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 (23)

Non-Stop Fun
I bought this for my two year old's birthday. We played it with her 5,6,11,12,& 13 year old Uncles and cousins. The older kids played it all that night and all day the next day. My two year old thought it was fun to run around on the pads, but she was able to point at her nose when they said "nose" and point at her knee when they said "knee". Even some of the adults got in on the fun. Very fun game for all ages.

IGNORE any bad review! This is AWESOME!
My 3 year old daughter got this game as a gift and she LOVES to play! My 7 year old also LOVES this game! It is really cute and anytime they play - someone is giggling. (...). It is a good oppotrunity to teach children about being a good winner/loser no matter who wins. That said- this game is just plain fun! I've even played this one with my kids and we all have a good time. You can't go wrong with this!

"Winners"also means there are "losers"!
I bought this for my two 4 1/2 year-old grandchildren. They really liked it at first until one child "won" several times in a row and the other hadn't "won" at all. The idea is basically very good, but I don't like the "winners-losers" aspect at all. It's totally inappropriate for this age, and even for older children, there is nothing they can do to "win"- it's all random. In addition, I would have liked it to be a little slower paced for pre-schoolers (more time to "skip to the square" or do a dance between games, etc.). I wouldn't buy another one or advise others to do so.

We love this game!
My children, ages 6 and 3, got this for Christmas and are still playing it regularly. As a mom, I really love it, too, because it's one of very few games they can set up, play and put away all by themselves (great for them, and even better if I need to get something done!).

The battery-operated box was very easy for them to learn, and they get a kick out of the silly things it instructs them to do. Many, many thumbs up from our family! :-)

Very Fun Toy
My kids loved this toy. Even my 2 year old could play. It is a really great family game and changes everytime you play. Lots of fun! ... Read more

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 (56)

the perfect gift for kids
After exploring a variety of educational and fun games for my 11 year old sister's birthday, my mother decided on Cranium Cadoo. Not only did both my sistr and I love it, but my parents did, too. We enjoyed running about the house in order to satisfy the requests of the card and sculpting objects from clay. The game combines traditional "Charades" and "Pictionary" like activities with clay and trivia. One question asked, "Who is the youngest: A)Brandy, B)Christina Aguilara, or C)Britney Spears" (Don't be discouraged by this question. Most are not about teenaged singers). Although Cadoo is wonderful for kids and great for the whole family, teenagers and adults find the questions a little too easy. Highly suggested, more fun than the typical boring board game.

preteens try Conga!
i am in 5th grade and i am 11.i can't use the clay because it is messy. The questions are easy for me and my parents but i have found a game for 10-12 year olds. It's called Conga. My friends and i love that game. i would say Conga is for pre-teens that can't realy play real cranium yet. i tried to play but the questions are too hard. I am an only child but my friend has a little brother that we play Cadoo with. He enjoys the game.<br />

Turn off the tube! Take 30 minutes with your kids....
CC is not the most clever game ever invented, nor is it highly challenging or mentally taxing. I believe my 7 year old son would prefer tackling his dad in chess, but for a quick before-bed family half-hour that followed dessert, this fit the bill. The Brandy-Christina-Brittney question did come up! And Mom and Dad failed miserably -- much to the amusement of the kids. So, we had some fun, a few laughs. Hard to put a price on that.

What DOES impress me is the box. Dad, who still hasn't mastered round pegs/square holes, was tasked with pickup. Everything packs neatly away! And best of all, a fold over flap magnetically seals the handled box. (OK, perhaps it doesn't take much to impress me.)

Bottom line: A good game for the 6-10 year old set when you only have half an hour.

Cadoo + Cranium = fun!
I love this game!! I am 7 years old and just got Cadoo for Christmas. One problem is that it is too easy for my parents. To make it more fair, my parents use the dice and cards from the Cranium game while I use the ones from the Cadoo game. My parents use everything else from the Cadoo game. We have tons of fun this way!

A great therapy tool
I am a Marriage Family Therapist and am always looking for a good came to use with my clients. I have used this game with the children individually and with their families. It is one of the games I am consistantly asked to play. After a year I had to purchase the booster pack the children had played the game so much. This year many of my parents asked where to purchase this game because they wanted to start a game night at home. This is a game that gets people to relax and have fun. ... Read more

Editorial Review

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

Reviews (89)

Hours of Fun Fun Fun
This is a great puzzle. Since it is a game only one can play at a time, my nieces, ages 6 and 8 and my nephew age 11 took turns getting the red car out of the traffic jams. They even enjoyed watching each other find the solution to each "jam". Incidently the 6 year old is almost through solving the "Advanced" puzzles and I am about to buy both additional card packs. Kids and adults will love this game.

Great "toy"
Add us to the host of folks who love this puzzle toy. I generally consult Amazon ratings before purchasing new items and any item that has this many positive ratings always catches my attention. And it lives up to the promise. My almost 7 year-old son is ADHD and I was AMAZED at the way this toy captured his attention. I expected him to become quickly frustrated and give up. But after a few successes, he was hooked. I coached him a little bit at first (and then I was hooked too!) and before I knew it, he was solving puzzles by himself and doing a better job than me! He did the first 20 in one sitting. I was amazed as I watched him begin understanding which cars had to be where in order for him to get the red car out, then he started working out his plan to get there. You have to think ahead to be successful and he was doing it!

