Editorial Review

It's still hard to get a triple word score, the tiles are still made of wood, there's only one "X" in the whole box, and family feuds are increasing exponentially. But after 50 years, Scrabble has had a face-lift: a swivel base allows the board to turn so players don't have to work upside down, a plastic grid helps keep tiles in line, and a handy bag stores the letters when they're not in use. The premise hasn't changed at all--two to four players battle it out to make high-scoring words from seven little letters--so choose a dictionary before play begins to avoid ugly confrontations. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (86)

Deluxe not like the old Deluxe
I purchased the new deluxe Scrabble game for my sister in January and was terribly disappointed in how it was made.We both love to challenge each other in Scrabble matches when we are together and her game really needed to be replaced.I was embarrassed at how cheaply the new game is.For the wonderful game that it is, I do believe they could have made a much better version of the turntable model for the price I had to pay for it.Hope they will improve it soon.

Fantastic fun for those who love words and word play...
This along with the official scrabble dictionary is the perfect gift for those who love scrabble. It has a TURNTABLE, that is all I need to say.The turntable makes this so much more enjoyable as it is so easy to manuever it to view it straight on in front of you. I wish the game were a bit more substantial but it is a vast improvement over a traditional set because of the turntable as you just store everything in the base.

Before you buy this...
Check eBay for a complete older version.This one is poorly made,I remember the old deluxe was deluxe.For the new one the best price is here, that I found.And you can't live without this game ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Classic Games    5. Word Games    6. Learning   

Reviews (17)

great game
This is a wonderful game for children and adults.I introduced it to my adolescent special education class and to their delight they were competitive with peers and adults.Thisis because it challenges visual and spatial parts of the brain.
It fits instructional objectsfor sustained attention, pattern recognition and spatial discrimination.No two games are alike.The students love the web site (...)where they play against the computer.

Simple to Learn and FUN!
My son (9 years old) saw this at the "teacher's store" by us and it's always sold out so he had to wait to get it. Boy was it worth the wait!He loves it! And we love it!All of his friends play and it's so easy to learn.The better you get at it, the more challenging the game.I'd recommend this to anyone!It's not a game that will sit on the shelf.

Creative Educational Game for the Family
My 5 year old son received this game as a present from my sister.I also have a 6 1/2 year old son.The two of them put down their gameboys and played this game with us over and over for two hours. We've had the game for a week now and they are still asking to play.It's a great introduction to building strategies and using their spacial abilities.The rules are simple and the game itself goes fairly quickly which is great since my kids have a hard time sitting still for long.If I had seen this at the store I probably would never have considered it, but I would recommend it to everyone now that we have played it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Learning    3. Strategy Games    4. Activity   

Editorial Review

Honk! Honk! It's gridlock and the little red car can't move.The player is a traffic cop in the Rush Hour Traffic Jam Puzzle wherethe objective is to get the red car off the road. To play, pick one of40 challenge cards; solutions are printed on the back of each card.Then set up the cars and buses in a specified pattern on the6-inch-square road grid. Move the vehicles one by one (obey those trafficlaws!) until the red car can escape the traffic jam. There are fourlevels of difficulty. Kids can alternate turns with another player orjust "play in traffic" alone. The game from Binary Arts received anational award from Mensa and is used in elementary school mathclasses. The design includes clear instructions printed on the sturdybox, which can be used both as a playing tray and for storage. The gamecards stow away in a drawer in the road grid. This is a 1999 Parents'Choice recommended toy. --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (96)

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 levels. The highest level is really really difficult. Meant for the "Pros" only !!!

Awesome Game!!
I first encountered this game at a friends house while I was house-sitting, and I tell you...without it, I think I would have lost mt mind!It is basic yet challenging all at the same time...and it really is for all ages!Since I bought it off amazon.com, my niece and my father-in-law have both enjoyed the thrill of playing Rush Hour.I would strongly recommend this game for anyone who thinks they would be too good for this game...cause they won't be!!

