Products tagged with Award Winners

Hive Game

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

So, you love games of abstract strategy, but you’re tired of the same old military-themed matches. Well then, welcome to the Hive: a kinder, gentler, board-less game that will flex your brain’s left hemisphere and put your strategic planning skills to work. The object of Hive is to surround your opponent’s Queen Bee with ants, spiders, beetles and grasshoppers. Each bug-themed piece has its own way of moving, resulting in endless strategies and counter-strategies. Sometimes called “nature’s chess,” this highly addictive two-player game is well designed, superbly crafted and never, ever tested on bugs. Hive comes with a handy carrying case, making it a smart travel game.

Abalone Board Game

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Our hyper-connected world has made us mad multi-taskers. Which is all well and good except for one thing: it’s given us human beings the attention spans of a gnat. That’s where Abalone board game comes in. This strategic game helps players focus their attention as they try to push six of their opponent’s 14 marbles off the hexagon playing surface. But there’s a catch: it takes two marbles to move one of your opponent’s marbles and three to move two. While the game seems simple, it’s not simplistic. Abalone’s six directions of movement require players to stay focused as they balance both offensive and defensive strategy.

Pengoloo

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Pengoloo is as much fun as one of penguins’ favorite pastimes: sliding down icy hills on their bellies! The best part? This charming game works your memory without you even realizing it. (The greatest brain health games are sneaky like that.) In Pengoloo, the youngest player rolls the two multi-colored die first and gets two chances to find matching colored eggs under the penguins. If the player finds a matching egg, he or she gets to place the penguin on their iceberg. The first player to collect six penguins wins. Made from high-quality wood, Pengoloo is sure to be enjoyed by generations of family members.

Dizios

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

If your brain cells are barreling towards oblivion, it might be time to give them a little love and attention. We recommend giving your frontal and occipital lobes workout with Dizios, a domino game with a psychedelic, dizzying twist. Just take turns placing down the glossy, colorful tiles with matching edges to create a flowing piece. Along the way, you’ll refine visual perception skills and improve your brain’s ability to distinguish colors.

Brainetics Math and Memory System

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

The Brainetics Main Kit uses math to teach you how to use two parts of your brain at once. In marketing speak, that’s what we like to call a “twofer.” By using the part of your brain that processes information at the same time as the part that stores information, you can train your mind to work better and faster in all academic subjects. The kit’s five DVDs and workbook feature lessons taught by creator Mike Byster, an engaging mathematician known as the “Human Calculator.” (Sorry, he doesn’t fit in your pocket.) The Brainetics Main Kit is a great learning tool for children that can also help adults brush up on their math skills.

Marrakech Game

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Marrakech uses a fictional rug market to teach strategy and decision making skills. Each player, or salesperson, takes turns rolling the dice and moving Assam, the market organizer. If Assam stops on an opponent’s rug, the salesperson must pay its owner before placing his or her own rug on the adjoining space. Whoever owns the most rugs at the end of the game wins. With rules easy enough for a child to grasp and game play complex enough for an adult to enjoy, Marrakech is great for families. Consider it practice for starting that family-owned retail empire. Cha-ching!

On The Dot

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

On the Dot hits the perfect brain spot. You know the one—where brain building and ridiculous amounts of fun meet. Play solitaire or against others as you try to arrange four transparent squares so they perfectly match the patterns shown on the dots card. Playing On the Dot will sharpen your problem solving skills and crank up your hand-eye coordination, which research shows actually helps kids learn to read. Don’t look now, but you just might have the world’s next reading whiz and table tennis champ on your hands.

Pentago

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Don’t be fooled by Pentago’s simple design and striking good looks. This two-player abstract strategy game is deceptively complex with seemingly infinite outcomes. Played on a 6x6 board divided into four quadrants, the object of the game is to get five black or white marbles in a row. The twist (quite literally) is that players also rotate one of the quadrants by 90 degrees with each turn, meaning that a move intended to bring you closer to victory could actually result in crushing defeat. All the twists and turns of this award-winning game are enough to give even the world’s best soap opera writers whiplash.