His persistence and concentration surprised me, so if your child is having any problems sitting and concentrating on a task, don't be afraid of this toy! But, alas, as with many ADHD kids, he's also been tested as gifted, so he's already run through the first 3 levels and is now nearly done with the expert level - solving puzzles that I can't do! I have to wait until he goes to bed to even get a chance to play! There's 40 cards in the first pack. The beginning levels are pretty easy to remember the solutions, but as you go higher in difficulty, you could probably do the puzzles more than once and still be challenged. But do be prepared to buy the 2, 3, and 4 Gift Pack (a great deal for $12 on Amazon)

I LOVE the fact that you store the cards right in the bottom of the tray. However,I wish that they would put a more permanent kind of cover on the tray. Also, you cannot replace the cover when you are in the middle of a puzzle, the cars have to be in the tray in a certain way in order for the cover to fit properly. But those are extremely minor drawbacks considering the hours of entertainment my son and I have gotten.

grate!!!
I love this game and so do my familly from ages 6 - 35. you will enjoy playing this game alone at home. the greate part is that even once youv memorized this toy and all the levels (wich you will.) you can buy more cards! it is a grate present for anyone not too lazy to think a bit. everyone has their own level. Also other games such as the one croosing the river from this manufacturer are fantastic! really worth the money!

GREAT GIFT IDEA
We just got this game today and we were all instantly addicted! My 7 year old loved the challenge of the game, didn't get frustrated at all, and wouldn't even think of giving up on trying to solve the puzzles! This is a great gift idea for birthday parties, as it's inexpensive and parents will appreciate the educational value of this puzzle game.

Greatest Game Ever!
I am in the Gifted program in school and it is a lot of fun! I play this everyday. It is very challenging but an awesome game! I would reccomend it to anyone! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sally, Stevie, Stanley, Sophie, Stewie, and Sid are six colorful, lightweight bowling pins--each with their own personality--that talk to kids while they bowl. Taunts such as "C'mon!Roll the ball already!" get kids started, and phrases such as "Whew!That was close," keep them aiming for the pins. Bells, whistles, and cheers are heard if a spare or strike is bowled. The tan plastic base has six colored circles to hold the pins in place, but it is not required that colors match up for a game to begin. Silly 6 Pins only keeps score one frame (two balls) at a time, so keep a pad of paper nearby if you're playing as a family. Three AA batteries are required, but not included. --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Best Kids' Bowling Toy
As a mother of four, I found this toy great for my 2 1/2, 4- and 5-year-olds. It's extremely durable. The kids can set this one up by themselves. My 4-year-old hates playing by himself, but sets this one up for himself to play everyday. We've tried other bowling sets but the pins fall down before they let go of the ball. It can be set up on carpet. It helps my toddler with her colors. It can be played with alone or with others. All the kids laugh hysterically at the pins' talking and teasing. It's a winner!

Great game!
My son recieved this as a present for his 3rd birthday. He absolutely loves it! I also think it is really cute how the pins move and talk. My son has been playing with it non-stop since he got it.

2 year old proof
I bought this toy for my son this past christmas. It is the only remaining toy he has from his presents. He loves it. The only bad thing I could say about it is it needs more phrases. He loves it though, he lines them all up by the colors and then shakes his hiney with it as the pins shake. It really truly is a great toy.

Great toy
I bought this toy for my 2 1/2 year old daughter and she absolutely loves it. She takes turns bowling with her little friends. It's a big hit at playgroup. She says "gutterball" whenever she misses the pins. She already knew her colors and numbers before getting this game but I think it reinforces her knowledge. It has also helps with her coordination. She used to roll the ball from a couple of feet away but now stands at the other end of the room. Overall, I think it's a great toy.

Great toy!
My three year old daughter loves this toy! She sets it up by herself (color coordinated) and has a blast trying to knock the silly pins over with the plastic bowling ball. The pins tease you by wiggling around and talking. They even snore when you take to long to knock them down! Great for counting, turn taking and color recognition as well as eye hand cooridination. Lots of fun for the tots and grown ups too ;-D ... Read more

Editorial Review

Voted a Best Party Game of the Year by Games magazine, Wise and Otherwise belongs next to Pictionary and Scrabble in your arsenal of fun. This creative, interactive game (read: everybody shouting, flailing, laughing) revolves around 500 cards, each emblazoned with five obscure and long-forgotten sayings from around the world. For example, one old Chinese saying is, "Don't add salt to a boatload of salt fish." One side of the card states, "Don't add salt to..."and it is the job of the players to devise probable endings. "Don't add salt to salty soup," for example. Or, "Don't add salt to the open wound." (The actual endings are listed on the flip sides of the cards.) A player wins points when other players vote for his or her special ending, or when the player guesses the actual ending, so the goal is to finish the proverb as convincingly as possible given the geographic region in question. Each elegant box contains one game board, 500 cards, six writing pads, six pencils, one die, and six player pawns. People who love language, oddly hilarious translations, offbeat proverbs, or just making people look foolish by guessing their very clever answers will adore this game. We predict: The one who plays this game ... will hear the laughter. ... Read more

Reviews (126)

Wonderful game, despite the price.
For some reason, when I first saw this game I thought it was a bit overpriced for the what it was. However, with the amount of phrases on the cards and the enjoyment it has brought to many of our gatherings, this game was well worth the investment.