Great fun and awesome game!!!
My husband and I gave this game to our daughter for Christmas. When she first unwrapped the present she looked uninterested. Later that day she pulled it out and asked what it was about. We got it out and tried it out. Instantly she was hooked as was I. This game is really a great game, but it is also a wonderful educational product. It truly teaches thinking skills and as a homeschool parent I can truly appreciate that. I highly recommend this for anyone regardless of where or how your children are schooled!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Board Games    2. Family Favorites    3. Puzzles    4. 3-D Puzzles    5. Strategy Games    6. Brain Teasers    7. Activity    8. Games    9. Grid Games    10. Brain Games    11. Learning   

Reviews (6)

Engaging science for young minds............
Although some of the questions/answers in this game are not educational, overall, I found this item to be great fun for the whole family. The questions have a range of difficulty, so when we play it with our 7 year old, he can answer some, and we adults don't get bored because we find others interesting. Some items are inappropriate, but we just omit those and ask another question or do another task that appears on the same card.
I would recommend this game to all parents who frequently play with their children, and are looking for something unique and fun for them, as well as the children.

Educational?? Scientific???NOT!!!!!
We bought the "Totally Gross" game for our son for a Christmas gift.When we looked at the game, we thought we were getting an educational game about science.

What we didn't know was that we got a game about rude behaviors.

After looking at the all cards, I was in shock. The number of body functions that are talke about is inappropraite. Also telling kids to stick fingers into their ears and into their mouths can be a health hazard.Telling the kids on the cards not to put their finger into their ear "too far" and to make sure they have "clean hands" before sticking their fingers into their mouths was a nice gesture BUT kids will be kids and do they really know when too far is enough or does it take a trip to the ER for a puncture ear drum!

I thought, surely there can't be that many cards with such offensive material so I started removing the offensive ones. I stopped at about 15 and decided the game is very inappropriate.

I'm not sure how this game has ANYTHING to do with the "major science disciplines", as quote on the box! I do not recommend this game to anyone unless you want your son running around telling everyone he needs to go "drain the lizard" when he needs to pee.

Girls love gross stuff too!!!
I bought this game for my two girls..ages 8 and 6.They absolutely love it...lots of good gross stuff and lots of educational items even the adults thought were great.My husband and I even thought that this game would be great with our adult friends :) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Learning   

Editorial Review

Horses hold a magical appeal for children. This colorfully designed board game provides an exciting fantasy environment for two to six horse lovers. In the first game, players pretend to be wild mustang stallions galloping through mountains and valleys, gathering a herd to protect while facing such obstacles as cougars and bad weather. The first player to round up a herd wins. In two other games, players are ranchers rounding up strays and competing to fill out their herds. Players are sure to enjoy the in-depth educational information about horses and horse breeds that is included. This is a great game to saddle up when it's rainy on the ranch, providing enough challenge to play with parents as well as with friends. --Lee Strucker ... Read more

Reviews (33)

THE BEST HORSE GAME!
It is fun and educational my friend and i spend hours playing it!

Horsey Games
I've had this game for a long time. It is a great game because it has 3 different games. It is also very educational because it has facts about the different horses. My brother also likes it. Younger kids might choke on the small peices though. I love to look at all the different horses too. one was even named after me! Overall this is a fantastic game and a must have for horse lovers world wide!

Tons of fun for horse lovers of all ages!!
This has been my favorite game since i was about five years old. Being a horse lover, i very much enjoy playing this game over and over again. It provides family fun for all ages, even my 19 year old brother likes playing. You also learn about the different roles certain horses play in a wild herd. . . HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Animals    4. Horses    5. Learning   

Editorial Review

The rules are brutal, but the rewards are worth it in this card game that works a bit like Scrabble. Although there is a solitary version of the game for one player, you can play with up to eight. Cards containing letters of the alphabet and special combinations of letters are dealt in increasing number each time the dealer completes a round. Once you've collected your share, you can discard and pick up a new card with each turn. The object is to turn all the letters in your possession into dictionary-proof words while leaving one stray card as a final discard. You want to be the first to accomplish the goal, of course, but there is a scoring system that makes the play competitive for everyone. One nice element is the cards themselves: the letter design is based on beautiful artwork from Celtic manuscripts. This card game is a 1999 Parents' Choice Silver Award winner. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Absolutely love it!
Picked up the card game this weekend, have been playing the Quiddle daily puzzle (solitaire) online at http://www.setgame.com/quiddler/puzzle_frame.htm for several weeks. We played several hands last night. All I need now is a new dictionary!

