Tag: strategy

How to Play – Memory Match

Part of the fun in raising Zoey is finding things that delight and educate her; I want to find fun, creative board games to play with her during our family game nights! This week we played Memory Match, the LotFancy version, for 2 to 6 players.

This specific memory match game is designed for kids and does a great job building visual recognition and, of course, memory recall. The graphics are adorable and gameplay is fun and engaging; especially when competition narrows in Zoey’s focus.

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX
  • 39 cards
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. For standard play, remove the 3 stinky lunchbox cards. For more of a challenge, leave them in the deck.
  2. Shuffle the deck and lay them face down so the cards are not overlapping. You may place them in a grid or randomly, it’s up to you.
  3. Players take turns, the youngest player goes first.
  4. On your turn, flip two cards face-up. Make sure that the other players can see the cards too.
  5. If the two cards match, you get to keep them! Place them in a score pile in front of you. As a reward, you get to go again and flip over two more cards.
  6. If you do not make a match, flip the cards back over so they are hidden, your turn is over.
  7. If you are playing with the stinky lunch box cards and you turn one over, your turn is over.
  8. Play continues to the left and the next player takes their turn.
  9. When all the cards have been picked up (minus the stinky lunchbox cards if in play), each player counts the pairs of food they’ve collected. The player with the most food wins! 

ENJOY!

How to Play – Disney Eye Found It!

Part of the fun in raising Zoey is finding things that delight and educate her; I want to find fun, creative board games to play with her during our family game nights! This week we played Disney’s Eye Found It! for 1 to 6 players.

This is a cooperative game, which is nice when you’re not feeling competitive and want to focus on teamwork instead. Zoey enjoys the Disney content and searching the board for hidden objects (so do I honestly). The only warning I will give is that the game board is rather large, you’ll either need a long table, countertop, or you can set it up on the floor like we do!

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX
  • 1 game board (in 3 sections)
  • 6 characters
  • 6 character bases
  • 1 spinner
  • 12 Mickey marker
  • 30 search cards
  • 1 sand timer
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Unfold the game board sections and connect them.
  2. Set the Mickey markers, sand timer and spinner near the board.
  3. Shuffle the search cards and put them in a pile near the board. Either the blue or red sides may face up.
  4. Set Maleficent’s staff to “1”.
  5. Insert each character into a base. Each player chooses a chapter and puts them on the “Start” space.
  6. The youngest player goes first. On your turn, spin the spinner and follow its instructions:
    • Move – Move your character forward the number of spaces indicated.
      1. If you land on a shortcut, follow the arrow.
      2. If you get to a fork in the road, choose which way to go.
      3. If you land on a “search” space, follow the search rules.
    • Maleficent’s Magic – Move the staff one or two spaces forward, then spin again!
    • Search – If the spinner or your character land on a “search” space, draw the top card of the deck.
      1. If you spun a search on the spinner, use the side of the card matching the color on the spinner. If your character landed on a search space you may choose which side of the card to use. 
      2. Start the timer. All players help look for the object(s) shown, hidden on the game board. Each time you find one put a Mickey marker  on it so you remember where it is. When the time runs out, stop looking and count up all the Mickey markers you placed on the board. Everyone’s character moves forward that many spaces!
  7. If all players arrive at Aurora’s castle before Maleficent casts her spell (when her staff reaches 16), you all win!

ENJOY!

How to Play – Winnie the Pooh Snow Parade Game

Part of the fun in raising Zoey is finding things that delight and educate her; I want to find fun, creative board games to play with her during our family game nights! This week we played Winnie the Pooh – Snow Parade Game  for 2 to 4 players!

I purchased this game on a whim! I saw Winnie the Pooh and I saw the Christmas/Winter theme, and it piqued my curiosity! It was worth it! We enjoy that this game is cooperative, which is a nice departure from the competitive games we’ve been playing!

