Reviews (6)

The Bets Game Out There!
This is the best game ever. We bought this on a recent family trip and we were hooked. Every age range in our family played from grandkids to grandparents and everyone in between. It is fun, strategic and totally addicting. We played every night and could not put it down!

What a great game!
Our family loves to play games together so I am always looking for a new game. This game is our favorite currently. It goes pretty fast and everyone is on the same level. I have a 22, 13, and 11 year old so something that is equal to all of them is a must. They all love this one and usually head out the door with it to a friends house.

Awesome fun for all ages
Being a teen, I wasn't to psyched when my friends opened this game up to play. But, My mind was soon changed. This is a highly addictive strategy game. The cool thing is, theres no one strategy that will win it for you everytime. You constantly have to adjust your strategy to what your opponets are doing. Very fun, definite "Must Buy".

Blokus: fun for all ages
This game came out originally in Europe, so our friends discovered it a couple of years ago. It's the only strategy game I know where a 5-year-old can play against his father and (sometimes) win. Definitely fun, and different every time you play.

Blokus
The game of Blokus is highly addictive! We have had more fun with this game. Everyone we have played with just loves it.We are all so determined to win the next round that we play all night long!

For fun we have even tried to make a solid square or rectangle with the pieces, just laying them on the table.It can be done,with 1 space left over.Try it,you'll drive yourself crazy!

Blokus, get one today! ... 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

Reviews (17)

War, anyone?
The Advanced Mission takes this familiar game to a whole new level. Here is the list of the new weapons and tactics now at your disposal: 2 exocet missles fired from your aircraft carrier; 1 tomahawk missle with a massive footprint fired from your battleship; 2 apache missles fired from your destroyer; 2 torpedoes fired from your sub; two recon airplanes for surveillance; and sonar imaging from your sub! While the older version of this game had some strategy, it was still a mostly guessing game, but with the Advanced Mission you really have to plan your attack and keep track of your available assets. One hint: have your recon planes take off from the aircraft carrier ASAP to avoid them being destroyed if the ship gets sunk. If you play this game with some strategy in mind you will find yourself doing very little guessing, which makes this game much more interesting and NEVER boring!

Very cool...But mesy
I got this toy for Christmas from my grandmother. It is pretty complicated, so I do not really agree with the age ranges. My eight year old neighbor who lives across the street from me tried to play it, and in the process she got very confused after many times of explanation. It is extremely fun, but it is also extremely mesy. What can I say. I love this game and it is definalty worth all that money. Accualy, It is worth a lot more.

Could be fun if pegs fit better
I think this game could be lots of fun. I played with my 6 year-old boy, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE PEGS USED TO RECORD HITS AND MISSES EITHER FELL OUT OR WERE SO HARD TO PUT IN, WE HAD TO USE PLIERS TO PULL THEM OUT.

This pretty much ruined the fun. Maybe I got a lemon (bad quality control?). If someone reads this, please tell me if their version did not have this problem. Otherwise I can't see putting my boy (and me) through the agony again.

Fun for the whole family
There is something about hearing the noise that tells you you've score a hit- call it a Pavlovian reponse, but it's lots of fun!! We're getting this for the second generation of recipients this Christmas.

Advanced Mission could be even better..........
I bought this game for my daughter. She has the old version but cheated too much. Of course I cheated too. Believe me, you would never find my patrol boat. I'd just keep moving it around.
Advance Mission puts an end to that. You have to program in your coordinates so it's impossible to cheat. This is a good thing.
Advanced Mission has four different games to be played:
The Classic Mission - each player gets one shot apiece regardless of hit or miss.
The Salvo Mission - each player gets one shot for every ship left unsunk. I really like this one.
The Bonus Mission - each player gets one shot unless they score a hit in which case they can continue on the same turn until they miss.
The Advanced Mission - each ship has special weapons and you have two recon planes, however if you use the recon planes I will defeat you. IMO the recon planes are a bit too much. Deploying them counts as a turn and you don't get to fire a weapon. I never deploy my recon planes. I have never lost, yet.

Another thing that sets this game apart is the ability to play the computer. You don't even need any friends to have a good old fashioned war at sea.
There are also 3 different skill levels to choose from. ...
Of course the game now has sound. You hear the weapons being fired and the explosions from hits.
All that being said I still see room for improvement. On the old battleship you could adjust the top grid for better visibility, much like you would a laptop. On Advanced Mission the top grid is fixed and depending on the lighting can be hard to see.
Unless you are sitting at eye level with direct lighting you will inevitably place a peg in the wrong grid resulting in frustration and possibly a failed mission.
The makers of Advanced Mission should have gone a step further by lighting the grids, at least the top grid. It wouldn't take much to accomplish. It would look really cool and certainly be easier on the eyeballs.
The other thing is the volume, which is relatively low...
Bottomline is it's a fine game but with a few improvements it would really be something. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Much like the Classic
As a person who's rumored to have been playing Trivial Pursuit since she was six years old, I have to admit that version 6 of this game has to be one of the better ones to come along in years. Much like the first Genus edition, the questions have a great range in both subject matter and level of difficulty. However, a problem plagues Trivial Pursuit 6 that has plagued all other recent editions: NOT ENOUGH QUESTIONS. After about 5 full length games, I found myself and my companions repeating the questions! Trivial Pursuit 6 has about half the number of question cards that Genus I (from 1979) had. The new version 6 is great if you're a casual player who won't play it that often, but for any die-hard fans, this game is going to get really old really quickly.

