5 comments about Rat-a-Tat Cat.

1. My son got this game for his 5th birthday and we have played it at least twice a week for the past year. Because the strategy is being able to memorize card placement, when he wins the game with his dad or me, he really wins it - we aren't losing on purpose! It's definitely a confidence builder. Each round is fairly fast, so you can get in two or three rounds in 15 minutes. Besides memory, it helps with number recognition and math skills.



2. My 6 year-old daughter, who is about to enter First Grade, loves this game. I taught it to her in about 10 minutes and she probably beats me 4 out of 5 times.
   
   I'm 36 and I honestly enjoy playing it. It's a great strategy game that has enormous educational value for beginning math skills. She completely understands the concepts and does all her own scoring. She says she loves it because it's challenging. I'm sure she also likes it because she regularly beats dad. I like it because it's a legitimately fun card game to play with my six year-old daughter.
   
   I also have a preschooler. This game is conceptually and mathematically well beyond her. In fact, we haven't even introduced it to her. The game is 6+ unless you've got a gifted 5 year-old. If you're looking for a great preschooler card game, try Sleeping Queens.



3. I bought this game for my daughter when she was around 5. We played it everyday for years. She is 14 and still loves it. She taught all of her friends to play. Last year for Christmas I got her the Collector's Edition. We have many Gamewright games but this and Frog Juice are our favorites.



4. This was one of the first Gamewright games we purchased and it is a winner. Kids, parents, grandparents, even great, great grandma wanted to join in (we caught her "peeking" a couple of times when she shouldn't have, but hey ...). I remember playing a similar game with just your basic deck of face cards (we called it "No Peeking") but Gamewright's "peek" and "swipe" (the "draw2 is ok) are a great addition. My kids complain there are too many NINES in the deck. Lots of luck, but it does require memory and logic.



5. Not too long ago my "quality time" with my two young boys hit a crisis when they both decided that they were sick of all the game we had on the game shelf, so I desperately went out and bought this card game based on a recommendation from a person who works at a toy store.
   
   Well, my five year old loves this game, and we've played it almost every day since I bought it. He's beat me several times too!
   
   This is really a simple card trading game based on trading higher numbered card for lower numbered cards. In fact, a conventional deck of playing cards could be adapted to playing this game at a very basic level, but the addition of special "power cards" adds fun and randomness to the game play, and there is a memory building angle as well, so you really get everything a game should be in one package: strategy, random luck of the draw, and a bit of genuine gambling. Then there's the entertainment value of the really cool rat and cat cartoons on the cards.
   
   So, if you are at the end of your rope for game night with the kids, spend a few bucks and try this one. It looks like it's going to have nine lives in my family.

5 comments about Sleeping Queens.

1. My friends and I (all ages 20 and up) LOVE this game. We all have our favorite queens and kings, and our least favorite (poor Rainbow Queen).
   We changed parts of the rules, and now the numbers can be turned in with multiplication, subtraction, division, and algebraic equations (eg 7+3=4+6). Definitely a favorite all around, one I play with my friends at college and at home with my 17 year old brother!



2. Bought this game for my 8 yr old daughter last year. She and her then 4 yr old brother loved playing it. The 4 yr old even asked to play it when his sister was at school. Didn't realize it was going to be educational too- teaching addition is a plus for the younger one. The pictures are cute and fun. We as a family really like the game. We took it on a trip to visit family and the cousins (boys 8, 5) enjoyed it too.



3. With a ton of kids in our family I have seen so much fun had with this game. Its my favorite gift for kids, they just love it!



4. It is a fun game for all ages, and it never fails to entertain. Game rounds are short, from 5 to 10 minutes. The game is easy to pick up, and yet can be a good arithmetic tool for children. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a simple fun game to play for up to 6 players.