Quoridor

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

The objective of Quoridor is to advance your pawn to the opposite end of the board. With each turn, you’re faced with a decision: move your pawn or place a wall to hinder your opponent. The first pawn to the other side wins. But don’t be fooled by this Mensa Select Winner’s simple rules. The strategic thinking, planning and problem solving skills needed to master Quoridor are enough to make corporate takeover geniuses salivate. This fast-paced strategy game will have you playing round after round, learning from trial and error, and developing your strategy as you go.

Qwirkle

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Creating rows of matching colors and symbols sounds easy enough, but don’t let the substantial wooden pieces and contrasting colors of Qwirkle fool you. This seemingly simple game requires tactical maneuvering as you add tiles of the same symbol or color to create rows of six. A great game for family members of all ages, Qwirkle is a multi-award winner that will activate your brain’s temporal, parietal and frontal lobes as you play. Where we come from, three or more is a party. Which means there’s a 98% chance that the aforementioned lobes will be donning party hats while you boost your visual perception and critical thinking skills.

Qwirkle Cubes

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Qwirkle Cubes is a fantastic game in its own right so we’re going to refrain from comparing it to its predecessor, which happens to be one of the most awarded games of all time. Because that would be like having to go through school as the kid sister to the class president, valedictorian and every single teacher’s pet. Qwirkle Cubes has 90 wooden cubes, each a single color with six different symbols on each face. Just roll the dice and score the most points by creating rows of matching colors or symbols. Sorry, you don’t score bonus points for beating out your know-it-all big sister.

Six

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

You have a never-stated, but always-observed, under $30 gift policy with your closest friends. But you refuse to go the usual route (bottle of wine), the lazy route (gift card) or the thoughtless route (scented bubbles even though your friend hasn’t taken a bubble bath since they were seven and even then, they weren’t a fan of kiwi/musk/dandelion scent.) Nope, you prefer a gift that reflects your keen taste and clever mind. You prefer giving something like Six, an elegant and subtle strategy game that asks players to form one of three winning shapes and comes in a delightfully chic box perfect for gift giving.

Spot It

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Some people can spot a 90% off designer dress in a pile of discounted rubbish. They make out street signs from superhero distances. And they can identify the rarest of rare birds without even trying. You can be one of those people after a few quick rounds of Spot It! This smart game contains 55 illustrated cards with eight symbols each. There is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any two cards. All you need is a sharp eye and quick hands to take home the title of “Spot It! Master of the Visual Universe.” Win or lose, every player gets killer visual perception skills as a parting gift.

Wits and Wagers Party Game

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Trivia, gambling and social interaction: sounds like a killer excuse for a party to us. But please, invite only your most fascinating friends because they’ll make this fast-paced game all the more entertaining. Wits & Wagers asks players the same question. Don’t know the answer? Not to worry. Just take a guess or bluff. That’s where the “wits” part comes in. Now for the “wagers” part: bet on the answer you think is correct. The trick is knowing when to bet on a long shot, when to play it safe and when to use your uncanny ability to read your friends against them. Hey, all’s fair in love, war and party games.

Chicky Boom

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

As far as brain-building games for kids go, Chicky Boom is a quintuple whammy. This colorful game of balance teaches kids about weights and cause and effect while building coordination, developing fine motor skills and encouraging both cooperative and competitive play. The object of Chicky Boom is to collect as many chickens, hay bales and wagon wheels as you can before the perch topples. Each piece has different weights and point values, which means picking a heavier piece wins you more points, but also comes with the risk of toppling the perch.

