple things sometimes.Every turn is a surprise if whether you get a treasure ball or not and everyone is working together to get the treasure chest.The box IS the game so storage and keeping track of the few parts is a snap.I bought it hoping it would just be more fun than Candyland or Chutes & Ladders as not only were my husband and I bored with those games but my 3 year old was definetely no longer interested.We played it and I immediately bought one for her preschool and all of my nephews.It is now my favorite gift to give for birthdays.Absolutely excellent as a first board game to help them get interested in board games and just as excellent as a 100th board game as it's got so many tangible parts and is lots of fun.Nice work Cranium.This board game is anything but "bored."

Very educational
My 3 year old daughter LOVES this game.It's challenging enough that she is learning, but not too high-level to frustrate her. She plays every night before bedtime.She loves games and this is her favorite.

Fun for little kids
My kids loved this game when they were 3 and 5. At 5 and 7 they have definitely outgrown it, since they've figured out that it's not too hard to see where the balls are if you look right (what kid can resist that?!).It was great fun for them to discover the balls, and the highlight of the game of course was opening the treasure chest.For the adults, though, it took a lot of patience to play it over and over again with my kids.But for little ones that enjoy matching/memory games, this is a wonderfully interactive game that is a step up from the classic memory card games. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games   

Editorial Review

Even adults will be challenged by attempting to fit all 25 pieces into place before the 60-second alarm sounds. These complex geometric shapes need to be matched with the appropriate hole before the whole tray pops up and sends them flying in an explosion of yellow plastic. Any number of kids can take turns trying to beat the clock, and then to beat each other's best times. For younger children who are still learning to recognize shapes, the game can be played without the time pressure. Kids will soon develop speed and accuracy so much they'll want to take on Mom and Dad. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (22)

So Much Fun!
This toy is just as much fun now as it was when I was a child.

I highly recommend it for someone working on their motor skills.

Great concentration for kids
I love the fact that my kids can play this by themselves without help setting it up or any aspect of play.The timer is a little difficult for my son (age 3) to turn, but the rest of the shape sorting can be mastered by most anyone.

Perfect!!
This game is great for all ages.My two kids ages 7 and 4 play this together.Sometimes they beat the clock and other times they don't!! They have alot of fun.It is great for fine motor skills as well as recognizing different shapes etc.Sometimes my 4 year old plays by himself and doesn't set the timer.He just puts the shapes in and feels very proud after he gets them all in their correct places.Great game!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

This classic game of luck, strategy, and determination is easy to grasp for children as young as 6 years old, yet it's fun for adults and older siblings too. By drawing cards, players move their game pieces around the board, hoping to eventually accumulate all their pieces at the final destination--home sweet home. Sorry is known as the game of "sweet revenge," since players can send each other's pawns back to the starting line, thus forcing one another to lose ground and begin all over again. This kind of frustration may be hard for children under age 8 to handle. In fact, young ones typically crumble into tears of outrage when their pawns are cavalierly sent back. The only recourse is to teach children how to plot their own revenge, which makes them feel as powerful as superheroes. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Great game!
I've played this game since I was a teeny kid and it's still a ton of fun.
As with most games, there are small pieces involved that very well may end up someplace where they're not supposed to, plus you can't really afford to lose any of the pieces. Plastic bag 'em!

get rid of the video games ;0
My kids love this game.They sit down together and play this game all of the time.The neighbor kids come over to our house because they love to play board games and SORRY is the one they choose the most.We do not have video games at our house, and this was considered a drawback to the neighbor kids until my kids introduced them to board games.Now they come over all of the time just to play board games.I say hide the video games and let the kids interact with each other playing board games.

Sorry is top game in our house.

Sorry!
This game was fun the first and second time you play it but when you figure out that the game is pretty much based on luck and no strategy you'll think twice when you want to play this a third time. Although this is still a good game for the family. It features a detailed bored with a deck of cards that have number 1-12 and selected cards that say SORRY! this means you switch places with another player. All in all I would recomend this game to anyone who loves a game of luck.

Your Friend
the Z-MAN ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites   

Reviews (2)

Very Creative
I look for toys that inspire creative play and exploration of the world. I want toys that have more than a button to push. I also want toys that are fairly quiet and easy to play with for little kids.

This rug fits all of these requirements. The colors are bright. The rug is very sturdy. My one complaint is that it does not roll up into a very small cylinder thus making it take up some space when it's 'put up'. The small matchbox cars fit perfectly on this rug. However, even the toddler cars that are bigger work fine on the roads. IT is big enough that two kids can play with it at the same time without running into each other too often. IT is longer than it is wide. Young arms can reach across the whole rug while pushing a car.

