Time for a Game

I've mentioned countless times here that we are a big game-playing family. I don't think a day goes by that someone in the family doesn't challenge someone else to a round of cards or a board game. And there are plenty of games that the whole family can play together, which is great fun and brings back happy memories of my childhood. (I have a couple of friends who grew up playing games and then married someone who has no interest in games at all—I consider that a mixed marriage.)

The other day I got an email from Emily at Gamewright, a game and puzzle manufacturer located right here in Newton! Who knew? I am familiar with some of their games (I believe we've given Slamwich and Rat-a-Tat Cat as gifts more than once), but for some reason we don't own any. Although when I saw the Gamewright logo, I knew I'd seen it before. Sure enough, when I looked through their catalog, I spotted these card-holders, which my kids all used before their hands were big enough to hold cards:

 

(Check out those funky cards! I'm not sure what game they go to!) If you have kids with small hands, you've got to get a set of these. They saved many a game of Go Fish back in the day.

Anyhow, Emily asked whether I'd be interested in reviewing a few of their newer games! And offering a free game to one of my readers! Um, that's a YES! The next day a big box arrived with the following games:

This Big!: In this card game, you have to play one of your fish cards (each worth 1, 2, 3, or 4 points) to match the color of a lure card; the idea is to amass the most points in your "fish bucket." But there are also "river rubbish" cards that mean you hooked an old shoe or a tin can instead of a fish! Julie, Pete, and I played this one only once so far, but we loved it. In fact, you're supposed to stop playing as soon as someone gets 10 points, but we decided to keep going until the deck was gone!

The Scrambled States of America: You might have seen a puzzle and book with this same title, and Pete had played the game in school last year when they were learning all about U.S. geography. Julie is still a wee bit obsessed with the states and state capitals, so she was very eager to play this one—I don't think most 7-year-olds would be as ready for this as she is. It's the kind of game where you have to be the first one to do something, so I had to hold back a little bit when I played against her. For instance, each player needs to find a state that begins and ends with a vowel, or borders Tennessee, or the like. As familiar as she is with the states and capitals, I'm still faster on the draw. But this game works great with only kids playing, or grown-ups with older kids. (And I didn't tell Julie that I was holding back, so she had a blast.)

Funny Business: I admit that I was skeptical about this "hilarious game of mismatched mergers," but it was by far the unanimous favorite in the family. We've already played quite a few times, and it's really fun. The premise is that two very different businesses merge, and the players compete to come up with the most clever name for the new merged business (there's voting after each round). For instance, the example given on the box is a bakery merging with a barber shop—how about "Cookie Cutters" or "Shave 'n' Cream"? Although it's recommended for ages 12 and up, Julie and Pete were more than able to play along with me, Steph, and Andy—each of us won plenty of rounds! There are 200 business cards, so we've barely brushed the surface of the possible combinations. This is the kind of game that's especially fun to play in a big group (up to 8), and I can totally imagine playing with just adults—at cocktail hour, perhaps?

These games are all exceptionally well-made. The instructions are clear, the artwork is whimsical, and the cards and other materials are sturdy and carefully constructed. Such a pleasant change from the chintzy games we've gotten used to! Not surprisingly, Gamewright games have won dozens of awards, including the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Mensa Select, Dr. Toy, and many more. I am just delighted that these high-quality, fun, interesting, creative, and unique games are being created right here in my hometown. 

So, what about that giveaway? Just leave a comment below and tell me about a game you like to play with your kid(s). And also mention what age group your kids fall into so Emily can choose an appropriate game for your family if you're the winner. I'll take entries until midnight on Monday, August 24, and then I'll choose a winner at random. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. Good luck!

Comments

[Susan]

I am a puzzle person and a 'some card games' person but not a big board game person. Except I loved Candyland, Uncle Wiggly, Go To The Head of Class, and Sorry as a kid. And we played Scrabble a lot (and still do). My daughter loved Risk and was lucky my brother loves it too.

And I think those cards in the illustration would be for a take off on Old Maid.

[Wendy]

My almost-8- and 11-year-old boys like Monopoly, and I am teaching the older one to play cribbage (my personal fave). We also liked both Dog Dice and Rat-A-Tat-Cat when the kids were younger, which I am pretty sure are both Gamewright games.

[Wendy]

Oh! In the unlikely event that I do win, I'm putting in a request for Zeus On The Loose. Both boys are heavy into mythology, and they'd love that one. I may well buy it regardless!

[Alissa]

Funny Business sounds adorable. Our current favorite is Apples to Apples, but we like Taboo, Scattegories, etc. I can't get anyone interested in Pictionary!!

[Susan]

I have to confess my daughter my daughter is all grown. No grandkids. BUT..if I win I'd say just donate a game to some worthy organization.

P.S.Alissa I LOVE Apples to Apples.

[irene]

I am in what you refer to as a mixed marriage. I loved Risk and card games as a kid. My parents had tight restrictions on dating so I remember lots of scrabble games with my high school boyfriend "joining in the family fun." I have many special memories of my son indulging me playing games in bed together or in front of the fire. Now that my sons are older and bringing girlfriends home for dinner, I can coerce my husband to join in family games to successfully bring everyone together. Scattergories has been great fun. Funny Business does sound good for after dessert.