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX
  • Home tile
  • 6 character tiles
  • 6 parade tiles
  • 40 cards
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. This is a cooperative game, you will all win or lose together! Play cards to move or swap the order of the character tiles in the parade. If you can complete the goal number of parade tiles without running out of cards, you all win the game!
    • Easy – Complete 3 parade tiles
    • Medium – Complete 4 parade tiles.
    • Hard – Complete 5 parade tiles.
  2. Place all the tiles in the middle, where everyone can reach them.
  3. Place the six character tiles face up in a line to the right of the home tile in order from 1 to 6 (the numbers are on the backs). This is the parade!
  4. Separate the cards into two piles by the numbers on the backs (1 or 2). Shuffle each pile.
  5. Place the number 1 pile of cards on top of the number 2 pile, then place this single deck on top of the home tile.
  6. Each player draws a number of cards based on the number of players. Place your cards face up so all the players can see them.
    • 2 players: 3 cards each
    • 3 to 4 players: 2 cards each.
  7. Mix the parade tiles and place them in a pile above the character tiles, face-down. Flip one tile face-up.
  8. Starting with the youngest player and moving clockwise, you can do one of these 3 actions on your turn:
    • Move a character: Play a card to move the matching character tile forward or backward one spot in the parade. Character tiles at the front of the parade can only be moved backward and character tiles at the back of the parade can only be moved forward.
    • Swap: Play a card and choose another player to also play a card. Swap the spots of those two matching character tiles in the parade.
    • Discard: Discard your cards and draw all new cards from the deck.
    • Christopher Robin: The Christopher Robin card is wild and can be played as any character.
  9. If all character tiles in the parade match the order on the current parade tile, you’ve completed it! Set it aside and flip the next parade tile over! 
  10. At the end of your turn, if you played a card, draw a new one from he deck. If another player helped you swap, you each draw a card.
  11. If the deck runs out, keep taking turns until players have no cards left to play. 
  12. If you complete the goal number of parade tiles before you run out of cards to play, all the players win!

ENJOY!

How to Play – Guess Who?

Part of the fun in raising Zoey is finding things that delight and educate her; I want to find fun, creative board games to play with her during our family game nights! This week we played Guess Who? for 2 players!

This game was a little tougher for Zoey because she is just learning to read, but she wanted to play and when there’s a will there’s a way! She ended up winning our second game together after she got the hang of asking questions and flipping down faces. She made her guess by asking if he was a ship captain with a name that starts with an “E” (for Eric); she was correct!

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX
  • 2 plastic game boards
  • 48 plastic frames
  • 48 face cards
  • 24 mystery cards
  • Scoring pegs
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. The object of the game is to guess the mystery person on your opponent’s card by asking one question per turn, and eliminating any game board faces that don’t fit the mystery person’s description.
  2. Each player chooses a game board and places it on a flat surface with the mystery card slot facing them.
  3. Both players flip all the frames upright by tipping the game board away from themselves, then settling their game board flat again.
    • Notice the differences among the 24 faces on your game board. Hair, facial hair, eye color, hats and glasses. As you play you’ll notice several other differences among your “suspects”.
  4. Shuffle the mystery cards, then each player chooses one card at random and places it into their mystery card slot so that the mystery person faces you (do not let your opponent see your card)! Set the unused mystery cards aside.
  5. The youngest player always goes first.
  6. Ask your opponent one question per turn and each question must have either a “yes” or “no” answer. 
    • For example, “does your person have white hair?”
  7. After your opponent answers, you may be able to eliminate one or more suspects. 
    • For example, if their mystery person has white hair, flip down all the faces that have black, brown, red and yellow hair. That leaves only the white haired people as suspects after your question.
  8. After you ask a question (and flip down as many faces as you can), your turn is over.
  9. When you’re ready to guess who the mystery person is, make your guess on your turn, instead of asking a question. Don’t use your turn to guess the mystery person until you’re ready! If you guess wrong, you lose the game!
    • To guess the mystery person, say (for example), “The mystery person is Paul.” Your opponent must then tell you whether or not your guess is correct. 
  10. If you guess correctly, or your opponent guesses incorrectly, you win the game!

ENJOY!

How to Play – Uno

Part of the fun in raising Zoey is finding things that delight and educate her; I want to find fun, creative board games to play with her during our family game nights! This week we played Uno for 2 to 10 players!