Excellent choice.
Well worth the money.
Enjoy.

Fun play rug
We bought this rug for our 17-month old daughter, who is the recipient of many of the toys we wish *we* had. Right now, she's more enamored of having her own play space than she is interested in the neighborhood aspect. But, the rug is quite fun, with houses, a duck pond, zoo, park, school, etc.--all in slightly "off" perspective. The lanes on the streets are the perfect size for matchbox-sized cars, for when your little one is older, but toddler-sized cars work just as well.

All in all, I'm very happy with this purchase. It seems a durable, colorful rug. It's long, providing lots of play space. Its no-slip backing should provide safety on tile or wood floors (though we have it on the carpeted floor of our living room). The best aspect? Our daughter keeps her blocks and cars on the rug--instead of everywhere else underfoot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Mats    3. Preschool    4. Learning    5. Games    6. Wacky    7. Tabletop Games   

Editorial Review

Shhh! If you can sneak past sleeping Daddy without waking him, you can have that midnight snack you're craving. But it's going to be tough--there are roadblocks everywhere. Don't step on the cat's tail!And watch out for those roller blades that didn't get put away! The first person to slip around all these obstreperous obstacles to get to the fridge wins. Players spin a spinner to determine what color space they'll move to. If the player's card doesn't match the picture on the space, Daddy's alarm clock button must be pushed the number of times indicated. Just hope that Daddy will sleep through the alarm. If not, he'll pop up and make his nightcap fly off! The game includes "Daddy" in a 9-by-5-inch plastic bed, gameboard, mover bases, deck of cards, spinner, and instructions (English and Spanish). For two to four players. --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (26)

FUN + Educational = GREAT GAME!
My three year old daughter gave this to her daddy for Christmas (so she could play it with him, of course!). Well, the fun has been on-going ever since! We play this game at least once a week (much more than that when we first got it) and it is holding up very well for us. (Our only problem has been that my daughter's younger friend once decided to chew on a couple of cards!...but we can still use them.)

What we like about this game:
-It helps children practice color recognition, counting (as they push the alarm), number recognition, and matching the pictures on the board to the ones on the cards.
-The whole concept of the game is cute and fun! My daughter loves it when daddy's hat flies off, and also LOVES it when she gets to take a card from me (or her dad) when she does wake daddy.

What we think could be improved:
-The alarm is a bit hard to push.
-The people cards all look too much alike. More variety would be nicer and help us remember better which one is ours on the board.
-The people cards should be made out of hard plastic and be self-standing. I've never liked the cardboard ones that you have to shove in and out of the little stands. After a while, the bottom edge of the card gets too frayed, and the whole thing of having to switch them in and out of the stands is just annoying. (There are 8 people cards--4 girls and 4 boys--but only 4 stands.)
-The box should be just a little taller (or the bed just a little shorter) so that the lid can go down tight when you put it away.

So, a few complaints, but we've enjoyed it so much that I still felt it was worth 5 stars.

A complete piece of trash
We played this game a few times (less than 5) before Daddy stopped working.The game is poorly made out of flimsy plastic pieces which don't fit together well.Once you DO assemble the game (which is no easy task), you'll need to DIS-ASSEMBLE it if you want to put it back into its box (otherwise Daddy's headboard is too tall and the box won't close).A TOTAL waste of money.

Neat game but takes a while to play through
Bought this game for my almost-5 year old daughter, mostly due to the reviews on this site.Game is a great step-up game from Candyland & the like in that players have to determine if they hold the correct card for the space they land on, helping them avoid pressing the "alarm clock" that might wake daddy.The pieces for "daddy" fit together very quickly and I was pleasantly suprised to see that this toy does not need batteries (hooray!).A note though:once assembled, daddy in his bed doesn't fit very well into the box.Easy to understand the rules of this game and to play.Only detriment is the gameplay rule that when you do wake up daddy you have to return to the starting point again.Our first few times playing this through the games lasted close to and sometimes exceeded 20 minutes.We modified the rule which helped: when you wake up daddy and he comes flying up out of bed (sending his cap shooting off hilariously), you had to skip a turn.This reduced the gameplay time involved considerably, making it much more enjoyable for our kids. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games   

Editorial Review

If parents like the original Scene It? Game--the main requirement being an obsessive love of movies, TV, sports, and the like--it's a good bet their kids will like this Jr. version of the well-known game. Of course one learns new things from playing Scene It?--it's trivia--but the Jr. version emphasizes the engaging of memory, logic and knowledge skills to play successfully. The objective is the same as the original game: answer the most trivia questions within a 30- or 60-minute period, using real DVD video clips as visual aids. There are up to 700 on-screen challenges, 480 trivia cards, and over 250 past and current pop stars featured in the game. The only things needed are an opponent (groups can play as two teams), a TV, and a DVD player--neither of which is included in the box. Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Scene It? Jr.
This game, although I don't feel it has extreme educational value, is immensly fun to play, against three other people or in teams. I would reccomend it to people up to age 20!