5. My five-year old and I have been playing this game for a few days, and we both love it. Very well designed game with a great theme for the kids. Other reviews have described why very well. Just wanted to share that since my daughter hasn't learned addition yet, I substituted out the rule that required it with another. When we play you can discard cards that are in sequence (i.e. 6,7 or 2,3,4); this doesn't affect the gameplay at all, yet allows a younger child to enjoy it.

5 comments about Sequence Game.

1. not only have we enjoyed the game, all we have played it with did also.
   Some have purchased it, and this is our 3rd order.



2. This is the 3rd sequence game I bought. One was for a grandchild under 6 and this is the child's version, but he also plays the adult version too. It's a family game, and teaches the children stragedy. Bought the second one for us, and this one is for my 9 year old grandaughter. My son plays this at the fire house and introduced this game to us. Fun-educational-can play a little or a long time.



3. The Sequence game is a wonderful family game. If you have several people in your family, you can play on teams. Our granddaughters are thoroughly enjoying their new game. Their parents and grandparents are enjoying the great family time!



4. I ordered this game for my teenagers and we all enjoy it.We also get together with our neighbors for Sequence nights.



5. Great game, equalizes the gender factor on some games and makes it an interesting battle between the sexes. Great game for couples, mixed groups, kids, seniors...no memory required. (I am 61 so I qualify)

5 comments about Cranium Hullabaloo DVD Amazing Animal Adventure.

1. I got this for my four year old on sale after christmas. I was a little disappointed when we first played it because I thought she'd be learning facts about animals. But after playing it a few times we all like it (even my 1 year old watches the kids and walks from pad to pad) and its a good game to practice following directions, and that is very important for preschoolers.



2. I have 4 boys (ages 8 & under) and they love this game. The game can get loud and you need a good amount of space in front of the tv but that is the fun of it. The only thing I would change about the game is I would like the pads they stand on to be a little bigger (sometimes 2 kids have to share a space). If your kids like active games then this is wonderul.



3. My 4-year-old received this for Christmas, and just loves it. I think he enjoys the feeling that he's playing with the other "kids" on the dvd, and of course making animal noises is just a bonus :) I would recommend it for kids who like to move around and love animals, as my little guy does. It also keeps him occupied while I get other things done, yet I'm welcome to jump in and play along whenever time permits. Not very educational, but lots of fun.



4. Wasn't sure whether to order this or not based on other reviews, since none was specific enough for me to know which ages would enjoy it, but it was a hit with my 2, 4 and 7 year-old nieces on Christmas Eve and beyond. Any older than that, though, and it might be a bit 'below' them, agewise.
   Especially good for kids who like music and dancing, as my nieces do. It was also a hit because they're used to interacting with on-screen video games (Playstations and a Wii, for example), so the DVD interaction added interest that a regular board game would not.
   
   It's a game all can play together at the younger ages, however, and stay busy with it (at least 20 minutes by themselves, or until someone argues or gets hurt, or needs mommy, anyway ;->!)
   
   A perfectly harmless (meaning not obscene or rude or violent in any way--which is nearly extinct these days!), fun, somewhat educational (helps with coordination and gameplaying, among other things) experience for the youngsters.



5. Great for autistic child. Granted, he has memorized the DVD, so he knows which pad to end up on to win. But still entertaining. Does anyone have a suggestion for another DVD game like this? Wish they would come out with a new version. My 2 year old little girl loves as well...even though her brother always seems to "win".

5 comments about Cranium Cariboo.

1. My 3-year old son received this game for Christmas and it was an instant hit. It is an enjoyable, fast-paced game that the entire family can enjoy. In fact, the first people to play the game with him were his grandparents. I like that there are 2 playing levels, "Beginners" and "Advanced". We're still using the Beginners cards right now, but it's nice to know that the Advanced cards are waiting for us when we outgrow the earlier stage.
   
   This game promotes letter recognition, color recognition, basic object counting and turn taking. It's a great game to play at playdates as all of the children can easily learn how to play right away.
   
