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 (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

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 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

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

Reviews (2)

Hubby Loves It!
The only disappointment with this set is that the pieces are plastic. When we picked up the box it was quite heavy so we hoped the pieces were some sort of metal. Alas. However, they are not flimsy. Some of the weapons were a bit curved out of the box but they straightened out with a little TLC. Don't even think about getting them back into the box once you've taken them out unless you wrote down where each piece came from. The board is nothing special, just cardboard, and is a little small for the size of the pieces. If you plan on playing the game I'd suggest getting a larger board. Otherwise, it's great for display purposes. This is the nicest Star Wars chess set we've seen. Buy it, you'll love it.

Star Wars Saga Chess
For those who may be interested, here is a listing of which pieces are included in this new chess set.For the silver "good" side, the pawns are Republic Clone Troopers, kneeling and holding a rifle.The two rooks are C3P0/R2D2 (together on one piece), and Padme firing a blaster from Episode II.The knights are Han Solo in Episode IV clothing and Chewbacca with bowcaster, and the bishops are Princess Leia from Episode IV and Luke Skywalker from Episode VI.The queen is a bearded Episode III Obi-Wan, and the king is Yoda flying through the air (resting on a piece of clear plastic) with a lightsaber.On the black "evil" side, the pawns are the Episode IV era stormtroopers, kneeling with rifles.The two rooks are Count Dooku and Darth Maul (holding a double-bladed lightsaber and doing a high kick).Bishops are General Grievous (two of his four arms are holding lightsabers) and a General Grievous bodyguard with staff.Knights are Jango Fett from Episode II flying with jet pack and firing double pistols, and Boba Fett from Episode VI, presumably firing his wrist cable.The queen is Darth Vader with lightsaber, and the king is Emperor Palpatine with hands poised for sith lightning ala Episode VI.All pieces are made from molded plastic, and weapons will most likely be deformed and wilted when you remove them from the package.If your lightsabers are not all twisted and warped, be surprised and thankful.Also, getting them put back into their proper (unmarked) place in the packaging is like a difficult jigsaw puzzle.In the end, however, this is a nice set and I believe it is worth the price. ... 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

Features

• Folding poker table
• Padded vinyl armrest
• Ten playing positions
• Ten built-in drink holders
• Table folds in half and has steel folding legs

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

Reviews (1)

Amazing set!
This chess set is so beautiful! All the pieces are beautifully made! They actually look like the real thing! It also comes with a very nice board (with the Lord of the Rings theme, of course) and it seems very good quality. I have been looking for a nice Lord of the Rings chess set and I fell in love with this one! The Return of the King is my favorite out of all the Lord of the Rings films. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

My favorite game
This is my favorite game. The rules are easy enough so that you can learn in 5 minutes. However, the game changes as your skill level changes.

If you are young, this is an excellent mind-expanding game, plus a lot of fun.

If you aren't very good at games, this can be a good social game that is quick to learn. Just make sure you play someone at your skill level.

If you love strategy games, this game is for you. If you haven't played it since you were a kid, you probably haven't appreciated the intense strategic elements in this game. I think this game coined the phrase "A minute to learn, a lifetime to master." It is a lot of fun going through the mastery process.

The quality is not as good as I remember it as a kid, but the board will hold together even though the green felt will wear quickly.

And, as a trivia note, Othello is the brand name of the generic game of Reversi. Reversi is available for free at many online gaming sites.

In simplicity can complexity be found
Related to the ancient Japanese game "Go", and seen online in various versions (e.g., Reversi), Othello is very simple to learn and, when played against a partner of equal skill, it can become a wonderful test of simple logic and strategy. When played between players of differing skill levels, the less-experienced player can lear and catch up quickly. For players who need excitement, the game can wear thin after a while, as much of the action occurs in theminds of the participants. The pieces are quite durable, but the game-board surface wears out with frequent use.

Positively Addictive!
I've seen this game often in the stores but passed it up in favor of the flashier games with the namebrand attached.

We are gamehounds and I have so many games it was getting harder to find games we DIDN'T have! Enter: Othello. What a fabulous game!

My daughter (she's 7) picked up how to play very quickly. This is a game of strategy, not chance. In that aspect it is much more educational than so many other games out there which rely on chance and sometimes leave kids with "poor gamemanship" attitudes. I really found myself thinking hard after every move my daughter made. Now that is a GREAT game! Challenging on all levels.

This is also an excellent game for math skills. I highly recommend this game.

