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Smart Toys Companies

Unusual toys and games come from unusual companies.  Though we may only have reviewed a few of their games, these companies offer an ever-increasing variety of well-designed, challenging, tons-of-fun games and toys, that gifted kids and their families love!  Support these great companies, so they can continue offering us great new games!

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All Things Equal Creative products for active minds

Loaded Questions and Re-Loaded Questions Booster Pack

Loaded Questions Junior

Busy Bodies

Words of Wiz-Dumb

 

Blue Orange Games

Yamslam

Yamslam starts like Yahtzee, but then changes. And players practice math skills in the scoring process! Even a fun solitaire version... or try Pocket Yamslam

Fundomino

The wild action dominoes game...  Also available in travel size: Pocket Fundomino with travel pouch

Sumoku

Arange numbered tiles in rows or columns that add up to multiples of a number shown on the die, in this crossword-style game.  Five variations in one game!

Pengoloo

Which penguin is hiding the egg?  A memory game for youngsters

Spot It

Four fast, challenging mini-party games where all players play simultaneously. For all ages, packed in a travel-size tin, Spot It develops visual perception and matching skills
It supports quick mental processing and sharpens cognitive skills in a fun atmosphere

Double Shutter

Combines basic arithmetic skills with strategy for great family fun!  Be the first to shut the box... Also available in wooden Vintage Double Shutter

Trigger

Players answer "true" or "false" to statements as quickly as possible by slapping the target. Right Hand = "True", Left Hand = "False". Sound easy? Here are some samples : groundhogs have teeth, you are wearing a ring on your left hand, there are 6 Olympic rings, cows drink milk... Do you have the fastest hand? You won't believe how many laughs are packed into this tin!

Speedy Eddy

Master math and logic skills while you roll the dice to help your snail progress. Watch out for mole holes, dodge flying carrots, and beware of the strong winds as your snails may lost its shell! Without a shell on its back your snail goes slower, so use the two dice with a touch of ingenuity to get a shell back on your snail and get back in the race. And win the famous Speedy Eddy Trophy!

Gobblet and Gobblet Gobblers (or from Funagain Games, Gobblet and Gobblet Gobblers, or MindWare Gobblet)

A fun strategy game, as easy to learn as tic-tac-toe, challenging for chess players, fun for the whole family... Also available in 3x3 colored version, Gobblet Jr. and Gobblet Jr. On the Go

Sketch It! Draw Fast, Have a Blast! (ages 10 and up)

Artists, doodlers, and armchair critics alike will love Sketch it. With paper and pencil ready, draw a card and roll the die. Ready, set, Sketch it. Sketch too quickly, and the others will be baffled. Sketch too carefully, and you'll miss your chance to score big. You don't need to be an artist to excel at Sketch it! With a healthy mix of accurate sketching and sharp guessing, you will surely triumph...

Ringgz

No single move can be made without careful thought, because just one ring can make or break the game. Players take control of a territory on the board by putting down the most rings in their color...
 

Buffalo Games

Truth be Told The laugh-out-loud, pretend to know your friends game, by Buffalo Games

Each round, one of the players is the Host, and plays a question card, like Favorite Snack. The Host writes a truthful answer: pork rinds. All other players pretend to be the Host, and write bluff answers which seems like something the Host might have written: pretzels, prunes, sardines. The Host collects and reads all answers aloud, and players try to guess the True Answer to score points. Bluff answers score points too so there are a lot of ways to win, and a lot of hooting, snickering and giggling along the way...

Photomosaics (see Smart Hands-On Toys for full list of great Buffalo Games jigsaw puzzles)

Jigsaw puzzles, made up entirely of tiny scenes. Gifted kids (of all ages) often love jigsaw puzzles, and these puzzles add another dimension to the picture

Faces a game of first impressions (3-8 players, ages 10+)

match your first impression of zany man, woman, and pet faces with your opponents to win.  The "impression" cards are as funny as the faces... "The neat freak," "The one who's socks don't match," "The one who's reading an eye chart" A very visual game

iMAgiNiff the funniest game you can imagine (3-8 players, ages 12+)

Just imagine what the other players are most like. Keep choosing the most popular answers to win the game...

Last Word The uproarious race to have the final say! (2-8 players, ages 8+)

Subject: “Vegetables”…Letter: “C". Players race opponents and the random-interval timer to yell them out…Carrots! Cucumbers! Corn! Cauliflower! ‘tick-tick’… The player with the Last Word in before the timer sounds advances…Oh! Celery! BZZZT!

VisualEyes The 'What You See is What You Get' Game! (Visit Buffalo Games and click on the left margin for an interactive version of Visual Eyes...)

Appealing to the visual learners, and everyone else.  Find words or phrases among the pictures
 

Cranium (12 to adult) or Cranium Cadoo (7 and up)

Spell a word backwards, hum a tune, answer a multiple-choice question, draw with your eyes closed, and more when you play Cranium, with 14 talent-tapping activities designed to bring out the best in you and your friends...  Cadoo is the funky fusion of tic-tac-toe, general knowledge, sculpting skill, and scavenger hunt designed for kids

Cranium Wow (12 to adult)  Uncover a player’s talents--or lack thereof. Wow’s objective is to move around the board until you’ve reached Cranium Central, where your team completes its final activities to claim victory.  Collect the new personalized markers, too!
Cranium Booster Box 1 and Cranium Booster Box 2 or Cranium Cadoo Booster Box 1

Cranium Disney (8 to adult)  players compete by sculpting, acting, and sketching to victory

Cranium Pop 5 (13 to adult)  How much pop culture do you and your team know??

