Editorial Review

First published in 1962, Mille Bornes (pronounced "meelborn," French for "milestones") is an auto racing card game whoseobject, for each team of two players, is to be the first to complete aseries of 1,000-mile trips. Each player has a hand of six cards andpicks more in turn from a central pile. There are Distance, Hazard,Remedy, and Safety cards, each with various subgroupings, whichdetermine the course of play. This Collector's Edition reproduces theartwork of the original game. The set includes a car-shaped plasticcard tray, score sheets, instructions, and deck of 110 playing cardswith language in English and French. Bon voyage! --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (40)

More fun than Nascar. . .
I've been playing Mille Bornes since the 60's and now have a delightful granddaughter with which to share it! Mille Bornes is at once fun, educational, analytical, strategic. Fun for the grownups as well as the kids. Though the box says ages 8 and up - I've introduced the game to some bright 6 year olds and they love it!

So get out your competitive spirit. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!

Great Game, but don't buy this edition
This is still an excellent game; lots of fun for all ages. However, the "Collector's Edition" is not worth the price--flimsy plastic tray--skimpy, badly printed score sheets. If this is all that's available, I'd say go for it, but I'd recommend looking for another version.

Learning plus !
Especially helpful in early children's French language skills plus applied math; eg. addition/subtraction. Adult fun too - you can play this game & socialize without a "must win" complex.

fun card came
this is by far the best card around.very educational and fun for the whole family.

The Best Card Game Next to Uno is Back!!
I loved this game when I was young!! I remember playing with my family and actually having a chance to win against my mom and my aunts!! I went looking for it a few years ago in Toys R Us to buy to play with my daughter and they told me they didn't make it any more. So, when it finally came back out, I immediately bought it from amazon!!
This is a great game to play with your kids that they won't get bored and want to quit! It's addictive like Uno. It reinforces math skills as your child has to count the points they lay down each hand as you have to reach 1000 each hand and you can't go over. It's fun and educational!! ... Read more

Reviews (90)

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.

Set is fun and educational!
I have enjoyed every game from SET Enterprises that I have tried. Set is my favorite game. I have found that people either love it or hate it, depending on how good they are at it. The game consists of laying down 9 cards and finding visual sets of three. The characteristics of the shapes must be all the same or all different- number, color, design, and shape. SET Enterprises is great, because if you lose or damage a card, they will replace it. This game is fun to play with kids and adults alike, or even by yourself. You can even play a daily SET game online. I highly recommend this game to test your own smarts!

my favorite game
My husband and I first played this game at a friend's house. We went out and bought it the next day. It is so much fun. It is not, however, a party game. We have laughed at ourselves sitting at the table, not talking and just looking at the cards. The more you play the more strategy is involved in the pattern hunting. I would recommend this game to anyone.

Addictive Family Favorite
This game was under our Christmas tree two years ago and has not ceased to be a favorite past time. We enjoy the fun challenge as a family or you can play it alone. This game has also helped with artistic development. I don't know how to explain this part of my review, so I hope you can understand what I'm saying. My 12 year old daughter and I have been quilting this year. When I was trying to explain how to match fabrics when putting a block together, she said, "It's sorta like SET". Your artistic eye becomes trained in the process to blend matching or contrasting patterns in color, shape or texture. I can see how this game has really helped my children when designing an art project.

Educational or not, we've enjoyed this game since day one. The price is excellent considering how much entertainment it has provided. It has never collected dust at the top of the closet. ... Read more

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 (56)

Quiddler is fast-paced, fun and challenging.
I have been playing Quiddler for several months. This is a fast-paced game. It's a lot of fun and challenging too. The more you play the game, the more aware you become of words since the difficult letters, such as J, Z, Q, and V and W, have higher point values. I am admittedly very competitive when playing games. I find that as I am reading books or the newspaper, I focus on words that contain letters with the higher point values, then I try to use these new words when I am playing the game. What a wonderful way to increase your vocabulary and spelling capabilities. I recommend this game for kids as young as 4 or 5 but as a perennial kid ten times that age, I have a lot of fun playing Quiddler! This game should be in all of the classrooms too--let's get kids hooked on Quiddler--a great way to improve their English skills. Marie Wilson, Fountain Hills AZ

Absolutely Fantastic
I've never written a review before, but I had to for Quiddler.
All the accolades are extremely well deserved. You can play with just about anyone and get completely absorbed.
A definite must-have!