An educational activity that is still enjoyable.
Trivial Persuit is a game that brings something unique and refreshing to the "board game" genre. It is'nt educational in the traditional sense, but it is a great way to learn about specific interests for children and parents alike. A classic game with potential to last for years as childeren grow and share the game with their own families. TP is a neccesity for any person that enjoys games, learning or a stimulating challenge.

Another great edition of a great game!
After several years, this game is still challenging and can keep you guessing for hours. It also makes a great gift, as my brother was excited when I bought this for him at Christmas. Who said random bits of trivia were useless? Get this game and put those tidbits to good use. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Still the best
Years before "fantasy baseball" became a fad, Strat-O-Matic was giving youngsters the opportunity to manage their favorite major league baseball players. Only those who are baseball fans can appreciate how much fun it is to play a tabletop dice game that accurately re-creates major leaguers' performance so well on so many levels.

The original version of Strat-O-Matic Baseball, which is still around as the game's "basic" version, is pretty simplistic. But beginning in 1972, when the "advanced" version was born, the company has continually added rules and made improvements that make the game more challenging and realistic. The game today also has a "super advanced" version, which re-creates just about every variable that means anything in a baseball game.

You can still play the basic game if you want. But those who grew up with the game, or left it and returned, will find the super-advanced version a fun challenge. Alas, the "fantasy baseball" mentality has robbed the game of some of its innocence; many SOM draft leagues and their general managers take this game a wee bit too seriously.

All teams come with 27 players plus perhaps one to three optional "mixed players" who didn't finish the season with the team. (All 30 major league teams and the mixed players come with the game sold here.) In the bad old days, teams came with only 20 players each, or 24, if one bought the optional "additional players." And if a key player was traded from his original team to the other league, he may not have gotten a card at all. Fortunately, that's no longer the case; in the 2003-season set, for example, Ugueth Urbina has two cards, one each for the Texas Rangers and Florida Marlins.

Gripes about the game are minor. The perforated player cards come on giant sheets that you have to break apart yourself, and this is a real chore. The six-sided dice are small and cheap, and the super-advanced fielding charts are on flimsy, decidedly nondurable paper. (Cardboard charts are available from Strat-O-Matic.) The game rules are long overdue for a new printing; the separate list of rule clarifications, corrections and additions is two pages long, mostly single-spaced.

Despite these complaints, the game is well worth the money, especially through Amazon.com, where the price is surprisingly a bit less than what the game company itself would charge for exactly the same thing. This is all the more reason for baseball fans of virtually any age to give SOM a try.

great game
i loved this game. Especially being a very true baseball fan i was glad to see something other than a video game capture the real spirit of baseball.
in this game you get to call the shots like a major league manager. Cant wait for 2004 to come out.

Best Baseball Game Ever
I've been playing this game since 1970 and have every team that has been issued since. You can't call yourself a true baseball fan without playing it. You get to be a big league manager, make out your lineups, choose your strategies: sacrifice, squeeze, hit and run, steal, position your infielders, hit the cutoff man, its all in there and more. Every player rated and simulated. Play any fantasy lineup you choose. Set up any matchup in history. Its all in there.

The Ultimate Baseball Game
I've been playing Strat-o-matic baseball since 1964; I believe it was first advertised in the back of baseball magazines in 1963. Over the years the game has evolved into an internet game. The original board game has improved. For a baseball fan the world of statistics and probability is opened. It develops problem solving skills as the player acts as a baseball manager. Besides its educational value, the game is also a lot of inexpensive fun. Let's see, I was 12 when I first played Strat-o-matic, and now I'm an avid player at 50! Only now I don't have to "score" the games to compile statistics. The game is played by a computer, three games a night, and all I do is pick the players in a draft and adjust the lineups and strategy. If you love baseball, playing Strat-o-matic is like having your baseball cards come to life.

The Greatest Sports Simulation Game Ever Made
It may even be the best table-top game in history. No kidding. It's that good. You don't even have to like baseball to like it, though I suspect you'll come away with a much greater appreciation of the game. ... Read more

Editorial Review

"It is the spring of 1942. The world is at war. Five world powers are struggling for supremacy. You and your opponents control the military and economic destiny of one or more of these countries.... In this game, you'll discover that cooperation and negotiation are just as important as tactical maneuvering." So begins the 32-page instruction manual for Axis & Allies. To win this complex strategy game, you must learn to be a master economist and a brilliant military strategist and tactician. The game board is a map of the world divided into the spheres of influence that existed at the height of World War II. Both the Axis and Allied powers are allotted combat forces and income, measured in Industrial Production Certificates (IPCs). You must manage your nation's economy and lead its military forces--air, land, and sea--into well-chosen battles. The intricacies of the game are carefully spelled out, as are the criteria each side must meet to become the victors. Contents include 299 detailed combat force playing pieces, IPCs, dice, markers and chips to chart each country's progress, and everything you need to change the course of history in under a day. For two to five players. --Rachel Radway ... Read more