[Myles]

Gamewright has a whole host of wonderful games: I also like Luck of the Draw. My other favorite games company is North Star Games, and R&R is good too. I love Taboo and Smarty Party.

[jami]

I'm so excited for my kids to get old enough for family game night! They are two and five now. My little guy is still too little, really, but my daughter loves to play Uno, Hiss, Sorry, and Clothespins.

[Crystal Arcand (3Stairs)]

My elder two (9 and 6) like to play chess, believe it or not. Can we say, "Nerd family?" My son also likes Uno and the youngest (3) loves the CandyLand DVD game.

[Lori Z.]

We've been playing Hullaballoo, The Cat in the Hat I can Do That (with my four year old), and then my husband and I play Krypto as often as possible,

[Swiss Jo]

We play everything! Our latest favourite is Carcassonne. My 12 and 10 year old eagerly awaited rain over the summer so that we could bunker down for the day and play.

[Stephanie]

Mark loves Scrambled States of America. We should get them together for a game. We also have Toss Your Cookies, which is a blast.

[Rachel]

Hi Karen,

My boys are 6 and 9. We have enjoyed playing Go Fish, War, Uno, Skip-Bo, Checkers, Scrabble, Monopoly, and Connect Four.

[Dona]

We love to play Blokus here. Oh and Bananagrams. 8 and 11.

[Jonathan]

Huge game player here - collection of about 500 games! We (my girls are 9 & 10) really enjoy Scrambled States - you must be better than me at the states, because I don't need to ease up that much! Cap'n Clever is a good game with kids. They are just getting to the point where I can bring out some of the more "serious" games I have.

[Sandy]

I'm not much of a games-player, but certain tactile elements draw me in: Mancala (glass beads!) and Trouble (Boo for the plastic that replaced the wood pegs of my youth, but the dice-popper still has that great feel & sound!). One child, age 8, likes to collect cash (Allowance and Life), while my 6 yo goes for strategy (chess, checkers). We all like Connect 4.

[Susan]

The kids love Clue Jr., Sorry and just about and child's card game (Uno, Go Fish, Crazy Eights, etc.). The girls are 9 and 7 and the boy is almost 5. Go Sox!

[Katy]

My son is only 7 months but I love playing Bananagrams with my two nieces ages 7 and 9(and all the grown-ups in our family, too). All of the games you mentioned sound excellent, especially Funny Business!!

[raych]

Ok, I live in Oh Canada, and also I have no babies, so if I am not legit for this contest go ahead and disregard me BUT I came on here just to tell you that you need to seek out Ticket to Ride, which we have played with ALL of our friends and NONE of them don't like it and THREE of them immediately went out and bought their own after they played ours (incidentally, we bought OUR own after we played Joel's young cousins' and I thought at first that it might be too challenging for your smaller ones but then I remember that his youngest cousin was maybe eight when we played. So who knows?). SRSLY, it is awesome.

[Kelly]

Game person in a mixed marriage. My boys like chess at least! We also like Uno, Monopoly, Battleship, Mastermind, and Sequence. The boys are 13 (!!!) and 9.

I will be on the lookout for Funny Business. Sounds fun.

[James]

My girls love to play Fluxx http://www.wunderland.com/LooneyLabs/Fluxx/

(a card game in which the rules constantly change!) and Blink

http://www.educationallearninggames.com/blink-card-game.asp

They're 12 and 14. I'm thinking of getting them more into role playing games.

[Sheryl]

I love games, but alas my husband does not. We mostly play cards. My kids are 7-11 and I would love to win a game!

[liz]

My boys have been playing Settlers of Catan for a couple of years. They will play for three straight days if there's nothing else to do. And they taught 11 year old cousins to play as well. Our Swiss friends who came to visit play it as well (I think it's orignally German?). It's a game of collecting resources to build cities.

[Naomi]

Well, my kids are 5 and 2, so we're just starting on games with the elder (when the younger is not around to mess things up). He likes to play Monopoly (watered-down) with my husband and also to spell words on the Scrabble board. And (yippee) he likes to play War.

We also play a lot of pretend games. "Pretend you're a dinosaur and I'm a prince, and you like hot dogs and we're going to the zoo..." Or whatever.

I guess we could use some new ideas...

Thanks for the giveaway!

[Trasherati]

My boys are 11 and 9, and our family favorite is Imaginif, and endless rounds of Uno complete with trash talking.
The comments have given me some ideas for new ones to try, so thanks!
(My kids are also starting to like Taboo, which thrills me...)

[Gail]

Hi, Karen. My kids range in age from 3-10. The games we like to play the most are Yahtzee, Scrambled States of America, Apples to Apples and Uno. Uno is terrific because everyone can play it. Now, I'm trying to get my older guys to play Scrabble. You've inspired me. Tonight might be the night!

[Karen]

And the winner is ... Kelly! Woo-hoo! Happy game playing!

[RBL]

The Scrambled States of America is a lot of fun. For another fun way to always be able to remember all 50 States and Capitals, check out: RightBrainedLearner.com