Quiddler is hard to Quit
I'm a grandparent that loves card or board games.This game is so much fun and challenging at the same time.I play mostly with my 11 and 10 year old granddaughters; but know the three smaller ones will enjoy it when they get old enough.However the fun does not stop there; our oldest son came for a visit (40yrs old) and I brought out Quiddler.We had a really great time and now I need to buy him the game to enjoy with his friends.Directions were simple and great to understand within minutes your enjoying the game of trying to out-word your oppnent.I love the Solitare Version that can be played also.Can't imagine anyone being disappointed with this game.

Just a great game.
This game is great for absolutely anyone.If you enjoy card games and scrabble this is the perfect combination for you.I recommend playing this one with 4 or more people. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Brain Games    3. Word Games    4. Cards    5. Learning   

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

The aMAZEing Labyrinth uses a clever board design to create aseries of ever-changing mazes that one to four players must movethrough. The object of the game is for each player to collect asquickly as possible all seven treasures depicted on their individualtreasure cards. To add to the challenge, players know what the nexttreasure is only after they find the one before it. Before each turn, amaze card is pushed into the maze in a strategic place, helping theplayer make his or her way to the prize. This means that the entiremaze shifts and changes on each turn, confounding some and helpingothers. Players will need to think ahead to choose just the right spotto shift the maze in their favor. This is an excellent game to get lostin. A simpler version can be played by younger children. --LeeStrucker ... Read more

Features

• For 1 to 4 players
• Playing time 20 minutes

Reviews (3)

'Mazing
This strategy game is one of the best birthday presents my children ever got. You can play once or several times, and never grow tired of the game, as each set of mazes is different than the last.

Playing is a fabulous way to spend an afternoon or evening with your children. The game requires non-verbal skill and logic, but is fun as heck. Very often, the children do better than the grown-ups.

Highly recommended.

Good game
We love this game.It makes you think, so it keeps us all interested. This is one of the few games that we all enjoy playing together because it is challenging enough for our overachieving 8-year old, and also interesting for our 6-year old.It is difficult to find games that do all that these days, because the 6-year old is refusing to learn how to read well enough to be able to enjoy "older kid" games, and we have all become bored with the "little kid" games.This game requires no reading, which (obviously) is a plus for us right now.

Great Family Fun
Our family really likes this game.It is a great strategy game.You have to think ahead and try to plan moves to help yourself but not others.It really keeps you thinking and the kids love it when they make a move that really messes up Mom or Dad.It is not so hard however, that a younger child of 8 or 9 would get frustrated. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

This is a strategy game with a twist--if you lose, you'relunch. You've taken your trusty Safari Rover deep into the bush; nowmaneuver it through the maze of hungry animals and get back to camp inone piece. An 8-by-7.25-inch plastic game tray forms a kind of grid foryour vehicle and the 3-D plastic animal pieces (including elephants,rhinos, and a termite mound). Draw one of 50 cards (10 of which areextra-easy, for younger players) to determine the initial board setup.Then move pieces, according to strict rules, to make your escapethrough the only exit. A cloth bag for all the game pieces is included.--Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Fun but bulky
Our family truly enjoys the Rush Hour game and tried this one as well - it is bigger and bulkly and convenient for travel.I alos find the puzzles to be a bit easier.The pieces don't slide as well as Rush Hour.

Good toy for everyone
I knew this game at a friend's house and love it even I was 30 already at that time.I bought several when I went back to visit my family and they all love it.When I told my mom that I would give my brother's 1st grad boy a set, she told me he won't like it since he doesn't like the brain games.But he loves it soon after my sister explain to him the rules and he enjoys to do it.My little one, almost 23 months old now, likes those animals and loves to put all of those animals to the board one by one and kind of learn the size and arrange the place.It's not only for 8 and up.