Reviews (131)

Great strategy game
Axis and Allies is best described as a "thinking person's Risk." While random dice rolls still determine the outcome of battles, the decisions players are forced to make, allow the game to be far more challenging than the better known Risk while not hampering its play-ability. Do you need infantry or armored units? Should you build an airforce or a navy? When do you attack and when do you assume a defensive posture? All are questions players need to consider. Axis and Allies is easy play the first time and challenging enough that it is still a game you will want to play the hundredth time you take it out of the box. The flexibility of the game which pits the Allies (US, USSR, GB) against the Axis (Germany, Japan) allows for two players to enjoy the game as much as when as many as five players each control the destiny of each country during WWII. The colorful gameboard and plastic infantry, tanks, ships, and planes all work together to make this one of my favorite games.

Recommend you all
In 1990 I had first played the game. As I am living so far from USA, in Turkey, It belonged to one of my friends who used to live in USA and came for a vacation. I have never forgot the fun that I felt. In 1999 (between these years I was looking someone who I could order the game)I looked for the game from Amazon's site but during those days It was not available. (It is not also available in Turkey)So I ordered the game to one of my friends who was living in Canada. I and my friends have been spending our weekends playing with the game from the day I got it. After a short time period we have decided that one was not enough so one of my friend in Turkey ordered another one to the guy who brought it to me. It deserves these demands.

Simple concepts, complex strategies
The great thing about this game is novices will reduce the game to germany vs. russia in karelia. Advanced players will learn that there are ways to defeat ANY strategy. Also, the plethera of optional rules and add-ons provide more diversity.

For example one of the popular options for club play goes something like this. The allies have a distinct advantage in a game of equally matched players, so players bid down how many extra "dollars" worth of units they would need to win with the axis. These units can be placed in any combination where the axis already have units.Favorites are manchuria, egypt, or eastern europe...or even spread the extra units between the 3. Good luck, and you might want to try the new Axis&Allies:Europe.

Spring 1942
This is a wonderful game with a historical premise. The scenario is accurate and each piece represents roughly a division, squadron or battle group. The pieces are so detailed that you can land the planes on the carriers! There is also room for creative rules interpretations...

Axis & Allies: Fun Until A Strategy Is Settled Upon
When I first started playing Axis & Allies I was very impressed. It was fun game that acurrately depicted the strategic conditions of the major powers in 1942. However, after repeated play, anyone can see that the game is Russia/Germany (not unlike the real war itself.) If the Russian player is wise he will throw everything he has into Karelia at the begining of the game. The German player will have no choice but to attack with the odds against them. Whoever wins this battle (almost always it's Russia) will win the game. Xeno games has made some very similar games to Axis & Allies. 'World at War' and 'Europe at War' are far superior to Axis & Allies both in fun and replay value. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Best Risk yet!
Well, we have just had our first game of Star Wars Risk: Clone Wars Edition at open gaming day at Dr. No's Comics & Games. The session was very successful and I am very impressed with the game so far. My friend Scott and I took the Separatist army while our new acquaintances Keith and Sara took the Republic. The game lasted a total of 4 1/2 rounds, which is pretty close to a game of Risk 2210. The Republic won, in spite of a last ditch effort to turn the tide via Order 66. Unfortunately, as is the case with games where dice are involved, the dice (or the Force) was not with us. I am not speaking out against dice based games. I like an element of chance. The best laid plans and all that... Unpredictable things happen in wars, especially in Star Wars. Our strategy of holding back defensively and waiting out for a good chance at a sweeping galactic conquest with Order 66 didn't pan out. Even if our dice had been rolled better, defensive is NOT the way to play this game. Play aggressive and ALWAYS invade whenever possible. If you are the Separatists, you have GOT to invade and be successful because you have GOT to get cards and reinforcements. The Republic starts out VERY strong (as they should, since they are the dominant power in the galaxy when the war starts) and if they are allowed to gain inroads into your regions, the Seps cannot mount a strong enough defense with their now limited reinforcements. The bonus cards the Reps get from taking leaders is a brutal advantage. Protect those leaders at all costs! if you HAVE to put one in a forward territory, it better be a 1 pip leader. We were unable to hold a first turn advance by the Republic's red army and had to cough up a total of 5 cards (3 from a 3 pip leader, and one each for both Scott and myself giving up a planet). That turn pretty much set the pace for the game. We were able to stay in it until the fifth position on the Order 66 track, and I called the order at the end of my turn, but our rolls again weren't enough. Order 66 ALMOST eliminated Sara, but one of her strongest planets held firm and was able to take Palpatine on her next turn as we had nowhere really safe to stash him.
Overall, even though we lost, I had a blast with the game. It really does FEEL like Star Wars. While i was a bit disappointed with the unusual looking board at first, I grew to really like it very quickly. Troop placement is simple, there are no questionable areas ("is this a pass through the mountains, or just the artwork?"), and since there are no territory cards there is no need to spend time trying to find the name of some obscure area/region/planet (one of the few downfalls of LOTR Trilogy Risk AND War of the Ring). Never forget that every turn is important. I cannot stress that enough. No matter which side you are, you have GOT to be offensive at all times. Even though defenders gain the advantage in ties, if the invader has ships or Anakin cards that allow re-rolls, the odds are heavily against the defender. The playing time is not at all daunting and can be played in only 2 hours or so ( and a good 1/2 hour of that was set up time), so it could easily be played tournament style, switching sides after a game and playing again best 2 out of 3 or what have you.
One comment I have noticed a lot of people making is that they wish the ship tokens had been plastic pieces rather than cardstock chits. While aesthetically I agree, I believe that for gameplay and ease of use purposes, a chit with a picture on one side and a description of the ship's ability on the reverse side is much more functional than a miniature and a reference sheet next to the board. The less time spent poring through the rulebook for a rule and the more time spent invading worlds and conquering the galaxy, the better.
In my opinion, SW Risk: CWE is the best Risk I have played so far. I have 2210, LOTR Trilogy, and Godstorm (which i have not yet played, unfortunately), but this is my favorite at this point.