Classic
The best games are usually the most simple. This game is simple, but that doesn't mean it's not challenging or fun.

It's a good child/adult game, and I'd highly recommend this over some of the "gimmikicy" games out there. It can be played over and over with a lot of different variations on the outcome, and while a good player can win consistantly, like many decent games that don't rely on chance, this game can be played to ties or near ties if both people understand it. I think that makes it a better game.

It's good for strengthening logical thinking.

Great Strategy Game
This is a good game for 2 people to utilize good strategy. My nephew was in a car accident, and they used this game for rehabilitation to help him use his mind. He came to visit us from Texas, and we had an old game from years ago. He asked us to wrap it up for him, because he has been unable to buy it anywhere! I don't know why, this game seems like it should be one of the standard type games. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

GREAT PRODUCT!
This is a great product - my chess players DS(9); DD(13); and DH(40) are thrilled with it! We started with a real cheapie set and "graduated" to this one . . . for [this price] you cannot go wrong! Believe me . . . you get waaaaaaay more than you pay for!

Not bad
Twenty bucks for a wooden folding chess board and chessmen is not a bad deal. However, the old adage "you get what you paid for" holds true here. Craftsman quality is missing in this product. The folding chess board has a magnetic strip to keep it folded. However, the chess board when unfolded for play is a bit lopsided. The wooden chessmen are standard Staunton pieces. However, they're not crafted quality pieces but are adequate enough for play. If you wanted a similar product but of higher quality then be prepared to fork over an additional $30-40 if not more. However, if you wanted a traveling chess set but don't want to pay alot of $$$ for one and don't mind the inferior quality found in this set then this is good buy.

Best Chess Set for a Great Price
Although I would have loved to have gotten my fiancee a more articulate chess set, this gem really fit my budget. When he opened it on Xmas day, he was blown away. He really enjoyed it, especially the size. The set comes with a fairly large chessboard and the pieces are nicely sized as well.

He has enjoyed many a chess game with me and our best friends. With all the use so far it has remained in excellent condition. The magnetic closure helps to secure the pieces in the inside of the fold up board. Thus, your floor will not be littered with pieces when you pick the board up.

inexpensive chess set
Should sell for less half the cost , if that. Chess pieces were not carved by any craftsman,very flimsy board . Hope it lasts a year. typical chinese craftsmanship. Throw it away and buy a new one tomorow.

Pavilion Chess & Checker Cabinet
This is not a "toy". This is a beautiful chess/checker board, polished and varnished oak wood. The board folds, with magnetic inserts to hold the pieces and keep it closed. The chess pieces are solid machined wood, not intricately carved, with felt on the bottoms, and certainly nicer than plastic pieces. I recognized this set when I saw the display picture; it was on a table in a millionaire's home that we were visiting last month. Now I have the same set he has. If you persist in calling this a toy, then it's a millionaire's toy and an old guy's toy -- I am past seventy. Summary: Great buy ! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

If you loved Settler¿s of Catan this a ¿must¿!
Most people come to this game after they have already been introduced to the European Designer Games by Settlers of Catan. This is a different kind of game than Settlers but in some senses it shares a lot of commonalities.

The game is easy to learn for a wide audience, it is reasonably quick to play (30 - 40 minutes) and is a very "immersive" game i.e. there aren't long periods of boredom. There are elements of strategy and luck, which makes for a "fun" game experience.

This game is fun for children and adults. For children the "farmers" are a little too complex, but the game works very well without that element.

The game consists of laying tiles to build cities, roads and monasteries in the South of France. Points are gained by creating long roads, building large cities or farming multiple farms. It draws elements of building jigsaw puzzles together with a strategy game of competing for territory.
I have played this game with family members who aren't really into board games and they enjoyed it just as much as gamers.

There are many expansions to this game which add a few more dimensions as you get more advanced. There is a very high replay-ability.

I would high recommend this game to people who are bored with standard Monopoly or Cranium type board games that are popular in the US.

If you loved Settler's of Catan this a "must"!

Summary:
General
o 2 - 5 Players
o 30 - 40 minutes Playing time
Audience -
o Children & Adults
o Serious and Casual Gamers
Format
o Tile Laying
o Combines Strategy & Luck
Longevity
o High Replay-ability
o Quality Components

Strategy, planning, and resource management!
This is a great game of kingdom building that is easy to learn and very fun to play. The games are relatively short (30 to 45 minutes)so it doesn't take an entire evening, either.

Players take turns drawing land tiles and placing them on the board. Tiles have various structures (e.g. roads, cities, fields) on them that need to be matched up for proper placement. You can't have a road end in an open field, it must be attached to another road.