   The only problem I've had with this game is that one of the cards comes loose every time we play and it is already a little ripped and bent. All in all, the game is constructed well given that it is played by an active 3-year old boy on a daily basis. BUT, I wanted to mention this as part of my review.
   
   All in all, it's a great game and my son loves to play with it. We've given it as a gift already and I will continue to consider this game when choosing gifts for other preschoolers.



2. I purchased this game for my 4-year-old daughter because it looked so cool and because it struck me as more educational than some of the other games from which she was choosing. It was ultimately a great choice because my daughter adores it and wants to play it endlessly. It's enjoyable enough that my husband and I don't mind playing it with her (as opposed to Chutes and Ladders, which I loved as a kid but have discovered is deathly boring for adults).
   
   As an educational toy I give it high marks. There are two degrees of difficulty so the game is customizable. Reading is not necessary but the game may help children begin to learn some words. Instead, the game relies on color matching, alphabetical recognition (letters A-C for the easier game play and all 26 letters for the more challenging), and quantity recognition (if a number card is drawn, the player must pick a door with a corresponding quantity).
   
   As a fun toy, it also gets high marks. The brightly colored balls are fun to look at and fun to slip into the "stream". My daughter also enjoys using the key to "unlock" the doors that she chooses and we both enjoy sliding the final ball into the "stream" to unlock the treasure chest.
   
   The biggest weak point of this game are the cards, both those that go on the doors and those that are drawn during gameplay. They are simply not durable enough and after having only owned this game for about a week, one of the door cards has a hole that was punched in it when my daughter jabbed it with the key while trying to show me which card she was speaking of and a good many of the cards in the deck are bent. Though this has offered me the opportunity to discuss with my daughter why it's important that she take care of her things, I would have liked the cards to be much sturdier than they are. That said, it won't stop me from buying another Cranium game for my daughter.



3. Since so much has already been written on this game, I'll add my two cents. I agree with everyone that this is a great game, both my 3&4 year old sons love it. However, the younger son easily broke the clasp on the treasure chest when I wasn't looking and now the game is useless. The treasure chest won't stay closed. I'm not sure its worth it to buy another one and try to keep a very close watch to see that they don't break it.



4. We got this for my son's 4th birthday and today we played it with a 3 year old neighbor boy and both boys understood the game right away and we had lots of fun. We played several games. The game goes quickly so if you're not a big game player or only have time for one game, this game is the one for you. However, as the adult, I also had fun and enjoyed watching the boys guess the correct answers pertaining to their colors, numbers, letters or shapes. I'm thinking of buying this game for the 3 year old as his birthday is next week and he really enjoyed it.



5. My daughter got this as a birthday present. It seems like a waste of money to me. There are so many more interesting and inspiring games to play that involves colors and numbers. This one didn't even pass the 2 week test for my four-year-old. And no adult in our house would honestly want to play it. School Zone's cute Crazy Eights card game for $[...] is a better bet for a game with two play options. Or have some real family fun with Orchard or Selecta Piccobello Laundry Game or Corso Cannelloni. Those all get 5-star recommendations.

5 comments about Cranium.

1. Fun for groups. Builds on a variety of strengths so everyone can find some area they excel at!



2. I really like this game. It is a lot of fun and very amusing. You need a few people to play it, and it is by far the best game ever. There are four categories for the questions and each one is a lot of fun.



3. I recommend this game 100%. Its a bit challenging but it is alot of fun. I played this with a group of girlfriends and they all loved it!!!! My only recommendation is to make sure you have down the rules before you start playing... It can get a bit confusing as your playing, u kind of have to check the rules several times if you dont really understand it the first time...



4. This game is fun for kids, adults, families and friends. It has something for everyone and lets people shine in the areas they are good at. I love it.



5. This is a great game for small or large groups and it is always a hit at my parties. Definitely a must have for any body's game collection!

5 comments about Mexican Train Dominoes in Tin.