Great game; an attention grabber
I bought this for my 6 year old. She played with it for an hour the first time.It is a game she can play solo. After using the Junior cards, she went on to the beginner. She is still progressing.This is a great thinking game. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Wild Animals    3. Learning    4. Games    5. Board Games    6. Family Favorites    7. Brain Games    8. Puzzles    9. 3-D Puzzles    10. Strategy Games    11. Brain Teasers    12. Activity   

Editorial Review

Furrowed brows and hearty laughter are the most likely outcome of this fun but challenging game from Game Development Group. Just like its elder edition, the object of Stare! Junior is to be the first to reach the end of the game board. "Been there, done that," you're thinking? But in this game, looking hard and paying attention to detail are two things that will help players move forward. Individuals or teams stare at an image on a card for 30 seconds (more challenging games can be played by shortening the time) and then answer questions about what they saw. It's not easy--just try to remember what color socks the person next to you on the bus was wearing this morning, or how many people were reading magazines. Of course, you weren't staring... --Rachel Radway ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Yes, a terrific game for the kids (and parents)!


Stare! Junior is simply a terrific game for the kids.It's fun, it's educational (without the kid's knowing it); it's interesting; and it is a great social activity.During each kid's turn, the child stares at an image to study as much detail as they can recall.Then, when time is up, the child is asked a series of questions about the image.For instance, what is in the teddy bears hand?The Images are just terrific and fun to look at.We take this one in the car on long trips - the kids play and I keep track of how far they advance on the game board.Really, you will be happy you have this.No gimmicks, just good old-fashion game play, with laughs and learning thrown in for good measure.

A game kids and parents can have fun playing with together

I play lots of games with my kids.I can't say I am always wide awake playing Candy Land and Life over and over again.That has all changed with this game.

Stare! Junior changes the playing field.I actually enjoy playing it and my kids can tell that.The object is simple but challenging.Each turn a player (or team) stares at an image card.The cards are a great array of child friendly pictures.The cards have just enough detail to make it interesting for the kids, but not too much to make it frustrating.When time is up, the player is asked to recall certain aspects about the image.Was the hat red or green?Was the boy smiling?How many apples where on the table?The more the player recalls, the more the player advances his/her playing pawn on the game board.

The kids have fun and so do I.Go figure!

Great idea, but the game is just ok.
I purchased this game for my 5 year old. The idea of the game is to stare at a tiny card with tons of details. Then you are asked to remember some obscure detail about the picture. It is even hard to answer some of the questions when you are looking at the pictures.If you are looking for an educational game, look somewhere else.Your child might learn to pay more attention to details, but I can't think of any other educational value.I don't see what is so stimulating about Superman comic pictures (22 in all), and I like Norman Rockwell but 30 pictures seems over kill. ... Read more

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

Reviews (1)

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 !!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Learning    2. Games    3. Board Games    4. Family Favorites    5. Brain Games    6. Puzzles    7. 3-D Puzzles    8. Travel Games    9. Strategy Games    10. Brain Teasers    11. Activity   

Reviews (8)

I am sorry I bought this game
My grandson is 11 and he just isn't interested in this game.I bought both of the River Crossing games, for Christmas, and he hasn't even looked at the second one.

River Crossing Is VERY Addicting!
I received this game for Christmas, and I hadn't even asked for it.I absolutely LOVE it.

The game consists of the main puzzle tray, plastic stumps, a little magnetic man, 5 magnetic plastic boards of different sizes, 40 puzzle cards (ranging in difficulty), and a carrying bag to store everything (which comes in handy!).

This game really gets you thinking, and you actually find yourself thinking AHEAD by many moves.The object of the game is to get the little man from one side of the river, to the other.You do so, by moving planks from stump to stump.Sometimes you have to drop a plank off at a convenient location, just to pick it up later on when you need it.

I started playing it and couldn't stop!Once you start getting the hang of it, you find yourself wanting to continue as you figure out the easier puzzles.I must say, that as they become more difficult, you REALLY need to think ahead by looking at the pieces you need towards the "end" of the crossing.Don't drag boards that you don't need (and DON'T drop them in places that hinder your crossing!).

