Editorial Review

This game is sort of like Twister meets Simon Says. Lay the Hullabaloo pads around on the floor about two 'kid's feet' away from each other. The pads are different shapes and colors and have pictures and words on them. Turn on the game console and the cheerful music begins, a happy voice welcomes you to the game and then gives the simple directions you'll need to play. "Jump on a square shape," "Slide over to a red shape," "Hop to a shape with an animal on it" and so on. Then it might tell you to freeze, or to put a body part on one pad, and then a different body part on another. Then, it'll tell you that if you are on a particular pad at the end of that round, you are the winner. We found it to be fun, and easy to understand--though we did wonder how long it might hold a child's interest. --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Fun for the whole family!
We received this as a family gift for Christmas. My 2 year old and 5 year old both love this game and my husband and I have fun playing it with them too! I highly recommend this because it is very educational and fun at the same time! Plus it helps the kids burn off some energy!

Great game for our family
My son received this game as a gift from my husband's employer.WE LOVE IT!!It's simply a lot of fun.The music is catchy and the kids have to listen (great as skill-building) for the next set of instructions.It's not predictable and it's a game that gets everyone off the couch.We've had a lot of fun.

Be 7 Again!
I recently visited my goddaughter who has three boys 7-10 years old. The broke out the Cranium Hullabaloo and we all had a ball! This game is loads of interactive fun, keeps the kids hopping and focused, and gives their mom some "downtime." I forgot I was 55! It is now on my Christmas and birthday "must buy" gift list. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Party Games    3. Grownup    4. Board Games   

Editorial Review

Cadoo is the funky fusion of tic-tac-toe, general knowledge, sculptingskill, and scavenger hunt designed for kids by the brainiacs who brought us theleft side/right side frenzy of Cranium. Operating solo or in combo with others,players attempt to line up four of their jack-like tokens on the groovilycolored grid board by fulfilling a myriad of tasks in an array of categoriesfamiliar to Craniacs. Whether attempting to sculpt a taco out of the includedclay or guessing which of Milky Way, Butterfinger, or Twix is longer, cadetsfind that correct answers and successful missions--can you bring back bothsomething smaller than your big toe, and something bigger than your foot, inless than a minute?--put them one-quarter of the way closer to their Cadoo. Withits elements of strategy, its elegantly funny graphics, and some downrightserious silliness, there isn't a lot of Cadon't in Cadoo. --Tony Mason ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Awesome game for everyone
My daughter received this game for her eighth birthday.We are avid game players in this house and own several cranium games.This game definately meets the cranium standard.We had a BLAST playing this game and ended up playing several time.My daughter loves the variety of activities, where I love that everything fits back in the box! This is a great family game.

The perfect kid's game...even teens will get some kicks
This is a wonderful game for kids 7-10, and even teens, like me, might enjoy it for a while. Like the original Cranium, players are encouraged to use all kinds of different skills to advance in the game. The different types of cards encourage kids to work with words, draw pictures, act things out, and even sculpt with the included clay (it's great clay, by the way, and stays moist and pliable through tons of use). The variety is what keeps it fun, as you're always wondering what you'll have to do next.

The game pieces themselves are eye-catching and colorful. The cards and playing board are nicely illustrated with cute characters (Cranium fans will recognize the star, cat, worm, and Data Head). The playing pieces have a unique, whimsical shape that not only makes them look cool, but allows them to fit together for easy storage. These touches give the game a cheerful, happy look, but never in a cheesy way.

The gameplay is forgiving, as the included timer gives you ample time, and the questions and activities are simplified for younger players. Some challenges, however (sculpting in particular) are tough even for older players. Overall, though, everything seems to be at the right level for the age group, and all the activities are educational in some way. Plus, they're so fun that kids will have a good time doing them even if they don't win the game.

All in all, Cadoo has no flaws at all, and is overflowing with creativity and variety. It's a great game for a group of kids, a family looking to spend some quality time, or just about anyone, and parents will have the satisfaction of knowing that their child is learning as they play. It's the perfect balance: more kid-friendly than classics like Monopoly and Clue, more educational than games based on TV shows, and different from just about everything out there.

Exellent, but not bad
When I got this game for my birthday, I was so happy to play it. That day I played it was so much fun. Three days later, I forgot about it. Then in March 2005, I was board and I remembered Cadoo.Then my mom accsept playing with me. Then it was so much fun!
So buy one now.Or not. ... Read more

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

Editorial Review

Spell a word backwards, hum a tune, answer a multiple-choicequestion, draw with your eyes closed, and more when you play Cranium.Unlike games that focus on only a few skills, Cranium offers 14talent-tapping activities designed to bring out the best in you and yourfriends. Cards from four decks, color-coded to match each of the crazycharacters--Star Performer, Creative Cat, Data Head, and WordWorm--describe activities that teams must complete in order to advance aroundthe board. If you choose a Sculptorades card from the Creative Catdeck, for example, you might be asked to sculpt a hamburger fromlemon-scented Cranium Clay while your teammates try to guess what you'recreating.