Just to inventory the contents... you get with the game a game board, 6 game pieces, 6 pads, 1 die, 1 box or cards... and, most importantly, 6 sharpened pencils. ;)

In terms of game play, this game is the best "bluff 'em" type game on the market, hands down. It's very similar to Malarkey or Balderdash, but deals specifically with proverb and sayings from all around the world. Though the box says 2-6 players, after playing it on several occasions, we thought it best played with at least 4 people.

I would definitely recommend this game for the avid game player, who normally find themselves hosting get-togethers with their witty and imaginative friends. Don't be surprised if you find yourself laughing uncontrollable, throughout, at the proverbs your friends concoct.

A really great game for all ages
We've played Wise and Otherwise a number of times now with friends varying in age from 9 to 75, and all have found it very enjoyable. It's surprising how much fun younger players (age 9 to 12) have trying to outsmart the adults--and how funny it can be when they succeed.

The old proverbs are very enticing and stimulate everyone's creativity. The end result is usually raucous laughter. This is a completely non-threatening, enjoyable activity for any family gathering. If there are more than six people you can play in teams, which makes it even better. END

Hysterical!!!
This is a great game, expect hysterics from everyone concerned. If you can manage to retain your ability to speak while you play, you are in good shape. My husband and I played with a bunch of our friends who were also in our wedding party. Our wedding favors were fortune cookies with customized fortunes so we used sayings that our friends had come up with during various games. The guests were confused, but we were amused all the same.

Don't know about the 12 and above . . .
We actually played with six people, three of them being 6, 8 and 9. Talk about real hilarity!!! These kids came up with unbelievable endings we would never have guessed. It was lots of fun. Truly, we cried with laughter at almost every turn!

Laughed so hard we cried!
The first time we played this game, 6 people (grown adults) were in tears laughing at the absurdity of some of our responses! We continued in this gasping for air style of play for about 3 more rounds before we calmed down enough to get into more of the subtleties of the game. It is at times hilarious, thought provoking and insightful of those you play with. How funny or insightful depends on the players' effort, but if you are truly trying to win, you'll be surprised how many people you can fool with bogus phrase endings. I highly recommend this game! ... Read more

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 (477)

Hilarious way for teens and adults to spend time together
I bought this game based on the other reviews, hoping it would be a fun way for my visiting sister and brother-in-law to get reacquainted with 2 nephews and 2 nieces (ages 14-19). We spent an entire evening playing, and have never laughed so hard! My sister and I had tears running down our faces, and the "kids" kept begging to play again. We have a true mix of left- and right-brainers in our family, and this was the first game we've ever played that EVERYONE liked equally (and we have tried them all!). After a few questions, the brainiacs wanted to try the artsy stuff, and vice versa, because the game is so low-pressure and FUN. Forget the comments about difficult set-up, hard-to-follow instructions -- nothing could be further from the truth. It took no time at all to figure out how to play, and -- DUH! -- you don't have to keep rereading the same instructions over and over just because they are printed on each card (of the same category)! And the people who want "harder" questions are missing the point...with Cranium, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game -- and how much fun you have playing it!

Anyone can play
I purchased this game after hearing about it from a friend. We took it home for the holidays and played non-stop for hours with the entire family. Then we brought it over to a friend's house.

There are four basic categories, each of which bring out a certain skill set. There is the green catagory where you have to act like a famous person, play charades, or hum a song.

The blue category challenges your art skills - either drawing like pictionary, or with your eyes shut, or sculpting something out of clay.

The red catagory is very similar to a trivia game and the yellow category is for everyone who aced English class in high school! It involves spelling words both forward and backwards and choosing the correct definition for a word.

This game brings out the hidden talents in all of us. I especially like the clay (it comes included). No other game I've come across lets you sculpt the answer in clay. We fight over who gets to do the sculpting every time!

What a Blast!
This game is awesome! My husband and I aren't real big on board games, so when my Brother brought this game over on my Husbands B-day we both were thinking.."ugh" lol.. But we ended up playing 3 times! (Would have played more but it was late) My husband loved it! His favorite part was getting to sculpt things out of clay..(a little harder than it seems)try sculpting "jail" lol.or drawing ransom with your eyes closed! It was so much fun! It's not boring since the game mixes up the fun.. you never get 2 cards alike!... My husband had to act out Madonna! He could use words and gestures...but no names... It was the funniest thing I have ever seen! & something fun I will remember forever! We had so much fun, that we can't wait for them to come over again so we can play! I also just came across Cranium Conga.. This is a version for ages 8-88. We played it last night with our 2 kids ages 8 & 10 & had a blast! It is an excellent game that allows you to have some fun family time together! I recommened both games, and will be picking up the other 2 versions soon.. Will post my thoughts on those as well..

too predictable
I have played this game several times with a family of friends, and the same people always win. The skills necessary to keep playing are not different enough, and there is not enough chance involved. It is a relief when the game is over, which, as another reviewer has indicated, is a Bad Sign. "Wise and Otherwise" is much more entertaining.