1. This is a great game that can be played by all ages! It's a lot of fun to play as a family and when friends get together. You can talk and laugh and not take things too seriously...especially when you hear the choo-choo! :-) I highly recommend this if you are looking to buy one for yourself or give as a great gift! Have fun!



2. My parents (and myself) love to play all kinds of games. So I have to always hunt to find them new ones. They played this game with friends the very night they got it. The little tin and the train whistle make a simple game much more fancier. Good addition for avid gamers. Slightly similar to a game called Chicken Foot



3. Mexican Train dominoes is great fun for all ages of people! And the more people, the better. It is easy to play a few rounds - in fact you don't notice how much time has gone by! I highly recommend this game.



4. This product has been a delight to the young and the old in our family!
   Couldn't enjoy it more!



5. As one member of a little foursome that gets together once a week for a relaxing evening of games, we have spent many enjoyable hours of fun with Mexican Train. If you are one who likes a good strategy game, then this is the one for you. But be careful, the strategy can change at the placement of a die. A game that will definately keep you on your toes and keep the cranium from getting rusty.

5 comments about Cranium Whoonu (Tin).

1. My family loves this game. The down side is you have to have at least 3 players. It is simple, easy and quik. My 9 year old daughter has even learned some new words from the cards. I would buy this again.



2. A friend brought Whoonu to my house one night, and we wound up playing many rounds in rapid succession. It was such a riot that I had to buy the game to play with my family--people get really emotional about their choices! I would seriously love to ask anyone I ever could to play Whoonu, because it's a game absolutely anyone can play, and it's the best way I can think of to learn about someone while letting them know things about yourself too.
   
   Whoonu is an awesome "get-to-know-you" game--I don't know what's better, using it to become better acquainted with people you barely know personally or using it to learn more about people you think you already know like a book. The beauty of it is, it works for any group of people! Whether you're extremely close yet or not, the game is super fun and invites silliness. I only wish there could be infinitely many cards! I've never seen a game like Whoonu before. It's all about getting to know each other's favorite things--and you'll probably be shocked at how the things get ranked sometimes!
   
   I also love a somewhat similar game, Imaginiff, which I say is similar because it also focuses on the particular players, and/or people they know. It asks you to basically make a judgment on the other person's personality or likes by selecting what they would be "if they were a ____" on each card. Only, in that one, the person in question has less power--their own choices for themselves matter less than the choice that was picked by the majority of other players. It's the opposite in Whoonu, and I like that you get to determine the winners by sharing your actual favorite things. Still, if you enjoy Whoonu and this type of game, I'd offer Imaginiff as an additional recommendation. I would say that Whoonu is better if you've got a lot of younger people in your crowd and for those with limited attention spans, however, as it's been my experience that just about anyone will grasp the Whoonu concept very quickly and eagerly play several rounds in a row, because they go fast. Imaginiff tends to go on much, much longer, an entire game probably equaling many rounds of Whoonu, and while this doesn't bother me, I have a harder time keeping everyone put til the end on occasion.
   
   The fun never ends with Whoonu--my groups love to mix it up and play one round choosing the "Whoozit"'s favorites, and the next round, picking their least favorites! In that case, you select what you believe the person hates, and the thing they like LEAST gets the most points. Often, you'll have an awful hand for the person you're doing at the moment, because you think they hate (or if you're playing backwards, love) everything you've got. Or maybe you expect them not to care about any of your choices one way or another, or--well, anything can happen. And believe it or not, times like those make it even MORE fun! Playing Whoonu can really tell you a lot about somebody, and always makes a wildly hilarious game for parties or small get-togethers or whatever, so long as you have 3-6 players at a time. With very little set-up, it's incredibly simple and therein lies its genius. Every player gets to be Whoozit, so every player guesses for every other player before the game ends. Plus, the numbered tokens are cool, resembling wavy vegetable chips. Again, I would gladly play this game with just about anyone, and I'm glad I found out about it--I strongly recommend it to anyone, too!