A disappointment
I really loved the Lord of the Rings Trilogy edition of Risk, and so I was looking forward to the Clone Wars edition.Physically, the game is about the same quality--overall pretty nice but I'm not crazy about the little plastic pieces, which seem even flimsier than the Trilogy game, and much more likely to tangle up together.But that's not a big issue.It's the gameplay.

First off, in a 4 player game, 2 players are good (Republic) and 2 are evil (Separatist), and you are not allowed to attack your own ally.(Gosh, there goes half the fun of Risk right there!) I've yet to come up with a strategy that lets the good side win.During the game, the Separatists have a one-time opportunity to invoke "Order 66".When this happens, each and every planet (territory) in the Republic is checked against a die roll, and a losing roll means the planet becomes Separatist.In every game I've played so far, this wipes out the Republic.Not only have you lost the territories themselves, but all their troops turn against you.It's maddening to be playing the Republic, building up for a great crushing attack and blip, here comes Order 66, bye bye lovely troops.Once issuing Order 66, the Separatists must then place the Emperor (a special piece) on a planet, where he must remain, and the Republic will automatically win the game if they take this planet.But I have yet to get the Republic to recover enough to strike at the Emperor.

The dark side just has too many advantages to make this game fun to play.In the LOTR Trilogy edition, evil starts out stronger, but with good strategy, good can still win.But I just can't figure out the strategy here to make things even. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Battleship captains plot their strategies, send out torpedoes, and as the last ship (often the smallest, two-peg patrol boat) hides in an unsuspected corner, anticipation mounts. Like many classic games, Battleship walks a fine line between strategy and luck. The goal is to conceal the location of your ships while finding and destroying your enemies' fighters. The playing arena is a notebook-size plastic board updated for '90s sensibilities: the "floor" of the board is printed with waves and the exterior vaguely resembles a laptop. The design mimics the view a submarine captain would have, complete with a glimmer of radar waves. The game is perfect entertainment to share: simple enough for children, yet gratifying enough for adults to enjoy. One design decision keeps this edition from being truly stellar: the playing boards don't lock securely, allowing the small pegs to fall out and spill from the sides if jostled. --Jennifer Buckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Battle Stations, Everyone!
This is another childhood favorite that has not diminished with age. This game is as fun now as it was in grade school.

"Battleship" has a lot to do with strategy and luck. You have to strategically place your pieces on the grid so they won't get "hit" and you have to use that and a little bit of luck to do your darndest to sink your opponent's ships. It can get pretty tense when both players only have one ship left, and one wrong move (or right move depending upon your situation) can end the game.

Fun: Like I said earlier, this is a childhood favorite of mine. When it was raining outside during recess, we would always play this in the classroom. "Connect Four" tournaments and "Battleship" tournaments were the norm when I was in grade school.

Educational: "Battleship" is essentially a thinking game, although a little bit of luck plays into it, too. Both players really have to use their smarts to come out the victor in this game. Seasoned veterans know all too well how strategy can cripple a rookie opponent.

Durability: Both game pieces are like a mini-laptop in a hard plastic casing. So it is indeed very durable. The only thing that could cause a problem are the little red and white pegs with which you mark the game board. These can be a hassle to pick up if a game board is dropped and it accidently opens up, sending zillions of little pegs rolling around on the floor. These can also be a choking hazard to young people, so that needs to be taken into account as well.

If you love games that will make you think, or you are just someone looking for a fun challenge, "Battleship" is a great game to pick up. The only prerequisite: swimming lessons in case the ship you're on goes down.