Fun for everyone!
This is one of the most fun games I have ever played. It has a little of something for everyone, so everyone can enjoy it. People who enjoy art will love sculpting with the clay and drawing, hams will love playing charades and humming tunes, technical people will like answering mind bending trivia questions, and the word problems might stump even the most seasoned language lovers. This game is most fun when you have a lot of people to play with, making it a great pick for a party or holiday get together. It's definitely worth the price and you're guaranteed to have hours of fun with it! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

great design, great fun
This preschooler variation of the old favorite Bingo is a real winner.

Zingo cards have a 3 by 3 grid that shows pictures and words. Cards have a yellow side (easier, for younger kids) and a red side for the odler ones. The plastic game piece dispenser is well-designed and fun to use. Players shout out to claim a piece, which is then placed over the appropriate square on the player's card. There are several play variations.

Excellent game for the younger set, and fun for older children and adults as well.

Wonderful toy - kids love it!
My son got this for his fourth birthday and still plays with it regularly (he's now over 5). He'd just started to read when he got it, and the game helped him add many new words to his vocabulary - but more importantly, it was fun! His friends loved it so much that several of them asked for their own sets as gifts. We play until everyone wins and gets to shout Zingo!, and the kids help each other get there. And my son even plays it sometimes by himself. It's really wonderful, very very fun, and would be great for kids from about 3 to at least 6.

game enthusiast
my 4 yr old daughter received this game as a gift. she hasn't stopped playing it! Everyone in the family has fun with Zingo! from my 8 yr old daughter to my mother in law! Great family fun!

Let's Zingo!
Our children love this game and it is by far their favorite. Though the recommended ages are 4 and up - my 4 year old and my 2 1/2 year old both enjoy playing this game and it is one that they never seem to tire of. The playing pieces are all very durable and well constructed. I highly recommend Zingo.

Excellent game that even parents enjoy!
This game is great. Since the day we got it, it has been played with all the time. The kids love being able to yell "Zingo" when the win. The design is great since you can keep all the pieces neatly tucked in the dispenser.

A great fun, educational game for game nights and rainy days! ... Read more

Editorial Review

It sounds so simple: get your team to name common words withoutvoicing a few choice descriptors. But could you describe a wristwatchwithout mentioning time, wrist, or clock? Taboo rewards those whothink--and speak--fast. The team that correctly identifies as manywords as possible in a minute (measured with an hourglass timer) wins.If a member of the opposing team, armed with the blaring buzzer,catches the clue giver using any of the taboo words, a point is deducted from the group's score. It's a good idea to separate peoplewho know each other well, because their familiarity can be too great anadvantage. If the clue is spinach, prompting with "Mom made this everyMonday" just doesn't seem fair, though it is permissible according tothe rules. Playing Taboo requires an AA battery and a sense ofhumor--you'll need them both! The timer is included. Taboo is for fouror more players. --Leah Ball ... Read more

Reviews (82)

What's more fun than TABOO?!!
I just bought this game recently and couldn't stop playing it from the minute I started!

Let me tell you about Taboo: 1. It kills time! 2. Sooooooooooooo much FUN... that sometimes you lose time laughing instead of helping your team :-) 3. It gets those small minded people very annoyed, mad and angry when they lose or fail... which I enjoy :-) 4. You lose control... 5. Very challenging if played between good teams. 6. Once you start you can never stop playing it.

To me this game beats Pictionary, Charades and many others...

A lot of laughs!
I was totally hooked after the first time I played this game. It really makes you think on your feet as you try to get your teammates to guess the highlighted word on your card without saying the other printed "taboo" words. After a few turns, I caught on to the idea of describing the actual word or putting it in a reference that my teammates would understand. It was hysterical hooking up with close friends or family who could figure out what I was trying to get at with odd clues that no one else quite understood. I told my Mother about this game and she was excited to learn and we bought it for a party. Some of the guests were apprehensive about playing at first, but after watching the rest of us, they all wanted to join in. This is a great game to play with 4 or more people with guaranteed laughs. As far as the buzzer goes... it is a bit annoying, but the guys especially enjoyed using it when time ran out or a taboo word was said. I think it added to the laughs and the fun of the game. After playing a few times, you become accustomed to the particular word set, so I recommend the booster sets as well as the newer edition of the game. PLEASE BUY THIS. I GUARANTEE YOU WILL HAVE FUN!

puts the T in Terrific!
Taboo is a terrific game! its kind of like charades but instead of acting the words out, you have to describe them without using any of the words on the card. This is a great game because its really fun and I can play it with both, my family and my friends since it appeals to all age groups. We can play it for hours without getting bored of it! I would recommend this game to anyone!

This brought our family together
I was at a family event last week and we were all trying to figure out what to do. The suggestion for a movie came up. One of my cousins fought the idea saying he didn't come all the way to visit so we could all sit together in the dark to watch a film. So we went to Walmart and bought some games. Taboo, Cranium, and Pictionary. Well, we had such a great time together. We really laughed and bonded. That weekend as we rode around one cousin pulled out a singing lesson Cd and played it in the car, Voice Lessons To Go by Vaccarino, so we all sang together in our car like crazies- again having the best time. The rest of the weekend, we played more games and never thought about turning on the TV or watching a film. My niece even played the piano for us one night and we sang songs from a song book. These games really help bring back the communication our generation has lost.