Fun AND educational game
Brought this game when we went on vacation with another family. Players ranged from age 8 to 65. We had a blast!! Very easy game for anyone to learn. Kids and adults loved playing - learning new words was an added bonus. Game was played for hours at a time. Solitaire version is also fun. Would recommend for anyone. (Buy 2 because you're going to want to give one to a friend.)

Fabulous for kids and parents!
My daughters are 8 and 10, and ALL of us love playing this game. Because there are bonus points for the longest word AND for the most short words, both kids and grownups can win big points. Both of my girls usually pooh-pooh "educational" games, but they love this one, and it had definitely improved their spelling. We've had it for about six months and I've been recommending it to everyone.

Great, educational game!
This game is great for lovers of Scrabble who don't want to spend 2 hours playing a game. It is a fast but fun game that you can play with any number of people. I enjoy it becuase kids and adults alike can enjoy and learn from this game. It involves arranging your cards (with letters on them) into words. You get points based on the length of the word and the letters that you use. It helps get kids interested in spelling and vocabulary, but it is still a lot of fun for adults to play. My husband went to a bed and breakfast where they had this game, and we spent several hours of our anniversary playing Quiddler. It is very fun. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Sequence
We have played this game in almost every way it could be played. We've played in 2 person teams,3 person teams and 4 person teams. We found that it doesn't make any difference how you play the game it is fun. We have played with kids and adults. It was fun for everyone.

Love it!
This is a fabulous get together game. Great to play in groups but also just as fun to play with 2 people. I recommend the deluxe version because you get the rubber mat for the board. The regular version has a cardboard mat.
Hours of fun!

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 3 can 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.

exciting and fun
we've been playing this game in my family for a few years now and we all love it! it is addictive! we play for prizes which makes it even more fun and exciting. We have players/teams from the age of 12 up to 80 years. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Excellent game
My daughter first got this game when she was four and it was her favorite. The adults play the adult version and she was thrilled to have her own.

This game is easy to play for children even before they really understand the strategy. But, I was surprized how quickly my daughter got the hang of it. Before long, she was blocking my moves or removing my cards without any prompting. We had to buy another game because she "marked" the special cards with little bite marks, and would know what card I was drawing.

We also a bought one for each Grandparents' house and have given many for gifts to 4 and 5 year olds. It's really a great game.

Teaches strategy
My almost-four year old son just got this for Xmas 2003. He really loves to play it but does not yet understand the strategy involved, so I spend much of the game explaining my moves and explaining the options for his turns. I think this is a good game for teaching strategy but it seems like it might be better suited for older kids. After reading some of the other reviews though, it just could be that my child is a little behind in catching the drift of this game. Regardless, it definitely is a solid game that can be enjoyed by adults as well as kids.

our favorite family game!
My son got this for his 3rd b-day and a year later he still loves it. It didnt take long before he realized he needed to place his chips next to his other ones and that he needed to block other people. He is still learning from it and still enjoying it. His 5yr old cousin loved playing so much we bought him one for christmas. Fun for everyone!

What an awesome game!
My husband and I love the adult version of Sequence so I suggested this game to a sister-in-law to give to my daughter for her 3rd birthday. My daughter has played it everyday, mulitiple times with some family member, for the past 1 1/2 weeks!! As parents, we enjoy to play and our 5 1/2 years old daughter has a great time playing independently with our 3 year old! Buy it for Christmas for YOUR own children and another 1 or 2 for friends and cousins!

Love this game!
I have enjoyed the adult version of Sequence since it first came out. It was the top selling game that year - and - they don't even advertise! I found this game during the multi-state blackout this summer - I figured we could play by candlelight on our patio set. My son (4 1/2) loves this game. I don't have to keep reminding him of what to do, which is a huge plus. I'm not a fan of "gimmicky" games, those that are more on the toy side rather than game side - I cannot stand The Wheels on the Bus (I tell my son it's broken). Being a game player myself, I want my son to enjoy games whether it's cards or board games and this is one that I can enjoy playing with him over and over again. ... Read more

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 (8)

This game is so much fun!
This is a game that every household should own. It is very entertaining and gets more fun as you increase the number of players. It is very challenging and keeps you on your toes! My 7-year old loves to play it as much as we do.

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.

Outstanding Game!!
We were introduced to this game 2 weeks ago and have played it 4 times in 2 weeks. We bought our own game and all couples and teens we have introduced to this game LOVE it and are buying one for themselves.