Great way to stay close and communicate with our teenagers
Battleship has revived my youthful spirit! We pull out the game and play for several hours - and since all 8 of us want to participate, we have learned to team-up. We have also began to learn new strategies of the game - like let one side go five times, then the other side 5 times. Or, allowing a second turn after a "hit." It is not really a violent game either, you are just sinking a ship that someone is trying to hide from you - no people are on board. It is all about thinking about what the other guy is up to, planning how to avoid his guesses ,pin-pointing his strategy, ship-size plotting/protection, grid-calculations, and FUN! I really believe my children spending time playing this game that teaches so much math, communication, and strategy has helped teach them to work together better (chores)- and built in little more self-esteem [by showing them how much smarter their generation is :)]. Most importantly for summer time, taking "Battleship" on our vacation will definitely keep the travel "tension" levels low.

Loses it's luster after about 12 or 13
I remember playing this as a kid and it was fun then, but I don't think all in all it's got the classic pure gaming kind of thing going for it.
Too much of it is blind luck, unless you consider the ability to outguess your opponents ability to place his ships in some confusing fashion a skill. Not at all like Risk or Stratego, this isn't really a battle game at all, it's just a random guessing game.
Still, it has some enjoyment factor with the younger set and it's a good child/adult game in that it doesn't take much skill to play and the luck factor can give a kid the victory.

There is some logic in how you place your ships and some logic in how to attack, so I do give the game an average rating, it can be fun to play.

Educational tool masquerading as a fun game--great!
My 6 year-old son picked up the rules for this game in less than 5 minutes, but continues to develop his strategy every time we play. It is simultaneously easy and complex, and a great way to get kids to employ reason and logic, while having fun. At the same time, there is a good deal of luck involved, too, making it unpredictable and fun. It is a great way to get kids away from the TV so you can spend some quality time together.

I only awarded 4 stars for durability because small pieces are easily lost, as with any similar game, and the plastic casing and hinges can be broken rather easily.

I don't think so
Battleship deserves 2 stars but only for the idea. It's so hard to learn how to even play the game. I don't own it but have tryed it and belive me it's not the ultimate classic. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Risk--the game of world conquest--features a tri-fold game board that is a map of six continents divided into 42 territories. It's a game of strategy as you battle to win by launching daring attacks, defending your territory, and moving across continents with your cunning plan! Includes five dice, 56 Risk cards, and six sets of armies that contain 360 miniatures. Play three variations: World Domination, Capital Risk, and Secret Mission Risk. This game will engage and challenge any player to join the ranks of world leaders! --Margaret Quinn ... Read more

Reviews (99)

Very Addictive, Very Fun!
I am 30 years old and I have been playing Risk for 9 years now. It is a blast playing with a group of your friends, but be prepared to bring a sleeping bag because this game can keep you up until the crack of dawn! It is very addicitive, involves strategy, but that is the best part. Object is to conquor the world with your armies by taking out your opponent's armies. Each player starts out with a few territories scattered throughout the map and the trick is to fortify and defend those territories you need to progress to eventually cover the whole map with your colour. It is tricky that you won't be able to fortify every area you own since you only get so many armies based on how many places you occupy at the start of your turn. Luck also plays a major role - for every attack and every defend you must roll the dice, highest roller is able to keep his army, lowest roller has to take an army off. The more taken off, the weaker his/her regiment becomes. Once she/he loses all his armies on a given space, the attacker then moves in to occupy that space. Once you get comfortable with the game and really good with it, you can make it go a little quicker. There is also a quicky version you can play, which is explained in the manual. Pieces are easy to lose, we usually wrapped our army boxes with elastics or plastic ziploc bags to help avoid this problem. The down part to this game is if a player loses all his armies and territories very early in the game, then he or she pretty much has to sit there for hours watching their friends play and waiting for the game to end. Risk can bring out the worst in people unfortunately, so you may want to rethink about wiping out your best friend, early in the game, even if you can do it.

epic fun
I feel sorry for people who say their favorite game is something like "Sorry," where a drawn card determines with blind luck the game's outcome. It is more of a diversion than an actual game. I am proud to say "RISK" is my favorite game -- luck is one element, but so is strategy and brainpower.

The goal is simple: Rule the world. Unfortunately, there are 2 to 5 opponents in your way. The game tends to last for hours as weaknesses are tested, strategies are played out and brave (or foolish) conquests are carried out. Though many games can last for hours, the tide can turn in a single round. For those fans of strategy games, this is a must-have.

I did take one star off durability because the pieces are rather small. Be prepared to pick a few out of the carpet days after the game has ended. Other than that, take care of your gameboard, cards and pieces and I have no doubt it will last many years.

risk
ok, first off im 16. When i first heard about risk i thought it would be pretty fun. well, risk is a fun game but there is to much luck involved. for example an army of 2 soliders can take out an army of 10 soliders with rolling the right numbers.it is a pretty easy strategy game to learnbut it gests very old easily and you can end up angry beacause you got terribel dice rolls and your friends got better rolls.its educational because it teaches some strategy. and the durability you can loose the pieces. if you want a real fun strategy game then get axis and allies which will sure give you a good time

ok
when i first heard about this game i expected a lot more than it gave.my friends told me this game was good and they werent lyin there.its fun even though its missing core strategy and is focused around luck.4 example my cousin usually rolls sixes on his dice while i roll 4s so im afraid of attacking him. i do like that there are many variations of the game so if u get bored of playin it 1 way try another and u might like it betta.if u like strategy games and wars theres no reason u shouldnt get this.but word of advice:only buy this game if u have spare time during the week and enjoy making diplomacies.(even though its hard to in this game.)hope i helped u in makin the right decision.if you like this game and have a big budget,i would highly reccomend buying risk 2210a.d.