When I’m researching the rules for these games I’ve played since childhood, I am discovering that I’ve been playing them differently for years! For example, when we didn’t have a playable card to match the one on the discard pile, we kept drawing until we found one, but apparently you are only supposed to draw once and move on! It does make for some funny game moments and prolongs the game; either way is fun!

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX
  • 112 cards
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Each player draws a card; the player that draws the highest number deals (count any action card as a zero).
  2. The dealer shuffles the deck and deals each player 7 cards.
  3. Place the remainder of the deck facedown to form the “Draw” pile.
  4. The top card of the “Draw” pile is turned over to begin the “Discard” pile. If any of the action cards are turned over to start the “Discard” pile (see the function of each action card for special instructions).
  5. Action cards:
    • Draw Two card – When you play this card, the next player must draw 2 cards and miss their turn. This card may be played on a matching color or another Draw Two card. If turned up at the beginning of play the same rule applies.
    • Reverse card – When you play this card, the direction of play reverses (if play is currently to the left, the play changes to the right, and vice versa). This card may only be played on a matching color or another Reverse card. If this card is turned up at the beginning of of play, the dealer goes first, then play moves to the right instead of left.
    • Skip card – When you play this card, the next player is “skipped” or loses their turn. This card may only be played on a matching color of another Skip card. If turned up at the beginning of play, the player to the left of the dealer is “skipped”, and the player to the left of that player starts play.
    • Wild card – When you play this card, you get to choose the color that continues play (any color including the color in play before the Wild card was laid down). You may play a Wild card on your turn even if you have another playable card in your hand. If a Wild card is turned up at the beginning of play, the person to the left of the dealer chooses the color that continues play.
    • Wild Draw 4 card – When you play this card, you get to choose the color that continues play PLUS the next player must draw 4 cards from the “Draw” pile and lose their turn. You may only play this card when you do NOT have another card in your hand that matches color on the “Discard” pile (but it is acceptable to play this card if you have matching number or Action cards). If turned up at the beginning of play, return this card to the deck and pick another card.
  6. The person to the left of the dealer starts play. 
  7. On your turn, you must match a card from your hand to the card on the top of the “Discard” pile, either by number, color or action card symbol.
  8. If you don’t have a card that matches the one on the “Discard” pile, you must take a card from the “Draw” pile. If the card you picked up can be played, you are free to put it down on the same turn. Otherwise, play moves to the next person.
  9. You may also choose NOT to play a playable card from your hand. If so, you must draw a card from the “Draw” pile. If playable, that card can be put down in the same turn, however you may not play any other card from your hand after the draw.
  10. If no player is out of cards by the time the “Draw” pile is depleted, the “Discard” pile is reshuffled and play continues.
  11. When you play your next-to-last card, you must say “Uno” to indicate that you only have one card left. If you don’t say “Uno” and you’re caught before the next player begins their turn, you must draw two cards.
    • If the last card played in a round is a Draw Two or a Wild Draw Four card, the next player must draw 2 or 4 cards respectively. These cards are counted when the points are totaled.
  12. Once a player has no cards left, the round is over and the first player to get rid of their cards in a round receives points for all the cards left in their opponents’ hands as follows:
    • All number cards (0-9) = face value
    • Draw Two = 20 points
    • Reverse = 20 points
    • Skip = 20 points
    • Wild = 50 points
    • Wild Draw Four = 50 points
  13. Once the score for the round has been tallied, if no player has reached 500 points, reshuffle the cards and begin a new round. Players retain their points from previous rounds.
  14. The winner is the first player to reach 500 points.

ENJOY!

How to Play – Mancala

Part of the fun in raising Zoey is finding things that delight and educate her; I want to find fun, creative board games to play with her during our family game nights! This week we played one of my all-time favorites, Mancala!

Zoey needed a little guidance, but she was able to grasp this game even though she’s under the age recommendation of 6 and up! And she won! Go Zoey!

When I’m researching the rules for these games I’ve played since childhood, I am discovering that I’ve been playing them differently for years! For example, I had not put the “captured” stones in our stores, just continued playing with them! Either way is still fun though!