I definitely recommend this game for people who enjoy puzzles, or games in general.The harder puzzles may be too difficult for a younger child to enjoy, and they may get bored with it.ALSO- there are MANY small parts that could be a choking hazard for small children.Make sure you keep the parts in the bag, and keep it out of reach!

River Crossing - Another hit from ThinkFun!
ThinkFun succeeds once again, with a simple idea... lay down logs to find a path from start to finish across the river.Place your logs carefully, and you'll get where you need to go, but don't get in your own way, and you can't jump over the water.40 challanges included (plus 40 more in River Crossing 2!), that will keep even adults busy for quite a while.

Highly recommended for those visual / spatial gifted kids, and thier parents ;-)Stores in it's own nylon bag, a plus, since there are more than a few loose pieces.

Carolyn K., webmaster, Hoagies' Gifted Education Page ... Read more

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

Reviews (7)

A Thinking Game
I work with children from preschool to high school, and kids from 3rd grade up LOVE this game.Even when they aren't good at it, it becomes addictive.It is great fun for college and adults, too.You can also play where everyone writes as many words as they can think of and the duplicates don't count (like Scategories).
Let the little kids find 3 letter words, but quickly make the minimum 4 letter words!!

Fast-Paced Fun For All Ages
This game was tons of fun...I purchased it for my 15-year old daughter for a birthday gift. I ordered Smart Mouth from Amazon.com after reading about it in an issue of Real Simple magazine. We opened it up at her party and everyone from my daughter to her 7- and 9-year old nieces to her aunt and myself just loved this game. It was fast-paced and the youngest girl had the quickest answers. Best of all, they had a blast while spelling words!!! A great game, both educational and fun.

adult party game
It's a shame this is lumped in with educational games. Although I can see it has great potential a as a vocabulary builder, it is one of the most fun adult party games I've ever played. It's similar in dynamic to Jenga, but requires a loose tongue instead of steady fingers, so it's a better choice after partaking of adult beverages. You can set the rules however you want--minumum 4 letters, only 3 letters, only place names, pick another language, anything! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Party Games    3. Learning    4. Reading    5. Board Games    6. Word Games    7. Strategy Games    8. Activity    9. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

With five levels of play, from junior to expert, Railroad RushHour offers a challenge for kids and grownups alike. The puzzle consists of a sturdy plastic grid, 40 puzzle cards (with solutions on the back) for ages 8 and older, 10 junior challenge cards for ages 6 to 8, 17 brightly colored blocking trains, two blocking baggage platforms, a blue-and-white striped travel pouch, and "you," the little red escape locomotive. Trains are placed on the grid as indicated on each puzzle card. The object is to steer your escape locomotive through the freight yard and out the exit gate indicated. You can warm up your problem-solving skills by getting the puzzle out of the box. All aboard for fun! --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Railroad Rush Hour - new moves, new pieces, great fun!
Like Rush Hour, Railroad Rush Hour has you "escaping" the traffic jam... this time in the railroad yard, where the traffic can include rail cars and cargo.Rearrange the pieces to get the engine out.

40 challanges included; nylon bag stores pieces when not in use.Larger than Rush Hour pieces makes this puzzle easier to handle for eager young solvers.And with the new pieces, the challanges are all new and different, even for Rush Hour lovers!

Teriffic fun, great value
This game really is great.My autistic 11-year-old gets
a good mental challenge and feeling of accomplishment out of it,
and I have fun as well.My only negative comment is regarding
travel.We've taken it on many plane trips, and it's great
because it fits in a small area to play as well as store, but
it has a lot of small parts (duh! :-), and they are easy to lose
track of when travelling.So be vigilant, and find all those
train cars when putting it away! :-)

Railroad rush hour - a great game for all
This is a fabulous game for people of all ages.Even little kids can play the easy cards.The harder ones can be very engrossing for adults.My son started playing it when he was 4 years old. I have also given it to somebody as a present for their 40th birthday.I recommend it for anybody who wants a bit of a mental challenge. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Puzzles    2. 3-D Puzzles    3. Strategy Games    4. Brain Teasers    5. Activity    6. Games    7. Grid Games    8. Brain Games    9. Learning    10. Board Games    11. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