Terrific Fun!!
We were introduced to this game while visiting at a friends house. I loved it immediately and ordered it from Amazon as soon as we got home. Since we bought this game, we've won over about 3 couples when we introduced them to Sequence. It makes you THINK and its improved my level of concentration as well..... I recommend this game for everyone... young and old! ... Read more

Editorial Review

With touches of canasta, rummy, and poker, this game could easily become aFriday-night favorite. The object is to get a "sequence," meaning a row of five poker-likechips on the game board. The board itself depicts lines of face-up playing cards. Playersplace their "crowning" chips on top of the card pictures, and can form sequences by usingstrategy and knowing which Sequence cards to keep or discard. Since forethought, luck,and backup plans are the keys to winning, this game is probably too sophisticated forchildren under 7 years old. (But young ones can team up with adults.) Included are 104playing cards and 50 crowning chips in each color: red, blue, and green. --GailHudson ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Easy game to learn - hard to master
I was first introduced to this game while my daughter was in the hospital. It was a game that always had players, players of all ages, and everyone enjoyed it.

While playing the game, the situations can change quickly - just when you have a plan, someone will play a jack and remove a crutial token, or will play a jack and take a crucial spot.

One rule - no table talk to coach your partnet, can give rise to various coversations, for example if you want your partner to play the 2 of hearts, my daughter came up with a conversation about how she LOVES her TWO dogs. Each of these tangents brings up a new converation for the players.

This has become a family favorite, and for every occasion it is set up and played by all who are there.

Adults and children can play on the same level, kids are sometimes the most brutal, they don't feel bad about taking your "place". While adults may think ahead more, the kids come up with cleaver methods to foil the adults.

I would highly recommend this game to any family or group as a fun way to spend the afternoon.

GREAT strategy game
At a glance, Sequence doesn't look like much, but it's one of those games that you can pull out any time and play over and over again for hours on end. We do, anyway! At every family holiday, we get the board going and people rotate in and out of Sequence all day long. One of the best things about it is how easily you can adapt the game to 2 to 6 players. It's quick and easy to learn and you can play fun and relaxed or competitive and serious. If you like Rummycube, you'll like Sequence.

Sequence vs Cranium

You don't have to be a game person to like this game, which plays easily from two to four people. It's got a playing board, poker chips, and uses two decks of cards. But you don't have to figure a lot out, or do a lot of math, or hold a lot of cards (just six at a time). It's part luck, part thinking and, with four persons, part teamwork. Not as thorny and infinitely long as chess, nor as obvious as checkers, not a strategic all-nighter like Risk, or a major undertaking like Monopoly. Not a way-too-educational game you got instead of a toy for your birthday (to your dismay). If you like all those games, you'd probably enjoy Sequence also. But if you're not a game person, and don't like all of the above, this might be the one game you would like. It's like hearing a clean joke that's actually funny, or finding non-alchoholic beer that tastes good. The odds are stacked against it, but Sequence may have beaten the odds. The only other game I like this much is Battleship, but if you hate Battleship, you may still like Sequence. If you've already got Cranium, empty the box out and put the Sequence pieces in the Cranium box. Then you've got the best of both worlds: a great game and great Gary Baseman box art.

Fun for all ages!
Sequence is a board game and card game all in one! It doesn't take long to understand how to play - but good luck wanting to stop! My family has had this game for a year now - and it has never hit the bottom of the pile of games! My 5 & 4 yr old daughters love it too! They play by themselves or team up with Dad & I.

The game consists of a board with 2 decks of cards printed on it. 2 decks of cards are used to play the game, along with 3 different colors of chips. 2-12 players can play - tho I recommend keeping it to 2, 3 or 6 to be the most fun. You are dealt approximately 6 cards (depends on the # of players) and you use those cards to put your chips on the board. The goal is to get 5 chips in a row (a Sequence!)and get the most Sequences on the board before it is full. There are wild cards to throw some guessing into the mix too!

This is a wonderful family game! I highly recommend it. This one won't disappoint even the youngest or oldest of players!