Kinda fun, but gets old after a half-hour
This game is good fun for a little while. After a half hour we got bored and moved on to card games. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Scattergories is a fast-paced word game that's a real crowd pleaser. Each player takes a categorylist with 12 categories--such as vegetable, state, president, things you throw away--and must write down thename of one item that fits into each category. Sounds easy enough, but each item has to begin with aspecific letter that is determined when the 20-sided die is rolled. For instance, you roll the letter "R." Youranswer list for the above categories might look something like this: rutabaga, Rhode Island, Roosevelt,rubbish, etc. You have to think fast, because a round lasts only 3 minutes! Players score points for eachunique answer. --Alison Golder ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Years of fun!
We have had this game for probably 10 years and we still love it. It is so much fun to play because the answers are unlimited and the game is different every time depending on what letters that you get. We have almost run out of the blank sheets in some of the little boards but a blank sheet of paper works fine too. We have played this with people of all ages and it is a blast. It is easy so almost everyone gets right into it! Definitely a must for your game closet!

Party Game!!
This is our game of choice when my family gets together with our best friends. This game is especially hillarious when you make up words and try to convince the other players to let you have the point for it. For instance, one time the letter was "W" and one of the subjects on the list was "something sticky", I wrote down "Wolf's Mouth". We all about died laughing. Now, even to this day, all I have to say is "Wolf's mouth", and we all crack up. You could play this game for hours and before you know it, it's the end of the night. There is no game that is more fun then this.

Great for many types of people.
I got this for Christmas and me and my sisters (cometimes our parents join in) always play this. It never gets old!! Even if we repeat a list, we come up with new answers. I disagree with the label "12 and up" because my sisters are 10 and 11 (9 and 10 when we started playing it) and they can do it with no problem. Granted I get more than them, since I'm 15, but they still do great.

Anyway, to play Scattegories, first you choose a letter and a list. Say the letter was "G" and the list included "boy names". Well, if I put Gregory, and so did one of my sisters, neither of us would get the point. If someone repeats your answer, you don't get any points. However, say I put "Gavin", Jordan put "Gregory" and Taryn put "Guy", then we'd all get the point. You have to make sure to think outside of the box (don't put the most popular band as an answer, or the city you live in!).

Good party game
This game is a fun game to play with family or friends. It combines strategy, vocabulary, and personality. There are lists of categories such as girl's name, sport, etc. You roll the unusually shaped letter die and the two minute timer ticks down. You and your opponents then scramble to come up with words that begin with the letter on the die and match the category. You have to work quickly but strategy comes into play. Each word gives you one point, but you don't want a common answer because if two or more players guess the same answer, neither gets a point(For a fruit starting with A apple may be too obvious, but apricot is more likely to win you a point). But if you reach too much on an answer, a slightly biased jury of your peers decides on the answer's acceptabilty. The revealing of the answers is often the best part as the hilarious and far fetched answers hurriedly sketched down are revealed to your opponents. The game can be played many times, and the only downside is the limited amount of category cards. After a few plays through the game you recognize familiar categories, so this game is better when played a few times a year, so the categories seem unfamiliar. It is a good game and even has some educational value in strenghthening vocabulary.

Fun with Family and Friends
I first played Scattergories with my boss and co-workers. My boss' family always liked to play games after a quick Saturday Night dinner and this game was the favorite by far. Not as difficult and drawn out as Trivial Pursuit or as quick as Balderdash, it is fun to come up with as many words or items based on the letters you have. One of my favorites for the letter "J" was always Juicy-Juice. Interestingly some will get upset at you if you are too good so be humble when you play with apparent novices to this game.

The best way to play is couples or teams of two if you have more than 6 people. It can be fun to play in a team environment because you will come up with more ideas.

This is a fun, fast paced and exciting game that will have you laugh and even say, "hmmmmm, I never thought of that.."

Get Scattergories for the whole family. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Loaded with fun!
This is the best game we have ever found and the only one our family can totally agree on playing! With no right or wrong answers, we just get to know each other better as we play the game. Terrific!

loaded questions is cool
Loaded questions is a really fun game. The only time it's not fun is when some people lie in it. I think it's more fun with the more people you have playing, especially with family members. Overall I think that Loaded Questions is one of the funniest games ever made.

Great get-to-know-you game.
This is a great game for getting to know how others think and what they like.

Game Night Star!!!
I just recently got a hold of one of these games and took it to our church's game night. The game was the hit of the whole night. People left and right were asking me where I got it from. They told me it was "so fun".

I don't know about you, but when your teenage daughters are having fun playing a game--it has to be a great game. It's a great way to get to know people whom you don't know all that well and still have a great time.