More than 350,000 copies of The Farming Game ("The Game Inventedon the Seat of a Tractor") have been sold, and this 20th-anniversaryedition introduces a new generation to the joys of muck and milking.Every player starts the game with 20 inherited acres and moves throughthe months (i.e., around the board) trying to build the farm into anindependent, successful concern that will feed the whole family. A fungame, it also has a serious, educational side--having been invented byGeorge Rohrbacher, a farmer in Washington State's Yakima Valley, whothought it up while trying to figure out how to make enough cash to hangon to his family farm. Up to six players, ages 10 to adult. --RichardFarr ... Read more

Reviews (24)

One of the best board games I've ever played
I grew up on a farm, and my brothers and sisters and I started playing this game when it first came out (late 70's? early 80's?) and we still play it when we have a chance to get together.Better yet, we're teaching the younger generation to play with us, and they love it as much as we do.We've added some new Farmer's Fate and Operating Expenses, based on our personal farming experiences, that make things even more exciting.This game teaches you about strategy, debt management, and how to take the good with the bad.I recommend it wholeheartedly.

The Farming Game
This game is a really fun game for teenagers, and adults. It teaches you how life really is as a farmer. My family, and my extended family love this game.

A Surprisingly Fun Game
I honestly could not imagine how a game about farming could be fun.Real farming doesn't look the least bit fun to me. After 4 years of reading game reviewers applaud this game, I broke down and bought it for a reunion weekend with a longtime game-playing friend.

When we were well into the first game, my friend put off going to the bathroom for 45 minutes so she could take "just one more turn" and then another and then another. We finally pried ourselves away from the game to go eat at 9:00pm.

It does start out slowly, so give it 2 or 3 times around the board before you give up on it.You start out in debt at the beginning of a new year.One trip around the board is one calendar year.Your goal is to build a profitable farming operation by buying/renting equipment,planting and harvesting, buying and selling livestock.In the meantime, Real Life intervenes in the form of insects, drought, disease, bad weather,taxes,equipment breakdowns, etc. In spite of these frustrations, the fun part is in the harvest.It's sort of like Monopoly with an adrenaline rush!The more fields you own, the bigger the harvest.The more land you own, the more livestock you can support.

The Farming Game is a great educational model for any business, or Life for that matter.You can borrow too much and end up bankrupt.You can have too little cash on hand and not be able to plant.No planting, no harvest.No harvest, no money.No money, no planting.

This is a great game for competitive players.For it to be fun for everyone, players need to be able to count money and either read the cards or be able to follow directions if someone else reads them.If a child can play Monopoly, he or she can play the Farming Game. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Learning    4. Strategy Games   

Reviews (9)

Simple to learn, fun to play, competitive for all ages
A new classic twist on tic-tac-toe.Get 4 in a row, but wait!Your opponent can place a bigger piece over yours, stealing your spot.Pieces stack in 4 sizes, and part of the strategy is to figure out which size piece to play, and when to use your larger pieces to steal.

Kids to adults love Gobblet, and the classic wooden presentation makes it a game to keep on the coffee table for easy play access any time.

And my 9-year-old says, "Highly competitive - I love it!"

Carolyn K., webmaster, Hoagies' Gifted Education Page

Gobble Gobble Gobble
I'm a teenager that loves games. I like board games, pencil and paper games, card games, sports...ALL KINDS!! I got GOBBLET for christmas last year. I started playing with my dad and thought this is ok...until he beat me! I was determined to win against him. On the last week of Christmas Break, we played at least 40 games. It's the most engrossing, fun, stategical game I've played. It combines the simplicity of Tic-Tac-Toe with the strategy of Chess and adds a little bit of Memory.