Cool
This summer I worked at a kids camp, and this was the new game in the closet. I played it the first night and played 4-8 times a day for the whole week! We got addicted (and we are adults!). I had so much fun, and I think it is a very challenging game, because you are playing against teams. I can't wait to buy this game for my personal use. One of the ladies at the kids camp bought the game for her house a couple of weeks ago, after she taught her husband how to play, he got addicted too and started bringing the game to bed with them, "Come on Honey, one quick game!" ... Read more

Editorial Review

UNO, America's No. 1-selling card game, has a whole new twist. You'll still encounter all theelements that make UNO so unpredictable and challenging, but add to that a motorized card launcher thatshows no mercy and you've got UNO Attack. The object of the game is still to get rid of all your cards. TheUNO command cards direct the game by telling players when to trade hands, discard, reverse the playingorder, or skip a player. Beware the dreaded Hit command, though, as this translates into a game of Russianroulette. You never know when the card launcher is going to fire off a stream of UNO cards just for you! For2 to 10 players. Requires three C batteries (not included). --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (87)

The Ultimate Card Game
This is the ultimate card game. Our 3 year old son was introduced to the basic UNO game which emphasizes their knowledge of colors, numbers and strategy. We recently purchased UNO Attack and he positively LOVES it. He likes it when you press the launcher and receive either no cards or up to 10 cards at a time (generally 3 or 5 cards). You never know what is going to happen. UNO is a game of wit; however, the UNO Attack Game also adds in a bit of luck because you never know how many cards you may receive if you have to hit the launcher. The new HIT Fire Wild Card, ALL Hit Wild Card, Hit 2 and Trade Hand Cards take the game to a whole new level of excitement. We play this game at least 5 times a day per my 3 year olds request. We are UNO addicts. We shared this game with our extended family and everyone loved it. Needless to say, they are all purchasing one. If you want a game for a preschooler that will keep their interest and yours, this is the game for you.

Easy, Fun, and Improved
This is a great and fun twist to the original UNO game (very similar to crazy 8's). There are a couple of new cards, like trade hands, but the main difference is a shooter. Sometimes if you press the button, nothing happens, and others cards fly out (about 1 / 3 times). Any number may fly out, but generally between 2 and 5. You press the button when someone plays the right card, you forget to call UNO, etc. This is a good family game for people of all ages and I recommend it especially for UNO lovers.

A GREAT game made BETTER!
This game takes the already great game of Uno and makes it into an even better game for the whole family. I like this better than regular Uno because the card despinser adds an extra twist because you don't know if you are going to get 1 card or 10 cards. I think this is a GREAT game for the family!!!

Not so good for singles
I heard that this game was really fun and great so I was excited to try it but I live alone and it's not so fun to play by yourself. It was funny when the cards shot out of the machine but if there was a reverse card I had to just play again the same as I would have anyway and when I got the exchange hands card I couldn't really do that either. So as you can see it's a better game for people who have lots of friends. I bet then it would be pretty good. I am so lonely.

uno attack
this game is fun and exciting for all ages. Its a learning experience for children to match and learn colors. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Looks like I've started a new fad.
I'm 13, and bought a pack of UNO cards and took them to school the next day. Oops (or maybe I should say YES!) because everyone wanted to play. I must have played ten games every single day so far, and my cards are still in high demand. It is not at all hard to learn, and still a ton of fun. I strongly recommend this game!

Great and totally addictive!!!!
When I played this at my grandmother's house, I was hooked! They're these liitle cards that are in four colors and numbered from 1 through 9 and with Reverse, Draw 2, and Wild Cards. It helped my little cousins' math skills and was extremly fun! This is a must buy!

Learning Tool
I'm 14 and got this game when I was younger. I was struggling a little with math until I got this game. It helped me realize color and number patterns in such a fun way that I didn't even notice it! Since then I've been playing it at least once a week. I tutor young children and for those with math problems, I use the Uno game as a fun and educational tool. Parents have come to me and congratulated me with the successfullness of it. Its the ultimate game in a compact size. The cards last for a pretty long time. I've had one deck for the past 3 years and its still in tip top shape! So for anyone who plans to buy it, it's definately the RIGHT CHOICE!!!!

GREAT GAME LOADS OF FUN
I love this game. It is a great family game though it might cause
a few arguments or break-ups(aaaaah! just kidding). Don't let this happen. It's just a game like any other game. You're just having fun. That's the No. 1 reason for playing any game with children or adults to have fun. Hey, How would like to be given 4 draw 4 cards????? get the picture???? Another good point, NEVER GIVE UP SO EASY,ITS NEVER OVER TILL IT'S OVER,comebacks
can happen. MY father-in-law was shut out, while I just needed 1 point to win(499 points to 0 4 or 5 of us were playing)and he came back and beat us with 500 points. Play this fantastic card game and see what I mean. Buy it and I hope you'll enjoy it too.