Cranium Whoonu (8 to adult)  have unforgettable fun as you reveal your favorite things, share hilarious stories, and bond over surprising connections. You'll be amazed at what you'll learn about your friends and family -- especially those you think you know best!

Cranium Playground (preschool) gets kids matching, drawing, dancing, and making letter shapes as they race around the monkey bars to win!

Cranium Hullabaloo (4 and up) Twister meets Simon Says... Listen closely and think fast as you bounce, twist, spin, high-five, and dance to the music, sounds, and friendly voice of Hullabaloo. Rewards quick thinking, cooperation, and creative problem-solving
 

Days of Wonder

Ticket to Ride to learn more, visit Ticket to Ride website

Cross-country train adventure where players collect cards of various types of train cars that enable them to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America...  Also Ticket to Ride: Europe, Ticket to Ride: Märklin, Ticket To Ride USA 1910 Expansion, Ticket to Ride Switzerland, Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries and Ticket to Ride Dice Expansion

Gang of Four

be the first to rid yourself of all your cards and ascend to supreme power. But beware - a strategic misstep may find you in a struggle to survive

Mystery of the Abbey

A new kind of "whodunit" game of deduction and intuition, set in a medieval abbey

Terra

The world is in crisis. Ecological disasters, socio-economic difficulties and diplomatic challenges abound. Will you be able to help your fellow players save the planet while balancing you natural desire to come out ahead?

Dream Green

Tic Tac Chec Part chess, part tic-tac-toe - a quick, fun game, also provides amazing challenge, and teaches some chess rules
Noble Celts Circular chess, the old fashioned way!
1-2-3 OY! and A-B-C OY! card games (numbers or letters) for the younger folks, multi-player or solitaire... lots of fun!

 

Educational Insights the folks who bring us Capsela!

Kanoodle

Can you Kanoodle? Combine colored connected beads, complete colorful puzzles in two unique formats: 2D puzzles and 3D pyramids. Pick a design, place some of the puzzle pieces into position as shown…then fill the empty spaces with the remaining pieces. Sounds simple? It can be…or it can be deviously difficult!

The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game (ages 3-7)

Spin the spinner, squeeze the matching colored acorn with your Squirrel Squeezers and place it into your log. Be the first to fill your log with delicious acorns and you win. You could also spin “pick an acorn,” “steal an acorn,” or “lose an acorn,” so be strategic, little squirrel. Matching, sorting, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills...

Tunnelz

2-player tunnel maze game - tilt the cube, and plan your route...

Obscurity (ages 8+ / 3rd grade+)

Find all the words you can on the card, but beware, words found by other players get removed from the score!

Castle Logix  (ages 5+, 4+ gifted)

Construct the castles in each diagram out of beautiful hardwood pieces.  Challenges start easy, but quickly make you think "outside the box"...

Then try Royal Rescue and build bridges between the castle towers to rescue the prince and princess!

Fire Escape (ages 8+, 6+ gifted)

Navigate the corridors on both sides of the hotel to find fire extinguishers and put out the fire; a 3-D maze puzzle.  48 rescue missions included...

Zookeeper's Nightmare (ages 6+, 5+ gifted)

Slide the runaway animals home, but watch out!  Don't let the leopards lunch on the rhino, or let the lion wave it's tail in front of the tigers, or...  A sliding puzzle with a twist!  18 challenges included, plus instructions to create your own

Playfoam

Squish it, shape it, save it or smoosh it and start all over again, colorful foam sculpting material won't crumble, and it won't stick to skin or surfaces and it never dries out... Or try Creativity Kit, Giant Pack, 12-pack or Sparkle Playfoam 6-pack or 12-pack

Rattled (two players or teams, all ages gifted: as soon as kids can spell words)

Shake the letters, and race to find the longest word!

Traverse 20th Anniversary Edition Checkers gone Wild! (ages 7+ (5+ gifted), 2 to 4 players)

What do you get when you cross checkers and Chinese checkers with a hint of chess and some extra-wild rules for advanced players?  Traverse! 

Blokus (sold to Mattel)

take turns placing as many of their 21 geometric shapes on board as they can, but only the corners of their own pieces may touch. The real challenge comes toward the end of the game... Or take a new twist, with Blokus Trigon.  Also Blokus To Go

Heximania

Spinning the board as you go, take turns placing letter tiles and earning points for each word you build...
 

Fox Mind Games Smart, fun, original games!

Turbo Mind Twister (ages 8 and up)

Put your brain into high gear. Slide the cars and twist the sphere to put each car in their matching color spot

Octi

The Brainchild of Yale professor Donald Green and acclaimed as one of the greatest modern strategy games, Octi is easy to learn and fun for game-lovers of all ages. What makes Octi's patented game system distinctive? Octi pieces grow - they become more powerful and agile. Each turn, players need to choose between moving their pieces or improving them. Octi unleashes a new level of creative thinking...

Yengo (ages 8 and up)

In this game of tactics, memory and bluff, you don't want to make points! So be attentive, flip the tiles with caution and place traps to trick your opponent...

Dig It (ages 7 and up)

You're a dog digging for bones, a creative, intelligent and determined dog, up for the challenge. Shift, turn and flip one patch of grass at a time until you have fully revealed the crunchy delicious bone...

Smartrix (ages 7 and up)

Players place their cards so that the patterns match, aiming to create point-scoring sets. Smartrix can be appreciated on several levels; for beginners, it is a smart and fun matching game. As players' skills improve, Smartrix provides deep and captivating strategy, combining memory, risk-taking, tactics and a touch of luck!