A fun adivtive game
I love playing this game expecaly when theres teams cause i like the fact that you have your ouwn country and army and try to take over more until all your opponnts are dead and you are the victor. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Fans of the board game Risk will find this Lord of the Rings edition--the Middle-earth version--thoroughly familiar. But there are all sorts of new opportunities and dangers here in the form of wizards, Orcs, cave trolls, and the One True Ring--the latter a gold-colored pewter replica. The four colored armies of plastic game pieces are rather small and cheaply produced, but the 20-by-20-inch game board and 40 adventure cards have a higher-quality feel and are beautifully designed. The game proceeds on the roll of two red and three black dice, and the object, of course, is control of Middle-earth. Recommended for two to four Hobbits; second breakfast not included. (Ages 9 and older) --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (49)

If you like Risk you¿ll love LOTR Risk
Game board:
The game board is a four fold design rather than a two fold design like the standard risk board. This makes the board seem less durable than the standard risk board.

The Map:
At first I was a little disappointed with the map, It does not show Gondor or Mordor, and I thought there could have been a little more detail put into some locations. The reasoning for not including Gondor or Mordor is that the manual states the game is based on the first two books of the trilogy. After playing several games on the board I have grown to like the map more and more. The balance of the continents seems to be pretty well thought out. Although Rhun can sometimes be held very easily by evil. Rhun is kind of the Austrailia of LOTR Risk, it isn't worth much bonus, but it is easy to hold. The rest of the continents are balanced well, mostly being hard to gain a bonus from them, especially when you have experienced risk players. Overall I'm very pleased by the map, but it could have been a little better with a few small changes.

Leaders:
Leaders and Strongholds can make a very big difference in the outcome of the game. You get to place a leader unit, represented by a shield, at the beginning of the game; you can also get leaders by drawing an "Appoint a Second Leader" Adventure card. What leaders do is travel along with your armies and give a +1 attack or +1 defense bonus to your single highest dice roll. So if you rolled a 5, 4, 1 you then have a 6, 4, 1. As you can imagine having a leader with you in the battle will greatly help your chances of winning. Your leader does not count as an army, it is just there to modify the dice.

Strongholds:
Fortresses such as Helm's deep and Isengard provide your units with a +1 to defense (there is no attack bonus for being in a stronghold). This bonus makes holding strongholds easier and can in the case of Moria, be used as a very strong choke point. When you have a leader at a stronghold the effects stack so you have +1 to attack and +2 to defense. So for example if you were attacked with 6, 4, 2 and you had 4, 4. You would have 6, 4 so you would kill two of your enemies armies instead of one each.

Cards:
There are two major types of cards, Territory cards and Adventure cards.
Territory cards are just like in Risk, except some territories always belong to evil and some territories always belong to good, so you can't start with Orcs in the Shire.

There are three types of adventure cards,

Mission Cards
Event Cards
Power Cards
Mission cards give you some kind of mission (hence the name), an example mission is, Bree, if your leader moves into or conquers Bree, you then get a reward, in this case if you are good you get 2 extra armies anywhere in Arnor, if you are Evil you get 6 extra armies anywhere in Arnor.
Event Cards, when you draw one of these cards you play it immediately, an example is 'The Entmoot' If Fangorn is controlled by good that player gets two extra armies, If it is controlled by evil they lose to armies there.
Power cards, are cards that you can play when you want and they can help you significantly for example 'Courage Alone will not save you' Play in response to an enemy attack on one of your territories, Gain 4 extra armies in the territory being attacked. Some Power cards are also used to slow the movement of the fellowship.

The Fellowship, represented by the One Ring is moved at the end of each players turn, it has to move through 15 territories and once that is complete and they arrive at Mordor the game is over, however there are some places where the Fellowship is tied up for a while. In Moria, LothLorien, and Mordor you must roll a die, and it must be a 4,5,or 6 for the fellowship to move on. Some Power cards can slow the movement of the ring, such as the Gollum or Balrog cards. These cards can be used to extend the gameplay. Whoever goes last can have a big advantage since they will be the last to takeover territories from other players and complete missions.
When the game is over, you count up your points. You get 1 point per territory, + points for continent bonus if you hold one. +2 points per stronghold that you own, +points gained by completing missions or playing power cards.

2 player game
The two player game works by having good, evil, and neutral armies, the neutral "player" only defends, does not get reinforcements, and is placed on the neutral territories, the good player gets the good territories and the evil player vice versa. The 2 player game does work well and can be fun, but it seems a little too weighted toward evil, the evil player starts out with territories that are more connected, and with a little easier access to conquering the continent of Rhun right away.

3 & 4 player game
With three or four players this game really shines, it is an absolute blast, it has all the fun and strategy of regular risk but many new twists and tactics to consider.