Buy it, try it, and have lots of fun.

yum
more of a free form game, but with a board; good insights into others through uncommon questions and situations; thought you knew even your closest family members...this reveals sides you didn't even know were there and confirms other fun facts, a getting to know you game; that is if people play sincerely instead of just to win. ... Read more

Editorial Review

It's "the game that ties you up in knots"! Twister has beenaround forever, and it's still as much fun as you remember. The gamebox contains a spinner, a plastic mat marked with colored circles, andthe rules, which are brief. You don't need anything else except a groupof friends. A referee spins the spinner to come up with a color andwhether a hand or a foot is to be placed in a circle of that color.It's easy at first, but after four or five spins you'll be more tangledthan a plate of spaghetti. If you fall, or if any part of you except ahand or a foot touches the mat, you're out, and the last player left isthe winner. If you're looking for something to break the ice atparties, this game is it. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

How Fun Twister Is
This game is fun for the whole family. It can teach you to take turns spinning the wheel learning colors and your body parts and even HELP YOU TELL YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT! I loved this game it was especially fun when everyone gets all mixed up and when one person falls EVERYONE comes tumbling down.

Go Milton
This is a really fun game but I've hardley played it. I guess it's because we haven't had any kids come over(yet). 3 stars for education value because it teaches motor skills.

This game gets you twisted up!
This game is so much fun! You can hardly ever stay up when you get twisted. This game is also good to play before you work out because you can stretch with it.

Love Twister
This game is so much fun. It was around when I was a little girl and now my 6 year old has it. You can spend many hours playing this game and it is so much fun. It is so much fun for the whole family.

twister
Twister is really fun. It is also easy to learn . You need aabout five people to make it fun. Somebody spins the spinner and sees what it lands on. For example, if it lands on right hand blue everyone has to put their right hand on blue. If you fall down your out. The game goes on until every body except one person is out. They win.
Me and my friends play it often. We really like it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Who confronted Ivana Trump with: Do you love your husband? Because I do? What sitcom star popularized the Rachel haircut? Who led the 1995 Million Man March on Washington? Capture the scandals and successes of the 1990s in this tin-box time capsule! Okay, you know the routine. Trivial Pursuit's immense popularity is due in part to its rehashing of bizarre, poignant, funny, and sometimes, well, trivial details of life on Planet Earth. The 1990s Edition continues the tradition, allowing two to four adult players (or teams) to pose questions to one another in six categories, including the new Oops (mistakes and mishaps),Wired (technology, gadgets, and the Internet), and Hangin' (what people did in their leisure time) categories. As they correctly answer questions, players move around the board, collecting colored wedges. Includes game board, one deck of 400 question-and-answer cards, five card holders, one 6-sided die, one 10-sided die, four decorated pawns, and 24 scoring wedges. --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Just bought it...
My boyfriend and I saw this at toys r us and decided to buy it. We thought it would be a lot easier than the other Trivial Pursuit games because we both were alive through the 90's!! It turns out that it is easier, but the questions from the early 90's are still kind of hard. It's still fun though, we collected the pie pieces a lot faster without "cheating" by taking a piece no matter what square you land on. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Fun for the entire family!
We bought this for my 6 year old daughter for Christmas and everyone enjoyed it! I was amazed how well she did moving through the easy to more advanced levels. Her enthusiasm was contagious and everyone began trying to do the puzzles. My daughter felt a strong sense of accomplishment when she actually did better than many of the adults! It is a durable, compact, challenging puzzle that is so enjoyable that you will get hooked! In fact, I am looking for additional cards to continue the fun!
This is definitely a 5 star game that has educational value and is also appealing to kids.

A game help children learn to use their minds!
I bought this game for my 5 yr old. She loves it and is challenged by the game. Even some of her older cousins enjoyed playing with it over the holidays.

great toy
We bought this toy for our 3.5 year old son, because he really loved it when he saw it in the store. He's been at it all the time after he got it and needed only minimal instructions to start playing. We really appreciated the fact that the difficulty levels were so appropriately designed. My son simply moved from one level to another with great enthusiasm and would never quit playing the game on his own.

Fun & Educational
I've never played Rush Hour, but the Junior version was a big hit with my 5 and 8 year old kids (and me!) this Christmas. It has 4 levels of difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert, with 10 cards in each level. You pick a card and set up the grid with vehicles as depicted on the card. The object is to get your ice cream truck through the traffic and exit the grid.

The rules are: no moving cars sideways. You have to move them forward or backward based on the direction the vehicles are facing. The beginner cards typically require each vehicle be moved only once before you are able to get the ice cream truck through the traffic. With the advanced cards, you may have to move vehicles a few times as you strategically plan your escape.

This game is not only fun, but helps with organization (setting up the grid) and planning (figuring out how to get your ice cream truck out of a jam). It also gives the kids a sense of accomplishment as they move on to the more difficult cards.

I highly recommend it and we plan on buying the adult version soon!

Great whole family fun!
After reading about Rush Hour, Jr. on this website, I decided to get it for my sons, age 7 and 4. They are both a year older now, and still enjoy it. My oldest is now ready for the "adult" version but the more difficult puzzles of the Jr. game still provide some challenge. An unexpected benefit from this "game" is that my sons love to watch each other play and offer encouragement and sometimes advice, and neither gets discouraged when he gets stuck--how great is it to see that?

It also travels really well, we take it in the car for our frequent long trips and take it on the boat to play during snack time.