Always fresh and fun
This is the most exciting game where me and my seven year old nephiew would play for hours! If you wait somewhere for something or someone you shuld always have "uno" with you. The time goes so fast you can't even imagine...and is really fun! Thanks for having it on the market...keep the great work and I hope I can find even more creative and as fun games:-) ... Read more

Editorial Review

Like well-illustrated books, Tell-A-Story offers worlds forchildren to enter. In this game, 50 picture cards teach memory, reading,and storytelling skills as children invent stories to match thepictures. Whenever a player collects five cards with the same character,he or she arranges the cards to create and tell a story. Parents mayneed to help little ones lay out the cards, but once they're launched,kids will want to return to the same story over and over again.--Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Editorial Review

Like many card games, Rack-O is part skill, part luck of the draw. Two to four players try to get their rack of 10 cards in consecutive order, from lowest to highest, first. The cards are numbered from 1 to 60, and each player takes a turn by drawing and discarding. Bonus Rack-O points are earned when a player gets a perfect run of three or more cards. The first to rack up 500 points wins. The rule book doesn't suggest variations, but more challenge can be added by having to get certain number patterns, like even numbers or multiples of 3, which will also increase the number skills development that's part of this game. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (15)

5-4-3-2-1 * RACK-0 * I WIN!!
I grew up playing games but had never heard of this until I got married. I guess my husband and his mom used to always play. It is great for all ages, it is educational for the little ones and strategy builder for the big kids. It is fun and addictive...you keep wanting to play because you were so close to winning! Add this one to your game closet it is guarenteed excitement for the family/friends. (only set back is max # of people is 4) You can play with 2, 3, or 4 players. There are a few variations to play to keep things intersting and easier ways for those who are just learning. +++ Get this one TODAY +++

GREAT!!
I am a 23 year old architect and I have have just recently discovered this game. It provides hours and hours of fun, and it is a very easy game to play and understand.

RACK-O!!!!!
I grew up playing this game, then introduced it to a bunch of freinds who are now hooked! I still use the version I have from the 80's & honestly didn't even know it was still being produced until just now, so I'm buying a new set!!!

Best Game we have played as a family...
I am 30, My daughter is 11, and my brother is 16, and we all love to play this game. Cards are not extremely durable, but it is a great game. Any time you want 6 or more people to play, just get a second game. That way, you have two decks and availability of up to EIGHT people to play. We do this with UNO as well. RACK-O is hands down, the most fun game we have all played and the only one we all agree is an absolute blast. I highly reccomend everyone own TWO of this game so ALL your friends can play at one time!!!!

Addictive!
My friends and I love this game! Whenever we start playing, it's often hours before we stop. While I haven't played this game yet with young kids, I imagine it would be an excellent tool to help kids learn their numbers, and how they all fit together. The fact that the colored tabs move right as the numbers get higher, is also a great visual cue to help kids (and adults who are caught up in the game!) know that their cards are in the right order. Whether with two people or three or four (the most I've played with), this game is fabulous fun. A great game to have at home, or at your cabin or on vacation trips. Also, it's a game that even people who don't really know each other can play together without problem. It's strangely addictive, too! If you play it one night, don't be surprised if the next night, someone says, "Hey, anyone want to play Rack-O again?"! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Looking for a sure winner in the hot commodities market? Pit, the fast-paced card game from Parker Brothers, has been a bullish performer since its introduction way back in 1904. With all the ups and downs, desperate deals, and nonstop action of an actual trading floor, this lively game offers great fun without risking the family fortune. The rules are simple: Deal the cards, wait for the opening bell, scream and trade like crazy, be the first to corner a specific market (nine cards of the same suit), and ring the closing bell. Sounds pretty realistic, doesn't it? Once you've got the basic game mastered, try throwing Bull and Bear cards into the mix--that's when things get really interesting!

Pit comes neatly boxed with a set of durable game cards, instructions, and a heavy-duty metal bell that's great for slamming. There are rules included for a silent bidding version of the game, but jumping up and down, gesticulating wildly, and shouting yourself hoarse is half the fun. --George Laney ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Yelling TWO, TWO, TWO! Great family game for all ages!
As I type this review, my kids (young adults) and their grandparents are playing Pit. The grandparents introduced us to this game and we often play at their house. When I saw this DELUXE version of Pit, that comes with a bell, I just had to get it for them!

A simple game to learn, ALL ages can enjoy this game together. 7 year olds could play this game and the adults don't necessarily have an advantage over the kids, which makes it fun for everyone.