Shokoba (or from Barnes & Noble)

The goal is simple - collect more gems than anyone else.  But getting there will take sound strategy and a strong memory.  Tons of fun for 2-4 players!

Six (or from Barnes & Noble)

It's simple - create a shape with your hexagons... at the same time your opponent is trying to block you, and create his own shape.  And the strategy really begins once all the pieces have been played...

Oops (or from Barnes & Noble)

Simple but complex logic game; move the hats to reassemble Simon, the scattered magician.  Dozens of challenges, tons of fun...

Abalone

Learn in a minute, but a lifetime to master. Loosely based on sumo wrestling, the point of Abalone is to push just 6 of your opponents 14 marbles off of the playing surface, but there is a catch... Also Travel Abalone

Jungle Smart (or from Amazon)

Use the set of commands to rearrange the animals from the start to end position, drawn from cards.  Can you figure out the series of commands before your opponent? Or play solitaire...

ZooLogic (ages 4-adult) (or from Barnes & Noble or Amazon)

An animal gridlock of cats, dogs, mice and their favorite foods: fish, bones and cheese lies before you. Can you arrange them while keeping each animal away from its rival and away from its favorite food? Hungry ants, angry bulls and fierce dogs are also introduced as the puzzle difficulty gradually progresses...

Linja A naturally flowing game

Elegant design, natural materials and simple game rules are combined to offer players an exquisite and original game. Each player tries to be the first to place 6 of their pieces on their opponent's camp while ensuring that their remaining game pieces are not left too far behind...

Meta-Forms Logic in Shapes (ages 4-adult) (or from Amazon)

Intro. to logic.  Follow the clues to place the 9 wooden shapes on the grid.  Starts simple, becomes more complex as you move through the challenges until the highest levels, which often challenge adults!  Also available in travel form in Logix I.  When you get through Meta-Forms or Logix I, try Logix II - these start at a challenging adult level!

Architecto (or from Barnes & Noble) and Equilibrio (or from Barnes & Noble)

Use the 18 precision-cut blocks to construct 3-D structures illustrated in the challenge booklet: 50 illustrations, ranging from simple shapes, requiring only a few blocks to complex ones. As players develop stronger notions of perspective and geometric concepts, the challenges become more demanding...

Babylon (or from Amazon)

Quick to learn, quick to play, but lots of room for strategy and challenge!  Stack the stones following simple rules, and force your opponent to run out of moves.  Even comes in it's own small carrying pouch - great for travel and waiting rooms

Tangramino

Construct pictures from 18 shapes; each new picture contains additional challenge...
 

Game Development Group

Stare! You have 20 seconds to stare at the image, then try to answer quick questions.  How much can you recall?  Also Stare! Jr.

Wit's End Categories include Teasers, Odd-1-Out, Sequence, and Wild Card.  Exercise parts of your mind you  forgot you had!  Also Wit's End Junior Edition

Bonkers Can you hit a BullsEye while you're in the Hot Seat?  What's the {blank}?, Add Ons, Letter Perfect, or Rhyme Time...

Mystify Solve mystery words, names, and numbers, in 5 categories - can you guess right?  You only get one chance...
 

Gamepuzzles   for the joy of thinking, by Kadon Enterprises

Wonderful acrylic (and some wood) puzzles for kids and adults - my kids loved them since 2 and 3, my husband and I still love them!

Roundominoes, Super Roundominoes and Grand Roundominoes

Rombix Jr. and Rombix

Hexnut and Hexnut II

Memor-IQ 24 hexagons hand-inlaid with three squat pentagons in every combination of 4 colors. Match them on single edges, double-color edges, or even hybrids (single to double) to form a huge collection of imaginative free-form figures plus gorgeous color patterns!

Quintachex the most beguiling checkerboard ever!

Dezign-8

Games for All Reasons

Finish Lines Challenges players to finish, popular lines from TV, movies, literature, nursery rhymes, history, proverbs, religion, science, sports and music.  Loads of fun for large groups of players, too!
Paired All Up The Lone Ranger and.... Corned beef and.... Dungeons and.... Paired Up challenges your knowledge of pairs--words that just seem to go together--whether they're people, places, or just parts of an expression. Sort of a verbal Pictionary...

 

Gamewright

Splish Splash! (ages 3 and up)

Jump right into this lively game that’s sure to make a splash. Roll the die and then drop the wooden pebble into the pond. Did any colorful shapes splash out? If so, match them up to your playing board. Be the first to fill up your board and then dry off with a win...

Rory's Story Cubes (or from Funagain Games)

Let your imagination roll wild with Rory's Story Cubes! This pocket-sized creative story generator provides hours of imaginative fun for all ages. Roll the Story Cubes, nine dice with a different icon on each side, and look at the face up images. Pick an image to start your story. Beginning with "Once upon a time...", make up a story that somehow links all 9 face up images. There are no wrong answers!

Flip Out (ages 8 and up)

FlipOut for this colorful card game of back-to-back excitement! Switch, swap, and flip cards in order to get at least four of a kind in a row. Sounds easy, but the cards in your hand are not necessarily your own! Every card is double sided, so anyone can take and use any card in sight. Collect the most cards and, no matter how you look at it, you win!

Tiki Topple (or from Amazon)

Tactical game of Totem Domination! Play the right sequence of action cards to maneuver your secret tikis to the top of the heap. Use Tiki Topple to send your opponents to the back of the pack, but watch out for Tiki Toast--it'll knock your tiki off the board! Become the undisputed Tiki Master!