To win the game, teams have to make it to Cranium Central--the largepurple brain in the center of the board--and then successfully completeone activity from each of the four decks. The result is that the teamwith the best combination of abilities comes out on top. With itswonderfully diverse set of activities and top-notch design (artwork byillustrator GaryBaseman decorates the colorful board and decks of cards), Craniumoffers the best of all board game experiences--and it's a whole lot offun, too! (For 4 or more players) ... Read more

Reviews (496)

Hours of Fun, and Most of it is Spent Laughing
Cranium is the ultimate combination of every party game you love in one nice package.Acting, unscrambling, humming, drawing, there is always a new challenge to face that will have the entire group laughing.

You play the game in partners and will find the games level of difficulties ranging from spelling a word to 60's trivia. The competition is eased through the constant mishap whiletrying to complete the zany challenges which adds for a funner atmosphere.

The games design is modern and nicely done, and the replay value of the game is high since the card booster sets have been made and the first deck will last you a long time.Cranium doesn't get old fast, it's so entertaining I doubt it will ever get old.It is a must own game and definately the best of the new wave of party games.

Cranium's Crazy Contests earn it
A Bliss of 9

Good game
Cranium is a good game, but does not appeal to everyone in the group. Rigamarole is a lot more fun and there is something for everyone.

THE SMARTEST, WITTIEST, FUNNIEST, COOLEST, FUNNEST GAME EVER
This is without a doubt the best boardgame ever created! Friends of mine who hate boardgames love this one! It combines pictionary, charades, trivia, and a whole slew of other exciting games--all in one! Highly recommended for teenagers and adults. ... Read more

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

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   

Reviews (15)

The Best Game Ever !
This Game Is The Best!! I bought this game because it looked so fun!! Even Though I'm Eleven and have no siblings at home I can still play it by my self. Evenmy parents like this game so I don't have to play by myself all the time. I reccomend this game for everyone!

Disappointed
We are a BIG TIME game family.We have several of the Cranium games and have thoroughly enjoyed them.After reading the reviews of this game I had hopes that it would be as much fun as some of the others we have played.We gave this game to my 8 year old son for Christmas and it was very disappointing.There is no challenge to the game whatsoever.You choose a card which has a question on it and write your answer on the pad.When you close the lid, the timer starts.The problem is that we have been able to guess the answer within seconds of the timer starting and it's usually the first person who guesses it.We looked to the directions to see if there is some way to make it more challenging but there weren't any suggestions given.We thought we would try to make up our own rules such as NOT giving the first letter on the "word worm" questions, but that made it impossible to guess the answer before the timer ran out.

My son thinks it's "kind of" fun and he still asks to play with it because it is new.The other problem is that each card only has one challenge to it.So once you go through all the cards you are pretty much done with the game.I'm certain there will be a "Booster" pack that will need to be purchased separately if this game ends up being popular.

My overall recommendation, skip this game.There are too many other great games to waste your money on this one.

Kids seem to love it
This was my first experience with Cranium games so I don't know how this one compares to the others. My boys, ages 10 and 8 seem to really enjoy the game and it can be fun, but it is not as much fun as I thought it would be after reading the reviews. You draw cards and whatever card you draw determines what activity you do. One activity is to use clay to sculpt your answer to the question. Well, we never have enough time to actually sculpt something. Usually, we just shout out answers without even seeing what the person is sculpting. One activity has you guesstimate your answer to a question, such as "How many times have you flushed the toilet in your lifetime?" A lot of those questions aren't easy for my 8 year old to actually come up with an answer that we could possibly get. And the point is to give an answer that can be guessed because you get points for guessing correctly and for having your answer guessed. So, a lot of the game just seems like shouting out answers and not doing much of the activities. However, my sons seem to enjoy it but I think a lot of it is because their dad and I are playing it with them. Also, you have to remember to push the guess button every time, which so far, my 8 year old forgets to do, so you can get the maximum number of points. Maybe after we play it some more, we will get a better handle on how it is to work and we will get more enjoyment out of it. I wouldn't suggest buying this game unless your kids were a little older than mine. Hope this helps somebody!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Party Games    3. Grownup    4. Board Games   

Reviews (2)

ABigHit at our house
I bought this game for my son (now 11) two years ago on a Christmas shopping whim. Basically I was down to the end of my shopping, but it looked cool I was tired of shopping so I threw it in the cart. This past year we needed the booster box because we play it so often. It's fun for kids and grownups to play together. We include my younger son (5,a non reader) by playing with teams.Although there is an element of chance, you don't know what kind of task you will be given to perform all the time, I like this game because it incorporates different learning skills and learning styles so there is more then one way to be successful. You are working againest the timer so you need to think quickly and creatively using a variety of materials: clay, charades, and drawing in addition to answering questions and of course the special glasses are part of the fun.