Parents--I definitely recommend both Rush Hour versions and the booster cards. ... 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

Amazon.com

Can you draw a cat? How about sketching something that conveys the word area or The English Patient? Can you do it in less than 60 seconds while your team yells the wrong answers at you and the other team is close to getting it right? Welcome to the game of Pictionary, in which players attempt to guess words from sketches made by other members of their team. The words can be objects, people, actions, places, animals, or the dreaded "difficult," although in the heat of an exciting game, even house can be difficult. Word cards are randomly selected, the timer is activated, and players begin scribbling franticly as they race to beat the clock. Correct answers are rewarded with a toss of the die and progression around the board toward victory. Pictionary veterans should note that this is an updated edition of the game, including more than 1,000 new words to challenge even the most experienced quick-draw artist. Pencils, sketchpads, and a 60-second timer are included. Pictionary is for four or more players. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Always E N T E R T A I N I N G!
There are many entertaining Board Games, but by time the fun gets lost but not with Pictionary! What makes Pictionary so much fun no matter how much you play it are:

1. Each player has his/her own imagination. So no matter how often you play the game, each player might draw or guess differently the same card!

2. It's fun for parents to enjoy it with their teens.

3. It's fun for friends to play it together.

4. It's fun when men play against their wives (oh I love this one)!

Do you know it's very difficult to draw simple objects? Just try drawing anything and see what others guess it. Oh sometime they go very far that even if you wanted them to guess that word they'd have not :-)

One of the best games that are as good as this one (if not better) is Taboo! Have fun...

This game brought our family together!
I was at a family event last week and we were all trying to figure out what to do. The suggestion for a movie came up. One of my cousins fought the idea saying he didn't come all the way to visit so we could all sit together in the dark to watch a film. So we went to Walmart and bought some games. Taboo, Cranium, and Pictionary. Well, we had such a great time together. We really laughed and bonded. That weekend as we rode around one cousin pulled out a singing lesson Cd and played it in the car, Voice Lessons To Go by Vaccarino, so we all sang together in our car like crazies- again having the best time. The rest of the weekend, we played more games and never thought about turning on the TV or watching a film. My niece even played the piano for us one night and we sang songs from a song book. These games really help bring back the communication our generation has lost.

All age-groups and use dry erase boards
Pictionary is a great game that anyone can play. You can play with your entire family and people from different age-groups. Kids can play as long as they are told what the words mean, and even people who do not speak English so well can enjoy this game. It is a great ice-breaker for anyone. I pull it out for parties without worrying about who will fit in or who will feel left out.

Our family has been playing this game with dry erase boards for a while now. Not only does it save on paper, it is so much more fun. There are new strategies in eraseing pictures and using multiple colors. It really changed our game nights with these boards. My husband just purchased whiteboards at, eraseboards.com(?), I think. Pretty affordable. Every Pictionary owner should try using dry erase.

Very fun game, espically for artists
Being pretty good with a pencil, I really love this game. The problem, however, became apparent after I'd played through the cards a few times, that being that I could win without challege against players that hadn't played before or were fairly new.

However, this game can be played in a large group, thus evening out the odds and it also makes a great and funny party game.

I give this one a strong recommendation, it's a lot of fun and challenging too.

Fun, but containing bad memories!!!
...>Well, maybe not that serious, but this game if used inappropriately can cause damage and break homes. This game is challenging, especially if you haven't tried to draw a person hang-gliding in a while, or a squirrel or a door, for that matter.
You simply move around the board and try to get your team to guess what you've been drawing, but it's not quite that simple.
Have a good time with this game, Cheers. ... Read more

Editorial Review

How's your tolerance for puns? You'll need some for Pass the Pigs, asimple game of chance built around a pig theme. Instead of dice, you roll twocute pink piglets, and you gain or lose points depending on how the crittersland. For example, if both land on all fours, called a "double trotter," you get20 points; if they land lying opposite each other, called a "Pig Out," you gainno points and cede your turn. There are a number of other rules as well as avariation called "Hog Call." This would be a good travel game (the pigs,instructions, and scoring pad fit in a small, tidy box) or a fine present forsomeone who's, well, into pigs! --Elisa Murray ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Better to start with experienced players
When I got this game and played with my family, I did not think it was much fun because it takes a while to learn the piggy positions. I played again with a fun group who knows the positions well and I really got into it. The more players, the better.

Pig out on fun with these piggies!
A babysitter showed up with this game to amuse my 3 children, ages 10,8 and 5, and our children have been addicted every since. The game is fast, fun, and just kooky enough to keep you hooked. To make things even better, scoring reinforces math skills including adding in one's head, which is often skipped in schools these days. Great for planes, vacations and visits to the grandparents and doesn't dent the wallet.

Cute little piggies
It tests your ability to read and process results and make a decision based on that because the best way to get a momentum going is for everyone to take their turn rather quickly. In the meantime, the absurdity of observing pigs' landings after being "rolled" just hits your funnybone every now and then. The score sheet fits easily in the case but it is rather small. A good compact game for traveling. And the pigs are cute!