Highly Recommended!
My 10 Year old daughter got this game for her birthday and we love it! My 7 year old likes to play too! It is a good strategy game and my husband & I like to play with the kids. It stores in a nice wooden box.We take it on camping trips and vacations, it's compact and travels well! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Learning    3. Strategy Games    4. Activity    5. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

Think you can come up with a girl's name containing the letters "Q" and"Y" in 60 seconds? Or a food or drink using "H" and "J"? There will truly betimes when Wordplay for Kids will be anything but child's play. Designed forplayers 6 to 12 years, this combo of word building and racing to the finish lineinvites youngsters to come up with the longest word they can in order to gainthe most spaces on the board. The spinner selects the two letters that mustappear in the word, the die roll selects the category the word must fit. Theenclosed rules are simple and, with one exception, easy to understand (you maywant to adopt a house rule clarifying whether or not the word must begin withone of the two spun letters, or merely contain it). And it'll probably take onlyone fight between the player who composed "Patty" and the "Patricia-Elizabeth"wordsmith, before you'll want to outlaw the use of hyphens. Those preteens canbe soooo devious. --Tony Mason ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Game for the Whole Family
So glad I bought this one.It's fun, educational and we have as much fun playing as the kids do.The great thing is that everybody plays every round which prevents waiting for your turn.In a nutshell, all players are given a Word Sheet.The spinner on the board is spun to pick 2 letters that must be in the word.As an example, let's say an "A" and "C" are the spun letters for the round.All the players write those letters on their own Word Sheet.Then the die is rolled to determine the category -say "living creatures".Then the 30 second timer is turned and everybody has 30 seconds to form the LONGEST word possible.When the 30 seconds are up, players compare words to see who formed the longest word.Each player advances on the board by the number of letters in the word they formed.So the player with the longest word advances the furthest.The trick we do to make it fun for us parents is that while the kids just need to find a word containing an "A" and "C" (e.g. cat, caterpillar), we parents have a harder job and must form a word with the "A" as the FIRST LETTER and the "C" as the LAST LETTER.In this instance, both us parents could not think of anything beginning with an "A" and "ending" in a "C" so we both did not form a word and we both did not advance on the board.But the kids advanced by 3 spaces each because they both formed the word "CAT".The kids were surprisingly enthralled with this game.They also love the spinner and always try to spin it the fastest and most.Anyway, this is a great family activity.The kids often play without us.We highly recommend it!

Fun game; cheap cheap make
I played this game with my kids (under 8) and they seemed to like it: it is a spelling game and can be exciting for kids who have just mastered reading and writing. The participating adults can guide the game along, making it a cooperative game, rather than competitive.

The down side--and it is a big down side--is that the game is so cheaply made that it is nearly impossible to play the game: The spin-wheel, which is key to the game as it determines which letter of the alphabet gets randomly selected, does NOT spin at all. I can't imagine this particular part, if made slightly better (say, barely usable), could have cost that much more--this game isn't cheap to begin with.

Frankly, as much as my kids like this game, I feel that my money is not well spent.

Smart and Fun.
This game is clever!It really is loads of fun for kids to play and at the same time (without their conscious knowledge) they are improving their word skills.The game has a spinner, which, off-the-bat makes kids interested. Next, all kids play each round which ensures that nobody has to wait their turn (waiting for their turn in a game to my kids seems like slow torture).Since, they are all playing in each round there is lots of competition to come up with the best and longest word to fit one of six categories (ie. boys or girls name, living creature, food or drink and I can not remember the others).All and All - a smart and fun kids game. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Word Games    4. Learning    5. Party Games   

Reviews (3)

Our 4 year old cannot get enough, and we are all learning
Out family has played Time Troopers and/or Show Me The Wild at least 5 times a week since Thanksgiving.As family came and went over the holidays everyone played, everyone learned, and everyone had fun spending time with each other.Our 4 year old begs to play every night before going to bed and learns even from her parents questions.

The video content is even captivating for our 10 month old, so he will have a head start once he starts talking and playing

Have a blast in the past, with everyone in your family!!!
This game was extremely fun and engaging!!!!

Everyone, from young to old, enjoyed it!!!

The most important and unique attribute of the game is the ability for everyone, regardless of age/knowledge, to play and have an equal chance of winning!