It's Pretty Good.
My family got the regular Scene It? for the holidays. Of course it was hard for me and my sibilings. When we got the Jr. version it's easier and more fun for us. The only problem is I am 11 and my sister is 14 so some of the questions are a little bit too easy. Also I was surprised that some PG-13 movies where in the trivia and video clips. I haven't came across anything inappriote but there are some. I think this is fun it's just more based for kids 10 and under.

Finally...
This is it, folks! Scene It is now for kids! I love the game. Absoulely great! It tests my knowledge well, but I really think a couple of the questions are kind of easy from my view. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Awesome
We bought this toy for our 4 year old and he has almost mastered every board. This toy is super fun and keeps him occupied for hours. The only complaint is that the batteries run out so quickly, even the top long lasting brands.

this game is alot of fun
our family just loves the plug n play games. my 5 year old sun loves this spiderman game we got it today and he has been playing it all night. a very good buy. there is only one game that we cant quite figure out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Electronic    3. Handheld    4. Car Racing    5. Sports    6. Action and Adventure   

Reviews (17)

Definitely Recommend!
I put this game on my son's wishlist for his 5th birthday.I was searching for some board games that we could play together quietly while my daughter is napping.I was not familiar with the game, but after reading the reviews I added it to his list and I am glad I did.It is very simple and easy to learn (a three year old could definitely play this) and a good first game to start learning about strategy (you need four in a row to win).Many of the other games we have played are pure luck (like Candyland and Chutes and Ladders).This game gives kids the opportunity to do some decision making.

Fantastic Game!!!
Easy to play, and good for memory.My kids love it.Plus, they learned a few animal names that they didn't know.Excellent!!

BEST GAME
This game is the best. I tell all of my friends to BUY it for every kid on the list.The game can be played as the directions state or a variation.For the older child play memory or matching.My 2 year old loves to group the colors, simply identify the animals or sound, and match the cards to the board.This is my six year olds favorite game and has been since he received it for his 3rd birthday.Best of all it can be quickly replayed if the wrong person(mom) wins the game.The whole family will enjoy.Strategy, memory, and fun!!!As far as i can tell Toys R Us is the only place to buy this great game. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cards    2. Games    3. Party Games   

Editorial Review

As one of the winners of Dr. Toy's 10 Best Games award, theSurvival/Extinction Dinosaur Game will be a hit with playfulpaleontologists everywhere. Players in the game learn about dinosaursfirsthand by themselves becoming the creatures. Each of the 16player-dinosaurs must make his or her way through the prehistoric world insearch of food and struggling for survival. Winning the game meansgetting to the finish with at least one food token. To do this, playersmust remember his or her dinosaur's habitat, sources of food,intelligence, speed, and size. Natural disaster cards also teach thehazards associated with everyday dinosaur life. Players will learnabout these giant creatures with every fateful step of this creativeboard game. --Lee Strucker ... Read more

Reviews (20)

5-12 my eye
I am an 18 year old college student.My girlfriend and I went to a coffee shop after a movie that had this game.We really liked it and played it until the place closed.We had lots of fun, she got it for me for christmas.I may be over the age limit but I DONT CARE!It is a fantastic game... I like it ok.

excellent game for the whole family
My 7 year old got this for his 6th birthday and both he and his 5 year old brother really enjoy this game.We do as suggested in the rules and roll the dice twice to speed the game up when our youngest is playing.My children have discovered that often times the dinosaur who appears to be the weakest actually wins, so there is no fighting over who gets to be what dinosaur.For those families who prefer board games and reading over the tv, this is the game is for you.Yes, it requires a longer attention span than most games, but so does the average school classroom.CHEERS for a game that doesn't "talk down" to kids!!!