Awesome game
This game is a hit with any crowd. I went to 4 stores looking for it, (sold out), and then had to buy it on-line. It's great for all ages.

pigs rock
I went camping afew days ago for the weekend. I played pass the pigs more than anything else the whole time. It is the most fun game I have ever played. I sat for hours just playing that game. BUY IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

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

Reviews (15)

Fun all around
My daughter gave this game to a friend as a birthday present, and they ended up playing it at the birthday party. We then picked up a copy for our children and they have been playing with their friends every since. Both my 10 year-old and my 6 year-old can play together, which is a relief. The youngest is given more time to look at the pictures on the cards, and the questions are easy to read and understand. The pictures themselves are very appealing to the kids, and the gameplay is simple to follow (the kids got the hang of it right away). I have played with the kids (under the 'Parents version of the rules') and the balance works well. There are too few games out there like this.

Innovative and Fun
Stare! Junior is one of the best kids games out there. I was pleased to see my daughter and her friends enthralled for an entire Saturday afternoon. The object is for the kids to stare at the game cards and then answer as many questions as possible listed on the game card about the image correctly. Kids really love this type of challenge. They also all get to participate because the kids must determine by re-examining the image whether the answers given are correct. The images on the game cards are delightful and the kids get a kick out of staring at them. Towards the end of the afternoon, I joined in and the girls only allotted me half the time that they have to stare at the cards. Needless to say, it became a great adult-kid challenge. Innovative and challenging fun!

Terrific family game
This is a great game! This one is fun for everyone in the family (it's always nice to find one that the parents can actually enjoy playing with the children). Players take turns studying the details in pictures, then answer questions about them. When we play, my husband and I give ourselves only half as much time to study the picture, to level the playing field. We also let our nine-year-old study the picture herself, but talk through the picture details with our 6-year-old. It is a "game-night" favorite of all of us.

Fun! Fun! Fun!
I got this game for my kids for Christmas and we took it to all our holiday gatherings including New Years Eve. What a hit with the kids and adults! I consider myself pretty observant and even I was getting stumped on some of these. A great game to build memorization skills for all ages. A couple of cons-some questions(not many) where you are asked to remember the color of something, there were some people who had different ideas about what the color actually was. The other was if you roll the same number on the dice again then your turn is over :o( I'm sure there are different ways to get around that. All in all we were very pleased with this game.

This is a keeper
As parents we go through buying ALL of those junkie toys that end up piled in boxes. I had to buy 2 of these because it was such a hit over the SUMMER with our company they took it back up north with them. My kids are 17,13,6 and 3. While the 17 year old prefers the regular version of STARE!,the rest of the kids play constantly! My 3 year old son teams up with someone older and we are AMAZED at how much better he does than we do! The whole idea is to stare at a picture for 30 seconds and then answer questions about the picture. i.e.: How many mice were on the table? What color was the table cloth? You get to move your piece for each right answer and it is a WONDERFUL family game!This one won't end up in a toy box anytime soon! ... Read more

Editorial Review

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

Editorial Review

There's a charming simplicity in this game for little ones who dream ofbeing a princess. Players move their pieces around the game board collectingplastic costume jewelry, such as rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Thewinner of the game is the one who collects the crown and all the jewels thatmatch their playing color. That player is the princess who now turns over thespinner to reveal a mirror into which she can gaze at her royal self. Game playincludes the dreaded black ring, which no one wants but someone might get.Sticky jewels are included to decorate the jewelry box and the crown. For youngchildren with royal fantasies, Pretty Pretty Princess is pretty pretty good.--Lee Strucker ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Fun game to play with your 5 year old daughter!
My daughter received this as a gift for her 5th birthday and it was an instant hit. It's an easy game to learn and because all players get to "dress up" while playing, the game becomes a fun activity which holds the kids' attention. Playing along with a willing Dad or big brother is a hoot, as the only way they can win is to obtain -- and wear -- all of the jewels in their "collection".

One word of advice: Keep the game stored out of the way of little ones when not in play. Wearing the jewelry "just for fun" is a big temptation for a five year old. If you loose track of the pieces (of which there are over 20), you'll need to find substitute jewelry or the game can't be played.

FUN FOR BIG KIDS TOO
we're late 20's and have a set that comes out sometime during most dinner parties! A few glasses of wine and its amazing how rough the battle for the crown can get. BEWARE though the crown is flimsy- we broke ours and had to replace it with a rhinestone model from claire's

THE BEST GAME EVER!!!
this is definitly the best game ever!! im 15 and me and my friends still totally love this game! and when i babysitt the kids play it all the time, the little girl and even the boys (who are 8 and 11) this is so much fun to play... everyone gets to put on the pretty jewlry and have fun! I THINK THIS IS THE BEST GAME FOR ANYONE AGES 4-120!!!

I love this game
I bought this for my 4 year old daughter. She loves it. She's even gotten Daddy and Grandpa to dress-up :) Very cute game!!!

AWESOME GAME
Alright, I admit it, I am fifteen years old and me and my friends play this game every single day. Yes, even our male friends enjoy this game. We play it everywhere, the bus stop, the park, the cafeteria and other places in our town. The best part is stealing the crown from others and being the princess(cough usually me cough) Those two seconds of glory do me good.

However, for younger children, it promotes self-esteem and well is just a really fun game. I HIGHLY recomend this game to all young and old. ... Read more