Tag: Family board games

Brainbox Games

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Learning, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Toys

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We’re two weeks into the school holidays, and so far the weather’s been, well… uncooperative. Grey skies and drizzle have meant we’ve been spending more time indoors than we’d like, which in turn means the board games have come out in earnest. Finding a game that holds the attention of little ones and keeps older children (and to be honest, adults too) entertained can be a bit of a challenge so we were really pleased when BrainBox sent us a couple of their games to play – Maths, The World and the pocket-sized Space version and I’m pleased to report that they’ve all gone down a treat – even the Maths!!

With a RRP of £13.99 RRP, these games are a brilliant blend of fun and learning – just don’t tell the children about the learning part! They’re simple to learn, engaging enough to keep everyone involved, and with a wide range of themes you can easily find one that matches your family’s interests.

Each BrainBox game includes 55 colourful cards, a ten-second sand timer, and an eight-sided dice. Players take turns drawing a card and studying it for ten seconds before rolling the dice to determine which question they’ll be asked from the back of the card. Get it right, you keep the card; get it wrong, it goes back into the box. After ten minutes – or longer if you want – the player with the most cards is declared the winner.

It’s not just memory that’s tested. The World edition, for example, covers 55 different countries, with questions not just about geography, but colours, objects, and flags and it’s easy to tailor the challenge to the age of the child. Even reluctant readers get swept up, our eight-year-old, who usually avoids books, especially in the holidays, happily reads the questions aloud, thrilled to uncover quirky facts about animals, landmarks, and places he’d never heard of.

The Maths game is a great confidence booster for children who might find numbers a bit daunting. It sneaks in numeracy practice without it feeling like homework, and our mini reviewers were so busy playing, they didn’t even realise they were learning.

The pocket-sized version (RRP £6.99), like the Space edition we’ve been playing, is perfect for holidays. With 25 cards and 150 questions, plus 25 conversation starters, it’s just the right size to slip into a bag or backpack. Ideal for long journeys, by car, train, or plane, it’s bound to keep little hands and minds busy while you navigate the motorway or airport.

So, if you’re looking for something to keep your children entertained, thinking, and maybe even a little bit wiser over the summer holidays, BrainBox games are a fantastic choice. Even just a quick ten-minute play before bed or in the car on a day out can help build knowledge, encourage curiosity, and with any luck, ease the back-to-school transition come September.

Who knew a little cardboard box could hold so much fun – and so many facts?

Age group 8+

Available from Amazon and all good toyshops

Dobble Giant and Piles Board Games

Uncategorized

The summer holidays are fast approaching, and like many parents, I’ve already started thinking about how to keep the children entertained whilst they’re off school. Asmodee kindly sent us a couple of great games – Dobble Giant and PILES! – and I can already tell that both games are going to be a firm favourites this summer.

We’re big fans of the original Dobble, and the giant version brings a whole new level of fun to the game. Each oversized card features five symbols, and there’s always one (and only one!) matching symbol on any two cards. The aim is simple – spot the pair faster than anyone else!

The big difference with this version of Dobble is that it’s designed for outdoor play, with oversized cards placed on the ground for players to run between as they spot the matching symbols. So not only are they using their brains, they’re burning off plenty of energy too! It’s a brilliant way to make the most of sunny days, but if the weather turns, it works just as well indoors.

With four different games to play with the cards, it should keep them busy for a good while!

Relay Race
4–12 players (with a 2-player variant), this fast-paced game involves two rows of 10 cards laid on the ground. Players race down the row by naming the matching symbol between each card they step on. At the end, they high five a teammate who races back—the first team to finish wins!

The Cat
3–8 players. Played with a 4×5 grid of cards face up on the ground. One player is the Cat and starts on a corner; others choose their own starting card. Everyone moves simultaneously by finding a matching symbol on an adjacent card -avoid the Cat or you’re out, and the last player remaining wins.

The Circle
2–10 players. Place all 20 cards in a circle on the ground and space players out evenly. Everyone races clockwise, finding and calling out matching symbols on the next card before moving. If one player catches another, the slower one is out – last player left wins.

Face-Off
5–11 players. One player acts as referee while the rest split into two equal teams and assign secret numbers starting from 1. The referee flips two cards and calls a number, those players race to find the matching symbol. Whoever finds it first wins both cards for their team, and the team with the most at the end wins.

Each game takes just 10–15 minutes and we have found them to be just as much fun for children and adults. There’s also no need to simplify the game for younger children, in fact ours were often quicker than the grown-ups! The cards are colourful, durable, and a decent size although I wouldn’t recommend using them on wet grass if you want them to last. Whether you’re planning a family picnic, garden playdate, or just want to get the children outdoors for some fresh air, Dobble Giant is a great way to keep the children entertained this summer.

Age 6+

RRP £23.99

If your family loves fast, frantic games, then Piles! is one to pop straight on your summer games list. It’s a high-speed, all-play-at-once card game so there’s no waiting around for turns. Just be warned: when older children and competitive adults get stuck in, things can get very chaotic!

The aim of the game is to be the first to collect six matching piles of clothing. Sounds simple? Well, some of the items are cleverly designed to look similar and catch you out—so you need to stay sharp! Everyone sits in a circle with six piles of four cards laid out in front of them, and four cards face down in the centre. You’re only allowed to use one pile at a time, swapping one card at a time, and the piles you’re not holding must stay face down until it’s complete. It’s quick, clever, and incredibly frantic as everyone races to build their matching sets at once.

Games take about 10 minutes, so it’s perfect for quick bursts of fun or back-to-back rounds. Since launching last October, Piles! has already sold over 50,000 copies and it’s easy to see why. It’s gone viral online, and once you’ve played a round or two, you’ll be hooked.

Whether you’re indoors on a rainy afternoon or outdoors in the sunshine, Piles! guarantees plenty of fun but don’tt expect a quiet game because it will gets loud and chaotic and that’s exactly what makes it so much fun to play!

Age 8+

RRP £19.99

The LOGO Board Game – 2nd edition

Children, Christmas, Family Life, Games, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

My family love playing board games and Santa always leaves a new one under the tree for us to play once we’ve eaten Christmas lunch. We’ve always enjoyed playing LOGO so I was really pleased to find out there is a 2nd edition of the popular board game from Drumond Park. The new version from is just like the original but comes with a set of 396 new question cards. The game is for 2-6 players and can also be played in teams, making it a great game to play at Christmas with all the family.  

The game is simple to set up, each player or team chooses a coloured cone and places it on the Go! space on the board. When playing for the first time it is important to shuffle the cards and once you have placed them in the box you are ready to go.  There are three types of question cards, each with four questions; Picture Cards that have pictures relating to questions on the cards, Theme Cards that have questions relating to a common theme and Pot Luck which have random/ general knowledge questions. Players move around the board by answering questions that are the same colour as the place you are on the board. A correct answer allows you to move to the next space of the same colour and you continue answering the questions on the card until you either get one wrong or have answered them all.

Players take it in turns to be the question master which helps keep everyone involved and the winner is the first player/team to reach the winning zone where you need to answer two questions correctly or a get a red question correct.

There are a good variety of questions and as it is all logos and brands it puts everyone on a pretty equal footing. It’s a great game for families to play together and will keep everyone entertained over the Christmas period.

RRP: £32.99

Suitable for ages: 12yrs+

Stockists include: Independent toy shops and Smyths, Amazon, Argos