Apples to Apples Ages 12+
This is a multi award winning game (including ‘game of the year’) and recently listed as number 8 on the ’15 greatest board games of all time’ by the people at Brainz.org. It’s the perfect game for a board game night with friends and family. It is quick to set up, easy to learn, challenging, and a whole lot of fun. It can be hard to find a game that a large number of people can play, can be a great equaliser of abilities, yet is always fun to play – but Apples to Apples is all that and more.
The game is about making comparisons between different things. General game play is as follows: players are dealt red cards which have a noun printed on them, and the judge (a different player in each turn) draws a green card on which an adjective is printed and places it for all players to see. Each player then chooses a red card they are holding that they think best describes the green card. The judge then decides which adjective she likes best.
The fun is in the variety of unexpected comparisons people make, sometimes apt, funny, creative, or simply absurd. For example: people might match "Awkward" with "Oil Spills," "My First Kiss," "Dandruff," and "Gold Chains. " Or: "Painful" with "High School Reunions" and "Julia Gillard. " Strategy comes into play since, because each player takes turns being the judge, you begin to pick up on the preferences of each player and tailor your choices accordingly.
Players can also try variations on the basic game play. For example, instead of choosing the most apt comparison, players might try choosing the red card that is least like the green one. These variations keep the game fresh and interesting every time.
Part of the fun is in standing up for your choices. For instance, you might discuss why you think "Justin Bieber" is painful, or segue into a discussion of the embarrassing situations you got into on your first day of school, or your first kiss. Apples to Apples excels as an ice breaker and promotes a good amount of social interaction, as many conversations will be kick started thanks to these little cards.
Safari Rush Hour Ages 6+
This is a strategy game with a twist-if you lose, you're lunch. You've taken your trusty Safari Rover deep into the bush; now maneuver it through the maze of hungry animals and get back to camp in one piece. An 8-by-7.25-inch plastic game tray forms a kind of grid for your vehicle and the 3-D plastic animal pieces (including elephants, rhinos, and a termite mound). Draw one of 50 cards (10 of which are extra-easy, for younger players) to determine the initial board setup. Then move pieces, according to strict rules, to make your escape through the only exit. A cloth bag for all the game pieces is included.
• Four levels of play, beginner to expert
• Fifty mind challenge cards with solutions
• Eighteen safari game pieces and one safari rover
• One safari game grid board
You can see a clip on you tube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMNgdXVmG3w
Price $42.95
We also have an 'Alcatraz' version for $32.95 and the Classic car-based version for $29.95
Gordion’s Knot Ages 8+
An ancient mystery is reinvented for mind-bending, modern-day fun. Gordian's Knot Brainteaser Challenge from ThinkFun is based on the Gordian knot tied by Midas. The Great Oracles proclaimed that the person who solved the puzzle would rule the world. This colorful knot features six interlocking pieces, but it takes a whopping 69 different moves to take the knot apart. By sliding the six pieces past each other, the Gordian's Knot will come apart. Some pieces will easily move throughout the process, but beware -- that doesn't mean you made the right move. Game comes with a 40-page, step-by-step solution book in case you get stumped, and helps you put the knot back together once the puzzle is solved. For one player.
• Six colourful interlocking puzzle pieces
• Forty-page step-by-step solution book
• Easy-to-follow reassembly instructions
• Teaches deductive reasoning and problem-solving
Price $22.95
Zingo Ages 4-8
In this fast-paced, energetic variant of Bingo, kids get a kick out of pulling the Zinger forward to reveal two mystery tiles, and then try to be the first to call out the tiles that match the images on their cards. The first player to fill his or her card wins by yelling “Zingo.”
• Two levels of play
• Seventy-two picture tiles
• Eight double-sided Zingo cards
• Teaches image and vocabulary recognition, matching, memory, concentration, and social interaction
Price $35
Pirates Hide & Seek Ages 5+
The object of this multi award-winning game is to cover a board with puzzle tile cutouts, so that some areas of the board remain visible. The puzzle tiles always fit, but they show or hide different artwork depending on how the cutouts are positioned.
A unique game for all the family testing logical thinking and problem solving skills to play at home or on the move ... once a challenge is completed you'll want to race to do the next one!
Interestingly, the inspiration for this game comes from a code-writing technique called Grille-Cypher that has been used for hundreds of years.
• 4 puzzle pieces with 3072 possible combinations,
• a challenge book with 48 different challenges of varying difficulty (from very easy to extremely difficult ),
• a pull out drawer easy to use storage compartment that is big enough for all puzzle pieces,
• game rules,
• challenges and solutions
Price $32.95
Loustigri Chase the Wolf (Janod) Ages 4+
A twist on the traditional chase the ace card game. Match the pairs but beware, the one left with wolf card loses. The game comes with 33 cards each with delightful designs. All Janod toys and games are made in the Jura region of France to strict quality and European safety standards.
Price $14.95
I hope this is helpful; I'll post up some more games soon.
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