Each player has a number of followers to dispatch throughout the kingdom. They can be placed on roads (to become thieves), cities (to become knights), monistaries (to become monks), or fields (to become farmers). Once a structure is completed (roads have two ending points or intersections, cities are completely walled in, etc.) the player scores points for his follower and may remove to follower from the board to place him on a subsequent round.

This game is a good way to learn resource management. If you place all of your followers you won't have any in reserve for a prime opportunity, should it arise later. Is it better to get quick points with roads or small cities, or try to keep extending the roads and cities for greater scores? There are many strategies to consider and options to contemplate. Yet, this game is easy to learn in a few minutes. And since the players place the board pieces there are no two game boards alike.

My friends and I have had hours of entertainment from this game. I highly recommend it!

Carcassonne - the best game in years
Carcassonne is the best strategy-based board game I've ever played. It's actually composed of about a hundred square tiles featuring roads, cities, farmland, and cloisters. Deploy your small number of settlers to take over each of these features, scoring points for their completion. Score points for your farmers and all your incomplete roads, cities, and cloisters in the end.

The game works great for two players as well as the maximum 5 players (six with the first expansion) or anywhere in between. The games are varied every time I've played (about 30-40 times so far).

This game is the most addicting game I've played since Magic: the Gathering was released 10 years ago. Try it and soon you will be scrambling to purchase the two available expansions - one with Big Settlers and new tiles and one with Builders & Traders.

The average rating for the durability is a result of the cardboard tiles. If you play a game enough times you'll likely wear out anything made of cardboard over time.

a really fun, easy game
i first played this game a few months ago. 10 minutes into the game, i was hooked! the concept is simple -- earn points by completing cities, roads, and cloisters, and deploying farmers. figuring out the best tile placement is tricky, but fun. the competition is fun, but not too intense. even my 10-year old daughter plays this, and likes it. if we want a "quick" game, we leave out the "farmer" aspect -- makes for a quicker, easier, but still very fun game. the tiles themselves are just beautiful -- the artwork is gorgeous. the player pieces are great -- wooden man figures that are a nice size -- substantial, and the fact that they are person-shaped and not just a block square, adds to the fun. i'd play this game several times a day if i could-- it really is that much fun. :) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Superior craftsmanship, truly top-shelf.
If you really like chess and you would like to have a set that is both functional and beautiful, Drueke is the way to go. They are about the only manufacturer of high quality chess equipment left in America. The dark squares and trim are American Black Walnut, and the light squares are Aspen. The part that is really great is that it is made from solid blocks of wood. Most decent chess boards are veneered, which means that there is a very thin layer of nice wood glued on top of some very cheap wood. This is not such a bad idea, as chessboards do not get heavy duty use. These higher end Drueke models are solid though. Even though it's not necessary, it just exudes a feeling of quality. It is heavy and solid. If you turn it over, it is just as well finished on the B side as the top. If you don't like the sawed trim treatment on the top side, flip it over. The walnut is simply beautiful. I'm embarassed to admit it, but this chessboard is the most beautiful piece of furniture in my house. :) If you pair it up with a set of Drueke pieces of appropriate size you will truly have an heirloom piece. Please note that if you want something for tournament use or something super rugged, you would be better served by a set of solid plastic pieces and a roll-up tournament size mat board, and for about 1/10 the cost. It is kind of like this coffee table analogy: You could have a coffee table made from cinder blocks and a piece of plywood, but it doesn't really give you that pride of ownership that a fine piece would. Yes, it will serve you well for as long as you can stand to look at it. However, you just don't look at it and get a warm feeling inside. You won't go out of your way to show it to people. This is your oppurtunity to own something of very high quality for not too much money. Yes, I know that $100+ is a lot for a chess set, but it isn't a lot for fine furniture or something nice to display which also shows you have a good mind to go with your good taste. I can't really think of enough good things to say about this board. If you have a lasting interest in chess, buy this. You will not regret it. The only decision is what size to get. Mine is a 'Grandmaster' model, the one with 2.25" squares for tournament size chessmen. (I don't think Amazon.com carries that model, but their smaller ones are every bit as nice) A wise man once said: "Buy once, cry once. Buy cheap, buy twice." ... Read more

Editorial Review

Are you clicking yet? Play dominoes! It isn't just one game, asmany people think. There are many games and variations at many skilllevels. Domino sets vary in size and complexity, according to the numberof dots. This huge Double Fifteen set has 136 domino pieces, and eachpiece has from one to 15 color-coded dots on each end, or no dots(blank). The pieces can be used to play 20 different games; instructionsfor all the games are included. Made of a heavy white, ivory-likeplastic, the pieces are 2 inches long, 1 inch wide, and .3 inch thick,and they store neatly in their blue tin. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great Toy
We can play this game with the entire extended family-

Our nephew who is as young as 7 can play this game and it is great for mental stratagies.