A mother with two sons that LOVE dinosaurs!
Last year I bought this game for my son for Christmas. Since then we have played this game NUMEROUS times! I think this game has a wonderful educational value. You and your child can be learning and having a blast at the same time. My 6 year old knows all the dinosaurs on the cards and their habitats. This is a game that I would recommend to anyone with a dinosaur lover, but over the age of 5.
-Carrie. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Learning    4. Animals    5. Dinosaurs    6. Activity   

Editorial Review

A wonderful blend of deduction with a form of 20 Questions. Two players try to deduce the identity of their opponent's "Mystery Person." Using game boards with 48 frames apiece and an equal number of cards displaying character faces, players ask one another yes or no questions that help narrow the pool of possibilities. Through process of elimination, the identity of the Mystery Person slowly becomes evident. As kids' skill levels grow, their questions become more strategic, allowing them to solve the mystery faster and faster. The faces on the cards are cheerful and clever and designed to give subgroups among the 48 characters just enough similarities to challenge players. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (69)

Newer isn't always better...look for the 1998 version.
I'm an educational therapist, and had borrowed another therapist's "Guess Who?" game to use with students.I found it to be great for students who need work on visual discrimination, and it builds categorizing skills and other thinking skills.The game I borrowed had a copyright date of 1998.I found this game so useful that I decided to buy it for myself, but, though Amazon.com pictures the 1998 version, I got a newer, but not improved, version.The only improvement is that it comes in a smaller box, so it's more portable.My main complaint is that the drawings of the faces are very simplistic, and lacking in any character, in contrast to the very detailed faces of the original game, which actually exude personality.In addition, though it looks as though Milton Bradley tried to show a little more cultural diversity than in the original game, they still aren't representing genders equally; still only one fourth of the characters are female.Finally, the "deck" of face cards is not a real deck this time, but small rectangles that you have to punch out from a card.

Pretty fun
A couple teenagers were playing this when I was little and that's how I found out about this game. I've bought it since then and played it a lot with all ages. Usually when I'm playing with teens, I'll play the more complex version that includes having 2 face cards instead of just one. Most of the time, the 2 people have totally different features and you have to try to narrow it down without flipping down the wrong people!
So try the variations as well....you might discover something!

Guess Who I am...
I have owned Guess Who since I was a little girl and still have my original game.I still enjoy playing it.As it is more of a game of guessing and remembering thana child's game.It challenges your memory.I just have a blast playing the game.I looked at the new one recently as mine is now getting a little battered and it seems the same although some of the characters look different.But, it is expected to change some over the years.If you are looking for a game you can play with a family member this is a great game!And it is enjoyable too! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Cards    4. Matching    5. Memory   

Editorial Review

The wildly popular and award-winning Cranium board game has revved its engines and gone turbo! As in the original game, players in teams race around the board, sculpting, humming, spelling, or drawing answers to clues. But the Turbo edition is enhanced by 1,000 new cards and adds six outrageous activities to the 10 originals, including Odd Couple (determine which two things don't belong in a list), Zooma (identify objects shown in close-up), and Mindmeld (read teammates' minds to come up with the same words on a given topic). An electronic Turbo timer lights up and blasts music to keep the momentum going, as if watching your teammates sculpt "hot pants" or turn each other into puppets isn't energizing enough! Includes the Cranium board, 1,000 cards with 16 activities, a tub of clay, an electronic timer (requires three "AA" batteries [not included]), pencils and pads, and four game pieces. One of the best games around, with something for everyone! --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (9)

family night
my family night people found that we enjoyed cranium sooooo much and that we have played it so many thimes that we memorized that cards

My new favorite game!
coming from someone that has only played the original cranium once, I was blown away by the Turbo edition.It was amazing to see how everyone was so into the game play even when it wasn't their turn.The types and variety of questions made this game a lot of fun and continuously interesting.Cranium brings aspects of all your favorite games into one!Even the modeling clay smelled nice!The actual gameplay was very easy to understand.The only drawback was the timer/question selector.We had to silence it a bit and it took some time for everyone to figure out how long to hold it down for it to work.It was also a bit hard to hear over it during the singing questions.overall - a GREAT game that could never get old!

This game ROCKS!
So I have been a lover of Cranium (the original) for years. The formula for parties is great, everyone can master at least a few of the skills requires so all stay excited and engaged. This new release adds even more skills to the mix so you are constantly having to switch your thinking. In addition it adds a little electronic doohickey to substitute for dice. Now, I don't normally go in for gimmicky stuff like this, and I can't say that I have ever met a board game with batteries that I liked, but this thing is pretty cool. It doubles as the dice element, adding some randomness, and as the timer, pretty cool. I also enjoy the little song it plays. I got this game right before the holidays and took it home to play with the family. I have always played with my piers (23 - 30) and was pleased to find that my parents, and even my grandmother thought it was totally entertaining. Get this game, it rocks! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Trivia