Be ready to be LOUD - right now I can hear shouts of "Three, three, three" and laughter and I'm not even on the same floor as the Pit-Players!

I read in another review that this game was introduced in 1904. Obviously, this is a game that has staying power! Isn't it great that even with modern technology which allowed me to purchase this game online, we can enjoy games that were invented decades ago!

Turn off the TV, and spend time with your family playing games. Go make some memories!

...

Blast!
We just played pit for the first time!! It is a GREAT group/family game. It's fast moving and very competitive--but easy to learn! Think of OLD MAID on steroids!! It's so much fun--I'm buying two of them so more of us can play!

Not the Pits
Pit has been around since the 1940s because it is a hit with people of all ages.
My seven year old enjoyed it as much as
we did. Not only could she keep up, she won a few times too!
It is a fast paced outrageously fun game that keeps us all
on our toes and is great for parties too. If you are thinking
about whether or not to get this-don't hesitate! It is great!

The fastest, most fun, and intriguing card game of all time!
PIT is a card game based on the trading of commodities. This sounds dry when you first hear it, but actually this is one of the most enjoyable party games ever invented. It's simple to learn, fast to play, and involves lots of screaming and yelling. (Try to imagine "Go Fish" if nobody takes turns and it was played like a furious farmer's auction). But the game also has a fascinating history and teaches something about the nature of the economy.

The commodities market developed in the 19th century as the modern agricultural economy began to grow in the U.S. When many farmers faced bankruptcy during lean times of the winter season, "forward contracts" -- an agreement between a buyer and a seller on a price, quantity, and a future delivery date of a particular commodity like wheat or beans or coffee -- started to appear. Between the time of the contract purchase and the delivery, the price of the commodity could change rapidly and violently in either direction, so to protect themselves, merchants would travel to Chicago to trade their various contracts and agree on a later delivery date. The location where they traded (originally a room above a flour store) became The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) -- also know as "THE PIT." Today we see the The Pit on television every day, where traders dash about desperately yelling and giving signals to buy or trade contracts on wheat, soybeans, Eurodollars, heating oil, gold, and so forth. (Actually, I work in a commodities brokerage firm and live this madness every day.)

And thus arose this long-lived, legendary card game. By 1904, when the game was first published, the commodities market had exploded into a major economic force in the country, and one in which speculators could lose or gains millions in a short period of time. This game is meant to imitate the frenzy of traders on the floor of the pit, selling and buying contracts on various commodities rapidly so they can "corner" a particular market, and where fortunes can be made or lost in seconds.

This may sound a bit complicated, but PIT is an incredibly simple game to learn and addictive to play. Seven-year-olds can pick it up quickly and be trading as hard as an adult player after only one round. The play is simple. A deck of eight different "suits" of nine cards each (commodities like wheat, oats, coffee, and sugar), plus a "bear" card and "bull" card, are dealt to the players. The dealer then rings a bell (included in this set) to declare trading open. Immediately, without any semblance of taking turns or order, the players try to discard cards they don't want by trading them with other players so they can get all nine cards of one commodity in their hand and "corner" that market and win the round. You receive a particular number of points depending on what commodity you've nabbed (wheat, for example, is the most valuable at 100 points). All trading is blind: a player holds up cards of all the same suit he wishes to trade, keeping their backs to the other players, and yells out how many he wants to trade ("I'm selling three! Three! Who wants three!). Other player may ask him to trade less if he they have fewer cards available to offer ("Will you drop to two!? I'll trade two!"). Usually, three or four trades among different players are going on at any time, or players are competing to grab an offered trade first, and the game becomes a furious race to nab that nine-of-a-kind and slam your hand on the bell to announce that you've won the round.

Amongst all this looms the Bear and Bull cards. The Bull is a wild card; you can corner a market with only eight cards plus the Bull. But if the Bull is in your hand when someone else slams the bell, you lose twenty points. The Bear is always bad: you lose twenty points if it's in your hand at the end of the round, and as long as it's in your hand, you can't corner a market. You keep playing rounds until someone gets 500 points and wins the game.

New players may be a bit hesitant with the fast and furious play style, but pretty quickly everyone will be feeling like a real tradier and yelling and wheeling and dealing. I've seen ten-year-olds beat out fifty-year-olds with their enthusiasm. And no one will ever get bored playing this. (Neighbors, however, may complain about the noise.)