GUBS (ages 10 and up)

Welcome, you who have chanced to look beneath the dewy clover to uncover the secret struggles of the Gubs. Behold this clever card game that casts you in an epic contest to build the mightiest Gub colony. Seek wisdom from The Esteemed Elder or protection from a Toad Rider as you fend off a myriad of traps, lures, and other surprising events. Victory lies down an ever-changing path and no one is safe until the final card falls!

Forbidden Island (or from Amazon)

Dare to discover Forbidden Island! Join a team of fearless adventurers on a do-or-die mission to capture four sacred treasures from the ruins of this perilous paradise. Your team will have to work together and make some pulse-pounding maneuvers, as the island will sink beneath every step! Race to collect the treasures and make a triumphant escape before you are swallowed into the watery abyss! The latest creation by cooperative game master, Matt Leacock...

Sounds Like A Plan (ages 10 and up)

the best ideas come not when they are focused on trying to make something, but when they are busy doing other things. What's the best plan for climbing Mt. Everest? How about the worst plan for making a million bucks? Find out in this game that's all about giving outrageous advice. Select a card containing a piece of advice that best fits the judge's chosen activity. Score points if the judge takes your advice, but keep in mind that plans change with the roll of a die… You might have to give out bad advice, your grandma's advice, or even advice from a psychic...

Pieceless Puzzle

This one has to be seen to be believed - watch the Video at YouTube... it's a one-piece jigsaw puzzle?!

Boochie (ages 8 and up)

Indoors or outdoors, there are so many things to love about Boochie: from the active-play element, to the unique 12-sided rolling target, to the amazing variety of throwing challenges packed inside. No two games will ever be the same. Take note that all of the wrist trackers have completely different sets of challenges so be sure to try them all. Get out and play...

On the Dot the Super Spotted Brain Teaser (1-4 players)

Try to arrange four transparent squares so they perfectly match the pattern shown on the dots card. Flip, rotate, and overlap the squares to create a "spot on" copy...

Knock Your Blocks Off (ages 8 and up)

Stack ‘em up Knock ‘em down. First, race to build a structure by matching up the patterns on your blocks. Then use the battle die to knock off your opponent's crown. Depending on your roll, you may get to attack with an avalanche of boulders, a wall-smashing ogre, or even a fire-breathing dragon. Rack up the most victory points and crown yourself king of the block...

Two games in one: a fast-paced visual puzzle and a fine-motor dexterity challenge

In A Pickle (10 and up)

Creative thinking and outrageous scenarios. Try to win a set of cards by fitting smaller things into bigger things -- a baby goes in a bathtub, which is in a house, in Hollywood. Play the fourth word card to claim the set, unless one of your opponents can trump with a larger word...

Joe Name It (2 or more players, ages 12 and up)

Can you name a movie with 2 sequels? How about a music group with 3 members? Test your numbers know-all in this fast-playing “name it to claim it” party game. Draw a category card and then fill in the blank with the number you rolled. Be the first person to name something that fits and you’re smarter than the average Joe!

Frog Juice (ages 8 and up)

How would you create a magic spell? You might need some unicorn horn or some eye of newt, or maybe some bats or toadstools or star and moon dust. But be wary of a black cat or the powerful All-Purpose Witch Wash!

The Curse of the Ruby Rhino, a Dastardly Dice Game (ages 8 and up)

Behold the Ruby Rhino! The most coveted of ancient treasures stands inches from your grasp but a curse makes it nearly impossible to capture. Roll the dice and try your best to corner this elusive jeweled beast. Watch out for a bevy of fake gold that will get in your way... (counting and visual discrimination)

Sleeping Queens

Play a knight to steal a queen or take a chance on a juggling jester. But watch out for wicked potions and dastardly dragons! The player who wakes the most queens wins...

Hisss the Colorful Snake-Making Card Game (2-5 players, ages 3 and up)

As each Hisss snake slithers its way across the playing area, it introduces color identification and visual logic: Does it make sense to have a snake with two tails and no head' Are those two colors the same or not' Even elementary counting skills come into play during scoring at the end of the game. No reading required...

The Scrambled States of America (ages 8 and up)

The 50 United States of America have traded places so they could see another part of the country. Now they need your help to find their way home! Players will learn everything from state capitals and nicknames, to the shape and location of each state...

Chomp 2-5 players, ages 6-8

It's a shrimp-eat-plankton world out there, and small fry will easily get hooked on Chomp!, the fast and finny food chain card game...

Maya Madness (ages 10+, or as soon as the gifted child is ready to play with zero!)

Among their many achievements, the Mayan civilization was the first to understand the power of zero. Use Mayan principles and symbols to bring positive and negative numbers alive for kids. Add and subtract cards to reach your secret token number. But be careful or you may plunge into the world of negative numbers!

Aunt Millie's Millions, the Frenzied Game of Family Fortune (3-6 players, ages 10-15)

Play the role of one of the colorful characters out to get Aunt Millie's fortune. Use speed, strategy and persuasion to collect the most coveted valuables. Will you get her vintage jukebox or get stuck with a rusty toilet? Claim the same item as another player and you must give the best sob story to convince the judge that you deserve it more! Heir-splitting fun!

The Legend of Landlock 2 players, ages 8 and up (gifted ages 6+)

Employ a variety of complex-thinking skills like visual discrimination and spatial relations to achieve your goal. At the same time, learn the importance of thinking ahead before you play...

Hit or Miss 3-8 players, ages 10 and up (gifted kids even younger!)