Pros:
A lot of Fun
It's Risk in Middle Earth
Adds news strategies that will keep it interesting for a long time
Works with as little as 2 players
The game seems pretty well balanced for the most part

Cons:
The map could be improved
The two player game seems to favor evil

Good, but could be better
This version of Risk is as good as the original. That is why I only gave it a three. The creators of this game had great idea, but kept the game too much like the old, even with the additional rules. I liked risk, but I expected more from this version.

Why?
Why doesn't Amazon read these posts and order the TRILOGY edition?!?! Furthermore, why is THIS product still being sold when there's a much better one for the same price and made by the same company?!? Don't waste your money on this game, go out and buy the full trilogy version (...)

Great game
This was a really fun game if you are a LOTR and Risk lover. It's cool because there are other parts of Middle-Earth in the game. The only reason I gave this game 4 stars for durability is because some of the pieces can break, like we've had an Orc lose it's head. But this rarely ever happens, so it is a very good game, and the board is excellent.

Trilogy Edition
I found this version of Risk to be much more enjoyable than the original version. I have never been much of a Risk fan, mostly because of the degree of strategy that is involved, but mostly because of the emmense amount of time that is required to play (sometimes taking days for my brother and I to finish a game). The LOTR has added a twist to this classic game, though, by adding in the "one ring". This makes game play shorter, since the game can end when the ring reaches Mt. Doom, or if an evil player "finds" the one ring (optional rule). However, the new game rules are optional. Purists to Risks and fans of LOTR can still play until one player conquers Middle Earth.

As I said, I'm not much of a Risk fan, but I definitely enjoy this version of the game much more. My wife and I play once a week! And we'll have friends or family over to play as well. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Best board game ever made.
Diplomacy, without doubt, is simply the best board game ever made. ... any other game has nothing on diplomacy, it's incredible.
I first played it with some friends in school after a teacher introduced us to it, and within a couple of turns was completely hooked.
The game deal with world war I Europe, encompassing land and naval warfare, and the integration of both. The game is turn based and the map is divided up into territories, as well as major cities. More cities=more armies/navies, pretty simple concept.
Each player controls a particular country, and starts off with their armies/navies deployed as the rulebook says.
Unlike other board games, the game does not rely on dice rolling(some people have thought a better name for risk would be luck), so armies are evenly matched. In order for an army to invade another territory already occupied by an army, the invading arm must be supported by another army or navy in a territory adjacent to both.
So, players have to think strategically and diplomatically. This is a great group game(up to seven can play). Each turn, players submit a movement sheet, instructing each army what to do, everyone moves at the same time. So there is like a ten minute diplomacy session, where people talk to each other about what they're going to do, and how to help each other, trouble is, they can often lie.
The game is exceptionally good, it is also a good educational toy I'm not quite sure what durable means, the game is as physically durable as any other board game(so take care of it), as for play durability, I've been going for four years, and it just gets better.
This game is the monopoly of strategy games, every home should have a copy, buy it now.

The Best of Games
Excruciating game as well as mind-boggling and fun to play. Probably the best educational game I have played. You enjoy time with your friends making allies, enemies, and neutralities. The best part is your parents can't complain because it's educational and you watch TV and other things that parents which there children would abide by.

Can you say DIPLOMACY?
This game goes right along with Axis and Allies, Battle Cry, Risk, History of the World, Illuminati, Machiavelli, and all those other popular war games that are so fun. The cool thing about this game is that you do not use dice, counters, or anything to determine the result of the game. It all depends on lying and cheating on people at the right time and strategizing your moves correctly. It takes place during different seasons in the early 1900's when the "powder keg" of Europe had already exploded. If you are looking for a game that will last for hours and give you communication, and most importantly FUN, buy this game. You have nothing to lose. It is a great family game. I personally play the game in a club in my school. I learned how to convoy, support, and gain territory all thanks to the communication I had with my fellow peers.

The best game ever created... with a few pitfalls.
Diplomacy is the greatest game ever created, it's simple and complex at the same time. From the first time that i played diplomacy I was hooked. Diplomacy has two big disadvantages. Firstly it can be hard to get seven people together to play, secondly games can last hours, MANY hours. I can remember games that went on for five or six hours that were no closer to an ending. Besides this pitfall diplomacy is probably the best game ever made.

The Best ever
The best game for backstabbing plotting and raising a total havic. ... 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 (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

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

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

This is a strategy game with a twist--if you lose, you'relunch. You've taken your trusty Safari Rover deep into the bush; nowmaneuver it through the maze of hungry animals and get back to camp inone piece. An 8-by-7.25-inch plastic game tray forms a kind of grid foryour vehicle and the 3-D plastic animal pieces (including elephants,rhinos, and a termite mound). Draw one of 50 cards (10 of which areextra-easy, for younger players) to determine the initial board setup.Then move pieces, according to strict rules, to make your escapethrough the only exit. A cloth bag for all the game pieces is included.--Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Fun but bulky
Our family truly enjoys the Rush Hour game and tried this one as well - it is bigger and bulkly and convenient for travel. I alos find the puzzles to be a bit easier. The pieces don't slide as well as Rush Hour.