The only real drawback to PIT is that it isn't as fun with a small group. The more players you have, the more fun it is. A three-player game is possible, but it isn't as intense as a game of five or more. And eight players (the maximum) is an absolutely amazing thing to see or take part in. Buy this game...you'll be the hit of your next party. It has all the wheeling and dealing of Monopoly in one tenth the time!

I played it 5000 times the first night
I learned this game @ my friends house and it was sooo fun! It's easy and educational! It's so addictive. Go and buy it! You'll spend hours playing it! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very fun game...
This is a really fun game that will keep your mind running. These cards are much better then using a regular deck of cards to play the game. Point values are on every card & you have the wild & stop cards marked. I enjoy playing this game because there's always conditions to be determined when trying to decide your next move. This game really keeps you thinking. Highly recommended.

The simple fun of cards
We picked up Canasta Caliente before our recent trip to Mexico and have been hooked ever since. Canasta is a classic South American card game which took America by storm in the 1950's and this card set pays hommage to that time period with fantastic and colorful graphics. The goal is to create as many "melds" as possible (i.e. matching sets of three or more) leading up to the required amount of Canastas (seven cards each) before your opponents. If you lose the hand, you subtract the values of your unused cards from your score. This penalty doubles if you end up with the Caliente card. First person to reach 5000 points wins. Two to six playes.

The card point values are clearly marked, making it very easy to calculate your score. The cards themselves are nice and strong, with a glossy finish. We've been running them through a vintage metal Johnson card shuffler, and they have yet to bend or warp. The instructions are simple and well stated, plus there are several quick-tip cards with score values so you can save time.

Cards are fun and simple, and Canasta is a high energy card game that is perfect for small groups, travel, or simply passing time on a rainy day. For those of you looking for a swank card game for your next cocktail, lounge, or tiki party, grab this retro-inspired deck and have fun.

If you do plan on using the deck on a plane or train, buy the deluxe edition which includes a handy card tray (otherwise those cards will fly everywhere) and make sure you have plenty of room to spread out those melds.

Overall, a fun and simple game that will have you hooked in no time.

We love it!
A very good game - easy and fun. My daughters are 13 and 15 and they really like it. Good travel game.

Good stuff.
We've played canasta with this deck a couple dozen times. It's starting to wear out, but I can't say we haven't gotten good use out of it. The art is festive, and the cards are informative (with a game like canasta, it's nice to have the point values on the cards). Personally, we tossed the "Caliente" cards because we don't think it adds anything (good) to the game. For anyone who hasn't played canasta, it's an excellent game that requires a good deal of statistical skill or instinct to play well. Highly recommend it.

Canasta Caliente - It really is HOT!
My family loves this game and so do all those we have introduced it to! Not only is if fun, but there is a fair degree of strategy involved. Only down side is that the cards wear out too fast and I have to buy boxes to give all those to whom we've taught the game! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

It is really fun when you play it with your friends
I am 6 1/2 years old. I like Pig Pile because I can play it with my whole family. Pig Pile can be a little hard when you are learning how to play, but it is still fun. I only had to play it twice to get the idea of how to play.

Universal Favorite - both kids and adults
Whenever we get together to play games with our friends, they almost always ask about Pig Pile. It's a simple game to learn - my little nephews picked it up right away - but there is something deeply fun and satisfying about the dynamic. Plus you get to win cute plastic pigs. Everyone we know loves this game. Another universal favorite is Guillotine, a card-based game that is much more lighthearted than the name might suggest.

A family favorite!
Trust me, this is the BEST, Most FUN game. We bought it to play with our then-7 yr old. We soon were playing it with our family and friends. It is a favorite when we get together. You cannot go wrong buying this game.

Even teenagers like it
It's hard to find games that 16 to 18 year olds will play. Pig Pile has become a household favorite. One of my daughter's boyfriends won't play any other games with us unless we start with his favorite, Pig Pile. I plan on buying one for him to take when he goes to college in the fall. Though the pigs are only used for scoring, they provide entertainment by playing with poses while waiting your turn. The description of play has already been explained by others so I won't go into detail. Suffice it to say, it's great for all ages.

Cute Game
My sister recieved this game for Christmas when she was 6 and we have enjoyed it ever since. The game is sort of like the card game Daihimi, but with more of a twist. You have to play as many cards as you want that are all the same number and of a higher number than the current card on the pile. If you can not play you have to pick up all the cards in the pile. I enjoy the 'Slop Pile' thing at the end where you pick up a face-down card randomly and play it. If you can play it, good job. If you can't you get really annoyed and pick up the pile.