I recommend this to all.

A classic MUST!
This is a must have for all classic game lovers. With 3 of our 4 children visually disabled, it was quite easy for them to see the dots (easy for the older parents too!). The youngest children were not frustrated because they could match up the dominoes by color, and eventually learned the patterns and counting as well. They are very durable and come inside a tin that has a snug-fitting lid to prevent spills. Detailed instructions are included for many versions of play. This is a perfect game for Family Game night as the games are short enough to complete before younger players get frustrated.

thumps up !
This is one of the most exciting games there is for family time, bought by one of my friends we have played for hours without getting board. Wanting to buy one of my own found ur web site, it's a shame it can only be shipped within the US.Try and consider ur border neighbors, we want to play too.
Thank u,

Fun with your neighbors and friends
We purchased the 15 color dominoe set and we loved it! We have German neighbors and we taught them how to play dominoes and
"chicken claw" (a fun dominoe game). The dominoes are so durable and colorful that even the kids were able to play with the adults. They are easy to clean (if necessary) and store nicely in their tin box. Great product!

Fun for all ages
This is a great game for all. It makes you think, laugh, and get even with your best buddy by stealing his spot. We LOVE it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Are you clicking yet? Play dominoes! It isn't just one game, asmany people think--there are many games and variations at many skilllevels. Domino sets vary in size and complexity, according to the numberof dots. This big Double Twelve set has 91 domino pieces, and each piecehas from one to 12 color-coded dots at each end, or no dots (blank). Thepieces can be used to play 16 different games; instructions for all thegames are included. Made of a heavy white, ivory-like plastic, thepieces are 2 inches long, 1 inch wide, and .3 inch thick, and they storeneatly in their case. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (10)

More fun than you think...
Our friends brought this set of dominoes to our house for after dinner gaming, and although my husband and I were skeptical at first, we quickly became obsessed with this game! Playing dominoes is more complicated and competitive than simply matching numbers -- this set comes with instructions for several multi-player games as well as solitary games. The dominoes themselves are high quality -- they are made of heavy white plastic, but feel more like ivory, and the colors are bright and distictive. We have since bought these dominoes as gifts for almost everyone we have played with.

What a fun new twist to a classic game!
We took this set on vacation and aside from playing regular dominoes we also played one of the new games that was suggested in the box. What a blast!

My sister in law also mentioned that my 2 year old nephew also loves playing with these dominoes with her or on his own. He likes to match the colors and is learning to quickly count or identify the dot patterns and their numerical equivalent.

I recommend this game for families or for adults who enjoy getting together to play games.

Wonderful Way to spend an Evening
I played my first game of dominos with this set, and I had a blast! The "train" game is very easy to follow. It's a great way to spend some time with a few friends who aren't into trivia games.

Dominos are a blast
My roommate and I got hooked playing "train" dominoes, and this is the best set. The dominos are very glossy, colorful and very sturdy, and the set comes with a center piece to keep the starter domino from moving and the domino train in line. I definitely recommend this set.

Beware: This Game Is Addictive!
Our friends and family love playing The Train, one of many games that can be played, and the instructions are included. We take our box on vacation, camping, to holiday gatherings, and the evening hours are filled with endless rounds. We occasionally keep score, but not every time. It is a great way to spend face to face time with one another. I give it my highest stamp of approval. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Carrom Luv'd by so many
Purchased the Carrom Game Board as one of the games for the summer camp we are having and the kids ages 6-50 love it. Yes, 50. I teach martial arts and for this year we have included games that deals with eye/hand coordination and accuracy/focus and more. We will be looking into other games to incorporate our martial arts program and summer camp programs. I Loved it when I was young and still enjoy playing it. (...)

I LOVE THIS GAME
i dont even have this game, but i really do love it from time ago. i passed many hours playing this as a child only wish i could afford to buy one for myself. Please email me if you would like to contribute to my "Carroms Fund". i would greatly appreciate it so that i may once again relive my childhood experiences. thank you

42 year old carrom champ
im 42, me and my older brother played carrom when we were yonger. I bought a carrom board for my 6 year old nephew. well my brother called me two days latter thats all he plays now he dosen't even think about video games or the computer since he recived the carrom board just one answer' I'm not the carrom champ "anymore" he is who says you have to spend alot of money to have fun. thankyou.