Draw a category card and in 45 seconds, list as many related words that come to mind. When the timer runs out, roll the die - if it lands on HIT, pick a word that you think everyone wrote; if it lands on MISS, pick one that only you wrote. Choose wisely and score big points...

Rat-a-Tat Cat 2-6 players, ages 6 and up (gifted kids even younger!)

Can you keep a poker face? Can you remember the numbers on the other players cards? Sharpen your memory and your timing with this clever game of strategy, skill, and awareness.  Rules for younger and older kids...

Granny Apples (ages 8 and up, or as soon as a gifted child can add and subtract halves!)

Quick counting game using 1/2's and wholes, addition and subtraction.  Watch out for the worm!

PDQ - Pretty Darn Cute Game (ages 8 and up)

Quick! Try to make a word out of the letters SMP. Sound SiMPle? How about PTR. Get the PicTuRe? Race to be the first player to shout out a word using all three letter cards in play. Each round starts with a different set of letters - you fill in the blanks. Are you the WNR?

Castle Keep (ages 8 and up, a few years younger for gifted kids)

Raise your castle! Raze the enemy! Build a castle with walls, towers, and a keep by matching color, shape, or both. Will you use your game tiles to strengthen your fortress or to attack vulnerable opponents?

Gigamic / Family Games

Cubulus (2-3 players, ages 8 and up)

Be the first player to create a square in your color on one side of the cube to win. Add a colored ball to the 3x3x3 playing area by pushing it into place, possibly pushing other balls out of the way; or change the order of balls in a completed row by pushing them one space then reinserting the ball pushed out of the row. With two players one color of balls is neutral. Keep your eyes on all sides of the cube to prevent others from squaring off for the win...

Batik

New classic wooden strategy game... Also Batik Kids

Regatta (2-4 players, ages 5 and up)

Race your yacht around the course battling your opponents and the elements.  Each player has a hand of 5 cards. To move your yacht, you must pick up and then play a card indicating the direction your boat must take and the distance it will travel. If the wind is behind your sails, you can have another go. Or you can choose to get in the way of another player's boats. Winds, cards and other players are not always on your side: Navigate intelligently!

Cathedral

battle to gain the most land space by strategically repositioning your building pieces...  Also Cathedral Travel

Kabeleo by Gigamic

Only you know which color is yours; as discretely as possibly ensure that yours is the majority color across the board. In turn, players place a pyramid. These form piles; the color is determined by the piece at the top of the pile. If a player plays a piece on top of a pyramid of the same color, both pyramids cancel each other out and are removed from the game: the pile takes on the color of the piece underneath. When all pieces have been played, the player whose color holds the majority on the board wins the game. A game of bluffing and strategy, Kabaleo promises some intense and unique experiences!

Corintho

Two ancient Greek architects attempt to form a line of 3 constructions which are topped by the same type of playing piece...

Quoridor Classic

Get your pawn across to the opposite side of the board. But first decide: move your pawn, or put up a fence to slow your opponent? The choices don’t come easily in this carefully crafted game of mazes and madness for 2 to 4 players. Also Quoridor Kid and Quoridor Travel

Quarto!

You decide your opponent’s next move. The object: Be the first player to line up four pieces that share at least one common characteristic

Quits Offense and defense at it's best.  New classic wooden strategy game...

Quixo

Like ticktacktoe? You'll love Quixo. Twenty-five wooden cubes are shifted up and down and side-to-side as players try to line up five--diagonally, vertically, or horizontally...

Skybridge

Classic wooden pieces create a skyline full of towers and bridges.  Can you create the highest towers, and add ceilings to create the most roofs?
 

Klutz Books

From paper airplanes to Legos, marbles and jacks, from juggling to peg solitaire to desktop football, from knitting and sewing to watercolor art to thumbprint art... There are so many of these great books, they get their own Hoagies page!  Click Klutz Books to investigate them all...
 

LoloFun

Stackability

Press start. Roll the die and stack pieces ton top of each other. Music and flashing lights add to the suspense, because nobody knows when Stackability will pop up. Knock over the stack or get caught stacking when Stackabiltiy pops and receive a chip. Break a tie with a "Stack Off"

RohSzamBo - two player strategic fun

Bandito - lots of fun for lots of ages

Bucket Blast - a bucket full of indoor or outdoor fun for families and friends, with it's own storage (back)pack

 

Looney Labs

Fluxx

The card game where the rules always are!   Also available in EcoFluxx, Family Fluxx and Zombie Fluxx versions.  Or get Fluxx Blanxx , and make up your own Keepers, Actions, Rules and Goals; visit Home Brewers New Card Suggestion Page for ideas for cards, plus tips on printing!  Other Fluxx Editions: German Fluxx and Japanese Fluxx, plus Monty Python Fluxx and Star Fluxx!

Chrononauts by Looney Labs

The card game of history!  Also try Early American Chrononauts!

IceHouse

A high-speed game of pyramid stacking, or try a beginner set in TreeHouse, then add Zendo makes IceHouse into a strategy game plus...

Treehouse by Looney Labs (or from FunAgain Games)

Logic-based pyramid game, lasts only 5-10 minutes, but you'll want to play again and again each time someone wins. Each player rolls the custom die to determine if they will TIP, SWAP, DIG, AIM, or HOP their Tree of three pyramids while they try to make them match the configuration of the shared goal called The House. Roll a WILD and you can change your own Tree or The House!