The rubber pigs are very cute, but they have no point except to make the game more fun.

Whenever I have a friend come over and we have to include my sister in some of our play, we often choose to play Pig Pile because the rules are easy to explain and it is fun for everyone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gamewright's Dog Dice, a Bingo game with a variety of lovable canine personalities, is an addictive pleasure for both kids and adults. Rather than numbers, the playing boards are decorated with squares depicting four dogs eating, frolicking with their child-owner, groveling for food, and getting into mischief. The title refers to the two dice that act as command central of the game: one die features the four distinctive dogs (Gizmo the mutt, Stretch the dachshund, Gigi the poodle, and McDuff the Scottie); the second die displays elements of a dog's life (pictures of a bone, food dish, the kid, a doghouse, plus the word trouble). Players match the two dice to a square on their boards--Gizmo in his doghouse, for example--then mark that picture with a small cardboard bone. The first to get a row of marked squares yells "Hot Dog!" and wins. In an ingenious twist, one can also achieve "Hot Dog!" by marking, canine-style, the four corners of one's playing board. The only drawback to this enchanting game is that there are only four boards in the set, thus limiting the number of players. Winner of awards from Dr. Toy and the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. Dog Dice is for two to four players. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Better than Bingo
Santa left this in our 3 year old daughters stocking (probably because he knew how much we enjoy Landlock, another Gamewright game). She had no trouble grasping the simple rules and yips with glee after every roll. The game has helped her with patience and turn taking and she was very happy to see that dogs can get into trouble too, not just 3 year olds. We've lost a few of the bone place holders but there are lots of spares provided and our dice have held up fine (possibly because we tend to play on the rug instead of at a table).

Fun Family Game
Our daughter received this game for her 5th birthday. We've enjoyed many hours of playing it with her. It is fun and easy enough for her to play well and win (without cheating). Grownups get into it too! A worthwhile investment and a great edition to your games cupboard!!

Great hit in school-based use!
Overall, I have to say this is a great game that kids of all ages enjoy. I recommend Dog Dice to anyone - whether you are a parent looking for a fun game for your children or an educator looking to expand your classroom repertoire of games. Get this game, you won't regret it!

As a speech-langauge pathologist in an elementary school, I am constantly looking for fun, durable, and educational games to use in therapy. Dog Dice has met all my requirements - at least to some degree. This game is one of the more popular games with my students. It is played by at least 3 kids four or five times a day. The kids love this game and don't realize that they are learning to attend to details as well as improving visual discrim skills. My one complaint is this - the bones are somewhat fragile and I've had to staple the middle of several to prolong their lives. Is there any way I can get some more to supplement the original supply? The dice have held up well and still have all the colors intact - unlike other people's dice.

Fun but it doesn't last
We borrowed this game from a friend and the kids (ages 4 and 6) loved it. We played continuously. The problem is that after a few days, the pictures of the dogs painted on the dice begain to flake off. Within 2 weeks, the dice were totally unreadable. We used a magic marker and drew little pictures on the dice but the kids didn't like it after that. So, they quit playing with it and it has sat in the closet ever since. If you get it, you'd better cover the dice with clear tape before it is too late!!

Dog Dice Game
Bought this game ......for my 6 yr old son. He loved it as well as his older brother (11) and sister (9). It is not complicated, requires no reading but you need to be attentive to the roll of the dice. Even us parents are having fun with it. Highly recommend. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This low-budget game is, essentially, a modified version ofbingo. Each player gets one of twelve 6-by-9-inch cardstock boards. Afive-by-five grid of playing cards is printed on each board. The dealercalls out cards one by one (playing cards not included), and playersmark off called cards on their boards using the included poker chips.The first player to get five cards in a row wins the round and all thechips in play. In the case of a tie, the highest poker handwins. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Loads of fun!
Every time my family gets together, we play this after dinnertime. Instead of chips. we use quarters in the cups, so someone always gets a chance to win some money. We have so much fun!

Games for Senior Citizens
This is the next best thing to Bingo for elderly folks, whose favorite game is Bingo. I am a Activity Director at an assisted living facility, and they love this game. Especially if there are prizes that go along with it.

Fun for a game night!
I was in a game group where we played this game for prizes that everyone brought. It was so much fun to win and grab a bag! Then, in the second round of "dealing", we could "steal" prizes from other players! It made getting the bingo SO fun! I can't wait to get my game and start a new poker-keeno game group, (since I moved away from my old one)! ... Read more