3. I love this game. We play it at 'girls' nights. It especially great because its easy to leave and come back too, when you have to change a diaper or settle a toy dispute.



4. This game is great for kids who have a short attention span or for adults who only have a few minutes to dedicate to the game. You can literally play in under ten minutes and the kids love that you are getting involved with them. It is extremely simple to play.



5. I bought Whoonu off the clearance rack at Walmart. I was spending six weeks in the middle of the desert with no internet access and we were looking for something to do. Since the game requires at least three people we never actually got around to playing it so I gave it to my 8 year old nephew for Christmas. This game was a HUGE hit! Grandpa, grandma, mom, dad, auntie, and even his little sister had so much fun playing this game that we played it well past bedtime more than once. I would definitely recommend this one for a family who wants to spend time with the kids (who are old enough to read) instead of spending money on more video games for the kids!

5 comments about Cranium Hullabaloo.

1. This is one of those toys that gets the kids up an moving. Fun music, fun 'rewards' = "do a silly dance". they LOVE it. I am always looking for ways to 'reach' my boy who has autism. This just helps initiate play.



2. This is a GREAT game. I had no idea how much my two-year-old would enjoy this when I bought it. Not only that, his 8-year-old brother and his older cousins enjoy playing it with him - which is perfect! We often take this game along with us when visiting friends and relatives and it's always been a big hit. It keeps the kids moving, teaches them colors, shapes and objects and best of all lets them be silly.



3. This is surprisingly a LOT of fun. It requires movement and silliness, no sitting still. It is fun for everybody. You get 16 tough and durable pads that you spread on the floor around the room, and a little thing that gives orders (which pad to stand or sit on, etc.) and you need to follow them. Every now and then it declares that the person on a particular pad is a winner!
   It reminds me a little of a combination between the classic "Twister" and "musical chairs". It moves fast, and everybody gets to play because the toy gives the commands, not a person.



4. I purchased this for my 3.5 y/o daughter after her friend introduced her to it. My daughter loves this game! I love how it requires physical activity and mental exercise. It is very easy to learn, the electronic component seems durable, and the mats are easy to wipe clean. Best to play where you have enough room to spread out.



5. This game is great for indoor fun... a lot like Twister but with an educational slant. I like it because each game is relatively short, which allows time for multiple games in one setting; this gives each child playing more chances to be the winner. My kids like it because they get to act silly while following the rules of the game!

5 comments about Bananagrams.

1. We bought this for my oldest daughter's birthday (12 years old) and it has quickly become one of our family's favorite games. It's quick, you can change up the rules to make it work for young or old. We highly recommend it. It's so simple but so fun!



2. For Seniors or Kids this is a GREAT word game.
   Portable, challenging and fun. The tiles have migrated to a permanent place on our kitchen table and a game is always going. Easy to learn.
   (Company that markets this is terrific. One set (I've purchased 5 for gifts)was shy a few letters and they immediately sent new tiles. Can't get better than that)
   Buy this and enjoy!



3. This game has all the learning benefits of scrabble with much less stress and no long waiting for another player to take his turn. It is easy to "handicap" younger or slower players. We can play one game at a time or play to a certain score, making this game very flexible in terms of time needed to play. If you like word games, you'll love Bananagrams!



4. Bananagrams is a great game for adults and those just learning to spell. You can tweak the rules to make it easier for younger players just learning to spell or can follow the rules for older players and everyone can find a good challenge. We all enjoy it!



5. This is a great game that our whole family can play. Our sixth grader can compete with his father. And Mother, who speaks both Spanish and English, feels confident enough to play with the rest of the family using Spanish words. One doesn't have to have the most words to win...just finish first when the pool of tiles in the middle of the table runs out!!
   This is a great thinking game, plus comical, when we accidentally 'invent' new words by accident!
   I bought a second game to give as a gift!!
   I highly recommend it!