An awesome classic american game!
What an awesome game! Carroms are easy to learn but hard to master. Ive been playing carroms since i was 8 and it still hasnt lost its fun. Carroms is a must have!

classic toy
So the cues are dowel rods, the parts are plastic, and the board is fairly thin plywood. Some modern toys wish they were half as durable, and had as much long lasting play value. The current version has been that way for 30 years. Still a great classic toy. I had hours of fun with one as a boy. And plan to get my kid's one, when it comes back in stock. ... Read more

Editorial Review

More than 350,000 copies of The Farming Game ("The Game Inventedon the Seat of a Tractor") have been sold, and this 20th-anniversaryedition introduces a new generation to the joys of muck and milking.Every player starts the game with 20 inherited acres and moves throughthe months (i.e., around the board) trying to build the farm into anindependent, successful concern that will feed the whole family. A fungame, it also has a serious, educational side--having been invented byGeorge Rohrbacher, a farmer in Washington State's Yakima Valley, whothought it up while trying to figure out how to make enough cash to hangon to his family farm. Up to six players, ages 10 to adult. --RichardFarr ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A Surprisingly Fun Game
I honestly could not imagine how a game about farming could be fun. Real farming doesn't look the least bit fun to me. After 4 years of reading game reviewers applaud this game, I broke down and bought it for a reunion weekend with a longtime game-playing friend.

When we were well into the first game, my friend put off going to the bathroom for 45 minutes so she could take "just one more turn" and then another and then another. We finally pried ourselves away from the game to go eat at 9:00pm.

It does start out slowly, so give it 2 or 3 times around the board before you give up on it. You start out in debt at the beginning of a new year. One trip around the board is one calendar year. Your goal is to build a profitable farming operation by buying/renting equipment,planting and harvesting, buying and selling livestock. In the meantime, Real Life intervenes in the form of insects, drought, disease, bad weather,taxes,equipment breakdowns, etc. In spite of these frustrations, the fun part is in the harvest. It's sort of like Monopoly with an adrenaline rush! The more fields you own, the bigger the harvest. The more land you own, the more livestock you can support.

The Farming Game is a great educational model for any business, or Life for that matter. You can borrow too much and end up bankrupt. You can have too little cash on hand and not be able to plant. No planting, no harvest. No harvest, no money. No money, no planting.

This is a great game for competitive players. For it to be fun for everyone, players need to be able to count money and either read the cards or be able to follow directions if someone else reads them. If a child can play Monopoly, he or she can play the Farming Game.

Oh What Fun It Is To Farm!
We first played The Farming Game with some of our relatives and decided we just had to have it! It was so much fun to go around and see how each year would go.
Not only is it fun, it also teaches how to count money, how to handle your debt, and how to handle your household in order to make it a success.
I would highly recommend this game to everyone. We now have a large group of people that enjoy playing it also, so we sometimes have to have more than one board going at a time!!

The best game ever created!
I was at my friends house when i first played this game and i REALLY REALLY want this game! It is so mush fun how you get to buy crops and livestock and then you make a profit of them and there really is no ending to this game.We played this game for about 2 hours and we would of played longer but i had to leave (because her family does have a life). This game is even more fun if you dont have a time limit befcause its really never ending.It is the best game. It is sort of like monopoly because there is option to buy cards (AKA o.b.t) and farers fate which are like chance cards and i cant remember the other one in monopoly, but much better because i think the idea of a farm is more unique then things such as "baltic avenue" and "park place".You gain money more than you lose money and overall is is THE BEST GAME EVER! Buy this game, you wont be dissapointed!

Washington Apples, what more can I say?
This is one of the best games I have ever seen. I love playing it with just two people or even in large groups. My friends and I end up combining our fruit orchards and claiming to be Tree Top and Seneca. It is great fun. I would recommend this game to anyone. Plus, how can you go wrong with a game made by farmers in Washington?

Great family game!
My husband worked on a farm with his grandfather for a few summers. It was on that farm that he first played this game and then, when we met he introduced it to me. I could, in all honestly, play this game on a daily basis. It's the type of game where you want to see everyone do well so the game keeps going and people stay happy. The use of money is great for children, helping with basic addition and subtraction. I have never found a game that I enjoy as much as this. ... Read more