The Best Game!
This game is the best game i ever played! Me and my friend played it for hours! I really recomend this game because you will have a blast acting sculpting and drawing! Get CADOO! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games   

Reviews (4)

OMG! The Best Game Ever!!!
i played this game for the first time with friends...after that i was begging my fiance to get it finally she caved and we cant put it down!great with friends!

Great Game.Something for Everyone.
We played this at Christmas with family and then had to go out and buy our own set.It is a perfect blend of game themes/styles.We have played it with people as young as 8 years old and they had fun as well.It is played with teams so everyone gets to feel included.:)A great buy.

Review for Cranium
My husband and I received 'Cranium' as a wedding present from a friend.One evening we had some friends over and we opened up the game and started playing... we LOVED it!It's a perfect mixture of Pictionary, Balderdash, Charades, Trival Pursuit and many others!My personal favorite is "Humdinger."It's the part of the game where a team member needs to hum or whistle a song that's on the card.The game is very entertaining and is guarenteed to get you laughing! ... Read more

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

Reviews (7)

This game is pure fun
We purchased the game after seeing it a few times at Starbucks.Our whole famiy loves to play this game.Even our 3 year old thinks it's fun to play (he needs a bit of help). THe game usually goes pretty quick and isn't so involved that you can't carry on a conversation while you play.Great purchase if you love board and card games.

OKAY, BUT NOT GREAT
I had great expectations for this game, but was disappointed. First of all, the cards ARE slippery as another reviewer stated so be prepared for them to be slipping all over the place.Secondly, my 5 year old, who loves cadoo,had no interest in this game.And lastly, the game is really very simple with no challenge.It can be played in 5 minutes.However, for such an easy game there are a lot of rules.We had to play it many times before we didn't have to look back at the directions anymore for guidance.Cadoo is much better.The directions are very straight forward and it encourages creative brain development.For zigity you just have to be able to add simple numbers or form simple words.It's just not there for my family.But, your's may like it.

Top Notch Game !
I got the free promotional copy of Zigity when I bought Balloon Lagoon (another great game). The box didn't look very impressive, so I didn't open it right away. What an oversight! Both my 4 1/2 YO son & my 13 YO daughter love it.

Zigity appears to be an educational cross between Uno and Rummy. The first player to fun out of cards wins. You get cards out of your hand by making "Sets" which can be words, numbers that add up to 11, matching instruments or a completed "puzzle". Making words is still a bit challenging for my 4 1/2 YO, but he can overcome that by making sets in other ways. And it didn't take that long for him to figure out how to add to 11.

The deck also contains action cards that allow you to force your opponents to draw cards, reverse the order of play or avoid drawing cards yourself.

The deck is well put together so that none of the cards dominate. The addition of the 3 piece "puzzle" and instrument matching option allow younger children to compete with parents and older siblings.

The only thing I didn't like about this game was the make of the cards. They are clear. Yes that's cool. And they are very durable which is nice. But the cards are slippery which makes them difficult to shuffle and hold on to.

This game still rates 5 stars. It is simple to learn, fun to play and requires both luck and strategy to win. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cards   

Reviews (1)

Booster Box 2 is "Primo"!
Cranium's Booster Box 2 is chock-full of more zany Cranium cards and contains four tubs of the modelling clay instead of just one.In fact, BB2 has the same content as the new "Cranium Primo" [money] but without the embossed, 'collectible' game tin and clay tins.If you've exhausted your original Cranium cards and the first Booster Box, you'll want to consider either the new Cranium Primo set with the complete game in 'upscale' packaging, or the Booster Box 2 which is just the cards & clay.In both Primo and BB2 (the cards are the same, remember) there are four tubs of clay to allow enough for all 4 teams to compete simultaneously in the new "Sculptorades."True Craniacs may insist on the fancy Cranium Primo package, but we're happy to add the two Booster Boxes to our original Cranium set.For [money] we have "Cranium Primo" just without the bells & whistles! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games   

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Party Games    3. Grownup    4. Board Games   

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Party Games    3. Grownup    4. Board Games