Nanofictionary

Proton

Aquarius

 

Mayfair Games

The Pillars of the Earth (or from FunAgain Games)

England at the beginning of the 12th Century Prior Phillip of Kingsbridge has a glorious vision. To build the largest, most beautiful cathedral in England. To accomplish the task, Phillip recruits the most renowned builders in the country. However, the fate of the Cathedral is constantly threatened by all manner of catastrophes and oppositions. Players join together to help build Kingsbridge Cathedral. Wisely deploy assets to overcome unexpected difficulties and shortages to prove yourself the greatest builder of them all! Will your efforts be recognized when the Great Cathedral at Kingsbridge is complete?

Road to the White House by Mayfair Games (or from FunAgain Games)

We all know that presidential candidates make and break the rules. Simulate the race to become the president of the United States, using all the campaign tools available to real candidates and their managers, players plot strategies, plan travel, raise money and react to events outside of their control. Three games in one; a light version that is quick to learn and play, a version that incorporates positions on issues and the use of dirty tricks, and an advanced version that allows players to develop their own candidates in a complete simulation of a presidential primary campaign. Travel the Road to the White House!

Elixer

The most powerful wizards of the fairy realm participate in a friendly and prankful magical joust. Each wizard competes to be the first to cast upon his opponents spells from his list of hilarious spells...

Hey! That's My Fish!

Shuffle fish tiles into a square array, and play your penguins to catch the most fish.  But don't be fooled by the fun theme - this is a tricky strategy game!

Settlers of Catan

Catan is an imaginary unexplored island, and players are explorers and settlers. The playing surface is made of hexagonal tiles that, depending on their placement, create a different environment each time the game is played. Settlers must use their resources to develop their island home, building roads and houses to create new towns. But watch out! There's a robber on the island...  Expansion sets include Settlers 5-6 Player Expansion, Seafarers of Catan, Cities & Knights of Catan, Starfarers of Catan, Settlers of the Stone Age, Settlers of Catan Travel Edition
 

McNeill Brighter Minds

Twisted Fish

Takes "Go Fish" to a whole new level, and adds challenge that even the adults won't get tired of!

You've Been Sentenced (3-10 players, ages 8+)

Using a unique word deck of pentagon shaped cards containing conjugations of funny words, famous names from throughout history, familiar places, and wild cards, players have to make grammatically correct and justifiable sentences. The real fun begins when players have to read their sentences out loud and explain what they mean to the rest of players. They form the jury and vote thumbs up or down on whether the sentence and justification stand and the points are scored...
 

MindWare A toy company that's also a toy store!

Out of the Box Publishing the folks who brought you Apples to Apples, and much more!

Pirates Versus Pirates (ages 8 and up) (or from Funagain Games or Amazon)

The Swashbucklin' Game of Swords and RewaaarrrdsThree bands of pirates have discovered an island brimming with treasure. Conquer the island by capturing the gold and silver, or by eliminating the enemy pirates. Position your pirates carefully: enemies are all around, and they are hungry for treasure!

7 Ate 9

This short math game looks simple, and turns into a ton of fun for kids of all ages, and their parents!  Try it, you'l like it!

Super Circles (ages 8+, much younger for gifted kids, 2-4 players)

Quick to learn, match a ring of color on your card to the target card. Sounds simple, right? But beware, you can't match the same ring the last player matched, and you're racing all the other players to play the next card and change the rings to match. Fun with two players, it gets wilder with each player you add...

10 Days in...

Can you plan a cohesive trip in ten days?  Some skill, some luck, lots of fun - great to study geography of ... wherever you chose to go, they're all great! Available in 10 Days in Africa, 10 Days in the USA, 10 Days in Asia, 10 Days in Europe and 10 Days in the Americas

Bug Out

Race to capture the bugs by covering each Bug Card with a matching Leaf Card–It’s a wild scramble to find each bug!

Word on the Street  (or from Amazon)

Hilarious Tug of Words Game! On each turn, one team flips over a category card. Team members frantically brainstorm words that fit the category while opposition tries to sidetrack them. The team must agree on a word one lane closer to their side of the street, all before the time runs out... Also try Word on the Street Jr.

Letter Roll Everybody's Word Game! (ages 13 and up)

Roll the special dice and flip the timer. Players race to list words containing the three letters shown on the dice. Only words listed by a single player score points so players are rewarded for their speed and creative thinking... Adjust the difficulty for various levels by requiring older / more verbal players to create longer words.

Snorta

The party game where everyone is an animal... or at least sounds like one!  Fun for all ages...

Faux-cabulary The outrageous game of wild new words! (ages 13 and up)

First, a crazy definition is read to the group. Next, players use the wacky word parts to create wildly funny new words to fit the definition. Each new word is read out loud, and the "Wordmeister" picks the best one. Faux·Cabulary—it's where new words come from...

Cloud 9 The Daring Game of Ups and Downs

The higher the balloon rises, the more points you can score. But watch out, the balloon can fall at anytime how long are you willing to stay on and risk losing it all?

Rock

Race to capture the bugs by covering each Bug Card with a matching Leaf Card–It’s a wild scramble to find each bug!

Run Wild

Race to get rid of your cards by creating sets and runs in the middle of the table. Don’t have the right cards? No problem— grab from a set or run already on the table, or play your cards on any existing set or run...

Apples to Apples, Party Box Edition (ages 12+) (sold to Mattel) The Game of Hilarious Comparisons

This game receives rave reviews from our gifted community, for family or group fun!
Also check out...  (And for a full list of the words in each set, visit Munching Apples fan site)

Apples to Apples 7+

Apples to Apples Junior (ages 9+)

Party Box Expansion #1 and Party Box Expansion #2 more apples, more fun!

Blink

2 or 3-player card game, somewhere between Uno and War, fast and furious and lots of fun!