Pros:

-You can set the time limit of the game, so you can have the game work around you schedule.
-The video clips in the game and appearances by John Clease are classic.
-You can teach history to your children without them even realizing it.
-All ages can play, win, and have a blast.
-The DVD format works great! No clean up, no score calculations, no pieces to lose, and it doesn't take up storage space.

Cons:

-There aren't more games like it.

Overall, I am extremely excited about this DVD game, it has it all! I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to have good clean fun with their family and heck; even learn something while you're at it.

Family fun as advertised!
This game has me playing with my wife and 12 and 13 year old boys and we all love it!The game is entirely contained on anormal DVD that you play on your tv- no board pieces, etc to keep track of- the game does it all for you. You can select your level of expertise so everyone can play against each other, and then the "dynamic leveling" keeps it fun for everyone since questions for players get harder/easier with more right/wrong answers.This tends to keep the games close and fun.John Cleese is hilarious in some of the "fate card" scenes. The boys had so much fun they didn't realize they were learning history!Highly recommended!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Trivia    4. Learning    5. Geography    6. Tabletop Games   

Reviews (6)

A brainbuster for your smartest kids.
If you want to challenge your brain, buy this game.The questions really made me think! After many holidays of stuffing this head with irrelevant trivia, I'm satisfied that Phoney Baloney offers a better fare. I played this game with a few kids, from 8- to 14-years old, and they were excited by both the game play and the questions.

Family game player
We played Phoney Baloney five or six times last week.Once for a party and the other times as a family.Once we didn't even finish the game because we started talking about one of the subjects in the game.We also use the cards as topics for our home schooling.We received our game as a gift, then later gave two as gifts to our friends.The only thing that could be improved is the card holder.It's no big deal and doesn't change the game, but it should be made of plastic instead of card board.The rest is great.

A rivalry of knowledge!
Outwit and outsmart your opponents, but not with the right answer. This time, you have to choose the wrong answers. The more answers that you get that are wrong, the more points you get. Confusing, right? Not at all. You get on a roll going as fast as you can to beat your opponents for an intriguing and fun game. Plus, this helps you understand the rule of elimination. So even if you don't know the right answer, you can choose the ones that you know are obviopusly wrong. Or you can just geuss.

Just like you did on your tests at school, right? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Trivia    4. Learning    5. Party Games    6. Grownup    7. Puzzles    8. Brain Teasers   

Reviews (3)

I love games and this one is fantastic for the kids!
Forgive me for using a corny opening line: my kids love to be at their Wit's End - ha, ha, ha. I am thrilled to see them (ages 8, 9 and 12) playing something educational for a change!! The Teaser questions are rhyming riddles children try to solve and are probably loved the most, judging by the loud claps and cheers. The other question types are also crowd pleasers, with cutesy names like Dictionary Detectives, Animal Crackers, Word Whiz, etc... you get the picture. Fun stuff indeed...it makes you wish you had something like this when you were growing up!

Wit's End's witis REALLY ending!
This is the worst game ever! I am twelve and it really doesn't appeal to me.

Fantastic Skills Based Game for Children
I bought this game for my son and daughter, ages 8 and 11.The game was advertised by the Parents' Choice Foundation as an award winner and I thought I might give it a try.The best thing about this game is that questions are specially designed for different age groups.My 8 year old son would answer questions designed for 8 year-olds on the Yellow Side of the question card.And my 11 year-old daughter would answer questions designed for her age group on the Blue Side of the card.The questions are fantastic and a lot of fun for the kids.Instead of straight yes or no answers the kids are challenged to answer from four skill-based categories:Teasers are by and large Rhymes for Kids to Solve;Odd1Out asks kids to pick which one does not belong;Sequence questions ask Kids to arrange things in sequence by weight, size distance, date etc.;and the Wild Card category requests a bunch of stuff like finding items that begin with certain letters.The game comes with a spinner which determines the category the kids answer when it is their turn.I even enjoyed participating in this game...can you remember information from your 3rd grade class --it is very challenging for adults in that way.The kids loved the very fun questions.We all learnt a lot while having a blast playing.My children and I highly recommend this game. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Trivia    4. Learning    5. Party Games    6. Puzzles    7. Brain Teasers