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX
  • 48 stones
  • A game board
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Place four stones in each of the 12 pockets on the game board.
  2. Each player has a store (or Mancala) to the right, on their side of the Mancala board.
  3. The game begins with one player picking up all of the stones in any one of the pockets on their side.
  4. Moving counter-clockwise, the player deposits one of the stones in each pocket until the stones run out.
  5. f you run into your own Mancala (store), deposit one stone in it. If you run into your opponent’s Mancala, skip it and continue moving to the next pocket.
  6. If the last stone you drop is into your own Mancala, you take another turn.
  7. If the last stone you drop is in an empty pocket on your side, you “capture” any stones in the pocket directly opposite. Place these captured stones into your Mancala.
  8. The game ends when all six pockets on one side of the Mancala board are empty.
  9. The player who still has stones on his/her side of the board when the game ends captures all of those stones into their Mancala.
  10. Count all the stones in each Mancala, the player with the most stones wins!

ENJOY!

Tabletop Game – Let’s Play Blokus!

Tabletop Game Blokus by Mattel GamesI’m always on the look out for a fun, entertaining way to pass the time like a good tabletop game! Blokus was introduced to us by my husband’s parents and we enjoyed playing it so much we purchased it straightaway!

Tabletop Game Blokus by Mattel GamesBlokus is a two to four player strategy game that can be played with reckless abandon, or the studied care one would reserve for Chess or Checkers.

Players each choose a color and a corner, then decide who goes first; turns proceed clockwise around the board. To begin, each player must use their first turn to lay down a piece that covers their base corner’s square. Play then continues with each player placing one piece each turn that must touch the corner of one of their colored pieces, but only the corners! Full sides of the same color may not touch one another.

Tabletop Game Blokus by Mattel GamesWhen a player reaches a point where they cannot place another piece, they are done. The game ends when no player can place anymore pieces. Once the game ends the players count the number of squares in their unplayed pieces, the player with the lowest number of squares left, wins!

Tabletop Game Blokus by Mattel GamesMy only complaint is based on the packaging or storage. The version we purchased has no storage for the 84 colored pieces which is surprising and disappointing. I use four sandwich bags, one for each color to store them. This cuts down on the amount of time spent sifting through the pieces before starting each game!

Tabletop Game Blokus by Mattel GamesIf you’re looking for a fun, fresh take on a timeless strategy game that feels like a spiritual successor to Checkers and/or Chess, check out Blokus!

Tabletop Game – Let’s Play Kanoodle!

Tabletop Game Let's Play KanoodleI’m always on the look-out for a fun, entertaining way to pass the time, like a good tabletop game! I purchased Kanoodle by educational insights, as a stocking stuffer for my husband and we ignored it for too long! This game is a great way to pass the time and a good way to stimulate your brain!

Tabletop Game Let's Play KanoodleKanoodle is a solitaire game for ages 7 and up, of two and three dimensional puzzles to solve using up to 12 puzzles pieces called “noodles”. You pick a puzzle from the included booklet, and put the intended number of noodles on the board as shown on the diagram. Do not move noodles that are already in position and solve each puzzle by filling up the empty space with the remaining noodles.

The first two levels, called “Pro” and “Super Pro”, are great for beginners with only one or two noodles needed to solve each puzzle. As the levels increase the puzzle’s difficulty does as well with larger empty spaces to fill with more noodles. The three dimensional puzzles are significantly more difficult so it’s best to start with the two dimensional puzzles and work your way up.

Tabletop Game Let's Play Kanoodle Tabletop Game Let's Play KanoodleI have completed all of the two dimensional puzzles, I am now working on the three dimensional puzzles and I intend to complete them all! Check it out!

  • Kanoodle – This looks like an updated version of the one I’m playing, with more puzzles!
  • Kanoodle Jr. – Beginner’s Kanoodle for little ones ages 4 through 7.
  • Kanoodle Extreme – Over 100 more puzzles than the original included from the start!
  • Kanoodle Genius – For those who have mastered the original Kanoodle or Kanoodle Extreme and are looking for more challenge.
  • Kanoodle Head to Head – A 2 player versus game.