Qwitch

3 to 5 players race to play cards in sequence. But watch out! Letters and numbers can go up, down, or stay the same... and switch at any time

Dachshund Puzzle

Flip and slide the cubes to solve each challenge; 36 challenges in three levels per puzzle

My Word and My Word Junior

Fast-paced word-building card game - Junior has more vowels and less difficult letters in the deck

Squint (or from Amazon)

Build a picture of the item listed on your SQUINT card. Get one of the players to guess what you are building before time runs out, and you both score points!  Also try Squint Junior
 

Patch Products

Bubble Brain

Make up funny captions for silly photos, then try to guess which player wrote which caption... it's tons of imaginative fun!

Buzz-Words Easy to learn, fun to play.  What Buzz-words do you know?

Marlarky

Test your powers of deception with Malarky, as players try to bluff answers to Imponderable questions as "What is the 'cottage' in cottage cheese?" and opponents try to determine the real answers from the ones that are simply malarky...

Swap Uno variant card game adds a fast-paced hand-swapping to create a great new strategy card game
Toss Up!

Pocket- or purse-size game of chance in it's own case, great for those unexpected delays... toss the dice, try to get as many greens as you can... but don't get stopped by a red!

 

Pywacket LLC

Cromlet by Pywacket

A little luck, a little strategy and a unique game design where there is no clear winner until the very last move. Cards are played, Crowns are laid, Cromlets are claimed and Dead cards often remain. Sounds easy, but wait. Replacement cards may be drawn, Wild cards may cause a spoil, and a players strategy may cause turmoil. Players never know when a Cromlet will be claimed and timing is everything in this game!

Gemlok (or from Amazon)

The dice determines your moves, but your strategy determines your fate. You finally land on a diamond and a ruby and two emeralds. But can you keep them from being taken by the other players?  This game plays better than it sounds - and it's a visual/spatial playground!  Strategy different than any other game...

Keesdrow Deluxe (2 to 6 players or more in teams, also a great solitaire game) (or Keesdrow with plastic tiles from Fox Imaging)

The ultimate word seek game!  Real wooden tiles contain 4 letters each, double-sided for more combinations, and then distributed in an 8x8 board - a new challenge with each game.  Find words in adjacent letters, use letters your opponent already used for double or triple points, but watch out for "red" letters...

 

Rio Grande Games

Bohnanza Card game all about planting, trading, and selling...

Carcassonne

A clever tile laying game. The southern French city of Carcassonne is famous for its unique Roman and Medieval fortifications. The players develop the area around Carcassonne and deploy their followers on the roads, in the cities, in the cloisters, and in the fields. The skill of the players to develop the area will determine who is victorious.  Game expansions, and other editions

Carcassonne Inns & Cathedrals Expansion

Carcassonne: Princess & Dragon Expansion

Carcassonne: The Castle

Carcassonne Traders and Builders

Carcassonne Hunters and Gatherers

Caylus Complex strategy game, to gather wealth and build castles...

Dominion

Construct the most advantageous deck of cards, with lands, minions, riches and more... Don't miss the expansion packs: Dominion Intrigue, Dominion Alchemy, and Dominion Seaside

Gipf Project series of 6 terrific strategy games for the gifted child or adult!  Rio Grande Games

Gipf An abstract strategy game for two players based on a classic concept:... more about Gipf

Tamsk Earth. The second game of Project GIPF, played under permanent time pressure... visit Tamsk

Zertz Water. A fast, dynamic game for 2 players... more about Zertz

Dvonn Fire. A stacking game, played on an elongated hexagonal board... more about Dvonn

Yinsh Air. Players each start with 5 rings on the board. Every time a ring is moved, it leaves a marker behind... visit Yinsh
Pünct The fifth element.  A connection game: the goal is to link two opposite sites... more about Pünct

Hare & Tortoise Features the legendary race between the hare and the tortoise, but with a twist... Great fun for families, but with serious strategy...

Chicken Cha Cha Cha Chaos in the chicken yard!  Play the chicken Olympics... Also available in original German edition! Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke

Gulo Gulo (ages 5 and up)

You are the wolverine (Gulo Gulo) trying to be the first to rescue the baby wolverine.  Moves are made based on the eggs drawn from the bowl... but don't knock down the alarm! 

Niagara Battle the river and your opponents to recover jewels from the riverbank... but watch out for those falls!
 

Set Enterprises

Purchase this great card game, or play the on-line version that changes daily, plus resources for teaching with SET . Also from SET Enterprises:

SET The Family Game of Visual Perception (or from Amazon.com)
Quiddler word game

Triology gin rummy with SET cards! (or from Amazon.com)

Xactika
Five Crowns

Jurassic Jumble from the makers of SET

Fun family game of switching and swiping dinosaur cards and bones, for up to 9 friends or family members of all ages!

SET Cubed A Curious Game of Clever Connections

How many SETs can you make by adding the three cubes from your hand to the SETs already on the board?  Your favorite game in a whole new dimension!

 

Spy Alley Partners

Bluff-n-Peg Turns poker into family bluffing game, with entertaining results...

Spy Alley Game

A little bit of paranoia helps in this business, what with secret agents from all over the world following you around the board as you try to pick up clues to their identity and keep your own well hidden...

Simply Suspects The Game Of Suspicion and Betrayal!

A fast-action game of suspicion and finger pointing. Much like Spy Alley, Simply Suspects is deceptively simple yet surprisingly intense

 

ThinkFun (was Binary Arts) great logic puzzles and games for all ages (mostly labeled 8 years and up, but great for gifted kids much younger). See Smart Hands On Toys for the whole collection...