Good toy for everyone
I knew this game at a friend's house and love it even I was 30 already at that time. I bought several when I went back to visit my family and they all love it. When I told my mom that I would give my brother's 1st grad boy a set, she told me he won't like it since he doesn't like the brain games. But he loves it soon after my sister explain to him the rules and he enjoys to do it. My little one, almost 23 months old now, likes those animals and loves to put all of those animals to the board one by one and kind of learn the size and arrange the place. It's not only for 8 and up.

Great game; an attention grabber
I bought this for my 6 year old. She played with it for an hour the first time. It is a game she can play solo. After using the Junior cards, she went on to the beginner. She is still progressing. This is a great thinking game. I highly recommend it.

The best Rush Hour game ever!
This game is so much fun!Let me tell you a secret about this game.You can look on the back of the cards to get clues to beat the level that your playing if your stuck.So this game is so fun!

A Wonderful Way to Play Together or Challenge a Child
My 7-year-old daughter loves this activity. There are so many active toys available, but Binary Toys has the best strategic-play games around. We play together often with this toy; I find it as much fun as she does. But, she would just as soon sit at the kitchen counter playing it by herself. We take it on trips, and all the relatives enjoy it, too. Since the "solution" shown on the back of each card is straightforward to follow for an adult but not for a child, she is never tempted to turn the card over and "cheat." Instead, through trial and error, she eventually escapes the safari and moves to the next card. Having the wide range of skill level cards helps keep everyone interested. Having the handy cloth case for storage is appreciated as well. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (5)

D&D as family game
There are a lot of ways that you can use D&D as a family game. Most obvious is to play as a family. This can work, but can also be difficult given differences in maturity, life experience, creativity, etc.

A different way to approach this is to encourage the game in your children, and help them to find or form a gaming group. Benefits are many including having structured social activity that you have a schedule for up-front; knowing your children's friends and their parents; etc.

This boxed set is a great introduction to the game, but the person you are getting it for is looking to join an established game, this might not be the right choice. Rather, the Player's Handbook would be a better option (slightly more advanced rules, which most established games will already be using).

Read through the rules together and learn about the game. It's a great chance to have fun AND involve yourself in their life.

Excellent for younger players...
There was no Kendroff in "Lord of the Rings" the "Internet" has nothing to do with D&D and no one anywhere has ever died or gone crazy from Dungeons and Dragons. Check the facts, they are out there. This is a game that has inspired three dimensional thought and imagination in millions of people. This is perfect for young people wishing to become involved in a great social and creative activity. This game builds strong reading and communication skills. This is a perfect starter set for anyone wishing to just give it a try. I bought this to play with my two younger brothers and it has been a great way to bond and spend time together. The only evil of D&D is the propaganda that the ignorant feel they should spread. This game is as evil and unhealthy as the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy.

Not bad
I have this game.Just got done playing it w/ my nephew.I have not played D&D since late 80's but picked up the "new" basic set on a whim because it had been a long time.
After using the quick start manual, my nephew's first question was "where did you get this game"? because it was fun.
This Basic Set has its limits, but it was a good refresher and easy to get back in the game w/ a new player.

I hope this review helps because one reviewer rates the game w/o even mentioning anything about the product or game play.

In regards to the religious...
Okay, in the past, Dungeons and Dragons was ridiculed by the religious for nothing. It was a new game that came out that featured, heroes, dragons, evil, good, and everything else that makes a fantasy what it is. So when I read the review by the Kristin, I had to come here to put my two cents in on everyone's behalf.
This product is a game. Nothing else. Just like Monopoly, Life, etc. The difference is that this game requires a bit of imagination. Have I bought this product? Yes, for my daughterm and she is eight years old--the same age that I started playing (I'm 30). She has fun with it along with me and my wife.
I advise other customers not to listen to the religious stuff that someone my put in about demons, devils, violence related to reality, and all the other lies. If you want to believe that this game is evil, then stop watching movies like Lord of the Rings, Conan, and stop watching cartoons period. Because if you think that Dungeons and Dragons is evil, then everything else that we, as humans, enjoy shgould be evil to you as well. If they aren't 'evil' like Dungeons and Dragons...I'm not going to resort to name calling. It just boils down to being a hypocrite.
If you're lookiing for something to spark your or your childrens' imaginations, get this game. It's fun, sociable, and entertaining.

So many minatures, so liitle money
The box comes with the following 16 Minitures

Adventurers: Aramil, Eberk, Regdar, Lidda

Monsters: Dire Rat, 4 Kobolds, 2 Skeletons, Wolf Skeleton ,Black Dragon , 2 Orc Warriors, Troglodyte



The Black Dragon is well scuplted/painted and well worth the price of box set by himself.

A sililar pack of Kobolds from reaper would retail for $10.

All of the Iconics match their D&D artwork down to the last detail

If you bought similar models and dice from any other manufacturer it would cost you at least $60, to get it at Amazon's bagain price is too good of a deal for any D&D miniatures enthusiast to pass up. ... Read more