Zig Zag Knot The world's most diabolical take-apart puzzle...

Tilt Slide the green sliders through the center hole, without removing any of the blue sliders...

Math Dice (or from Amazon) Add, subtract, multiply, divide, square or cube to get closest to the Target Number

Swish Spatial card game that challenges you to be the first to make matches, or “Swishes”. Swishes are made by layering 2 to 12 cards so that every ball swishes into a hoop of the same color...
River Crossing Use tree stumps and planks, and try to cross the river

River Crossing 2 - more puzzles for your River Crossing
River Crossing Jr. larger, easier to handle pieces, easier to solve challenges

PathWords word search meets logic puzzle...
Math Dice (or from Amazon) Add, subtract, multiply, divide, square or cube to get closest to the Target Number

TipOver Topple a path from here to there...

Snack Attack fast-paced picture game, match seven Snack Tokens to snacks already on your plate

Bug Trails 6-legged color matching domino game

Gordian's Knot just 6 interlocking pieces, but takes a whopping 69 moves to take the knot apart!

36 Cube How many towers can you place? (or from Amazon)
Smart Mouth Stretch your vocabulary and quick thinking skills - great new Binary Arts addition! (or from Amazon)

Top This Players create identical shapes using different game pieces. Seemingly simple game is not only loads of fun, but can also be surprisingly tricky!

Tangram

seven-piece Tangram puzzle is the world's oldest and most well known silhouette puzzle, pieces crafted in metal and filled with vivid blue enamel

Adam's Cube 6 puzzles in 1, each side offers a new challenge (or from Amazon)

GRIDWorks place the pieces by visual logic clues...

Amaze Game a hand held maze that changes as you play, with 16 different challenges...

Chocolate Fix How many towers can you place?
Rush Hour

Rush Hour Card Set 2, Set 3, Set 4 (or from Amazon, Set 2, Set 3, Set 4)
Rush Hour Jr. 40 junior challenges

Railroad Rush Hour 2 exit choices, and blocks that move in two directions!

And LOTS more... see Smart Hands On Toys
 

University Games

Beat the Experts

Check your wits against more than 40 world class experts like feminist Gloria Steinem, Bill Nye the Science Guy and Steve Young, former 49ers quarterback. This game features hot shots in all kinds of fields...

BrainQuest

K - 7, with extra decks on America, Black History and more.  Each deck is packed with hundreds of intriguing questions on one side and answers kids can’t wait to discover on the other...

My First, For Threes, Pre-School, Kindergarten, Bedtime (ages 3-5)

1st Grade, 1st Grade Math, 1st Grade Reading, 2nd Grade, 2nd Grade Math, 2nd Grade Reading

3rd Grade, 3rd Grade Reading, 3rd Grade Math, 4th Grade. 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade

America, Hispanic America. For the Car, Black History, Presidents (all ages 8-12)

Canada (ages 8-12)

Colorforms by University Games

Remember these?  350 brightly colored Colorforms pieces in an elegant, spiral-bound book, limitless possibilities...

Worst Case Scenario

The game that represents the times we live in.  Can you fend off a shark?  Land an airplane?  Give your best answer, and see if you survive.  Also Worst Case Scenario Jr.

Fact or Crap It's your call!

Fast-paced trivia game challenges players to separate fact from fiction...

Totally Gross the science game (2-4 players, ages 8+ (5+))

Kids travel around the game board answering questions like “Name three places on your body that aren’t growing hair right now!” or “Can you milk a snake?” When a player correctly answers enough questions to stretch his Totally Gross Slime all the way to number 10, he gets to perform a “bizarre” experiment...  Also try Totally Awesome, the game of fantastic facts!
 

U.S. Games Systems

Hexago Continuo Match color, number or both... simple but complex!

Signals and Semaphores

History in a box, including the fascinating historical background of the signal flag, semaphore, phonetic alphabet, and Morse code systems, in training dial, postcards, playing cards, posters...

Snatch-It

Quick to learn, always fun and challenging.  Players shout out words as they see them, taking them from the center or stealing from their opponents...

Optical Illusions Playing Cards 54 different illusions, created by Pentagram design company

 

Wizkids Games

Quarriors Dice Building Game by Wizkids Games

Quarriors is the game of Uber Strategic Hexahedron Monster Combat Mayhem! Players compete to capture the most powerful Spells and Creatures (in the form of dice!) from the Wilds and add them to their collection. Players then roll their powerful cubes and summon them into play to battle each of their opponent's forces. Strategy is key in assembling a force that you can roll to victory!
 

Oshi The Game of Influence.  An elegant dance of power, as players vie to push each other right off the board...

Tsuro Build your own path, without your opponents steering you in the wrong direction - or off the board!

 

Chris Yates Studios

The Baffler

One of a kind puzzles, quite possibly the most unique jigsaw puzzle on the planet...
 

Zometools

Hyperdo, Bubble Kit, Explorer Kit, Adventurer Kit, Pioneer Kit, DNA Kit, Creator 3 Kit, and Advanced Creator Kits from triangles to DNA strands, the smart building toy...

Great math learning tool, too! Available lesson plans, model instructions, on-line manual. My kids (and their parents) love this stuff! Plus literature including lesson plans for K-12, Kepler's Solid essay and more.  Additional Zome kits are available from the Zometool website, also a Hoagies' Page affiliate!

 

Zome Geometry Hands-on learning with Zome Models

Great new book to accompany Zome System, particularly for the advanced Zome user, studying Geometry and beyond!

   

Mensa Select!

Last updated December 29, 2011