Kwizniac

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

This take-anywhere trivia countdown game tests your knowledge under pressure as you learn fun tidbits of information related to each question. The object of Kwizniac is to accumulate the most points by answering as many trivia questions as possible. Unlike most trivia games that give just one piece of information about a subject, Kwizniac offers a more in-depth trivia experience with a set of 10 clues in decreasing order of difficulty. The more clues it takes to answer the question, the less points you receive. Kwizniac activates the brain’s hippocampus, which basically means it’ll turbo-charge your natural RAM while having fun.

Rory's Story Cubes

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Rory’s Story Cubes contains nine cubes with 54 images. Just roll the cubes and come up with a story that links together all nine face-up images. So, say you get images of a bumblebee, a turtle and a crescent moon. Your story might go like this: Once upon a time, there was a bumblebee named “Turtle,” which was a very unfortunate name for a bumblebee. However, his parents wished upon a crescent moon for a turtle and got a bumblebee instead…. Hey, don’t laugh. There are no wrong answers here. Just hours of creative play that can serve as an ice-breaker, literacy development, mental workout and more.

Morphology

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Can you make a mitten out of a string? How about a butterfly from glass beads and wooden sticks? And more importantly, can you get your team to guess what your creation is in order to move forward on the game board and win the highly sought after title of Morphology Champs of the Evening? Well, here’s your chance to put your creativity to the test with Morphology. This clever game challenges you to think differently about the structure and form of everyday objects and words. Along the way, you’ll laugh hysterically, flex your creative muscles and connect with friends and family.

#2 on Time Magzine's Best Toys of 2010

Pigz Up

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

PigzUp! is another fun, good-for-your-brain game from Blue Orange Games. With each turn, players ages four and up flip over their top card to reveal a number and color. When two cards match, players race to stack up wooden piggies according to the number on the card with the right color on top. The first player to build a stable pile of piggies discards their card and wins the round. PigzUp! builds counting and color recognition skills. Better yet, it boosts hand-eye coordination, which experts say helps kids learn to read. That means with regular play, your little ones could be reading the Three Little Pigs faster than you can say “PigzUp!”

Staccabees

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Staccabees is a fun, fast-paced, family-friendly version of Teetotum. The object of Staccabees is to be the first player to balance all of your wooden cubes on the group’s shared stack. Just spin the top to determine how many cubes you need to add to the stack. But be careful, because if you knock any cubes off the stack during your turn, you have to add the entire stack of cubes to your pile. Want to set your opponent back? Then try to make the stack as wobbly as possible at the end of your turn so they’ll knock over the stack. Win or lose, you’ll enhance coordination skills while enjoying a little friendly family competition.

Aba-Conundrums

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Back in the day, long before there were techy calculators and fancy apps that calculated tips and sale prices, all we had to do math was our head, our fingers, a pencil and a piece of paper—or a napkin. Enter Aba-Conundrums, a Parents’ Choice Silver Award Winner that’ll have kids exploring the world of numbers with nothing but a brightly colored abacus and 120 write-on, wipe-off puzzles. This old-school game is loaded with clever conundrums and number logic puzzles that will reinforce mathematical concepts like addition, subtraction, multiplication, prime numbers, place value and more.

Quixo

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

This handsome little devil is one of those rare abstract strategy games that can be played with either two or four players. Kind of like the smarter, better-looking sibling of ticktacktoe, Quixo Classic has 25 wooden cubes that shift up, down, left and right. The object of the game is to line up five of your symbols diagonally, vertically or horizontally. With each turn, a player removes a cube from the board and puts it elsewhere on the periphery, which might bring you closer to, or further from, victory. Win or lose, this Mensa award winner will boost your planning and critical thinking skills.

Dixit

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

In Dixit, players tell a story about an image on a card and their opponents try to guess the card. Sounds easy enough. But Dixit contains 84 cards with artwork by Marie Cardouat, a French artist known for surreal illustrations that are hard to put into words. Like a person made of paper walking through a field with their pieces of paper blowing away. To complicate matters, your story can’t be too obvious or too vague because if everyone or no one guesses correctly, you get zero points. Although, points seem fairly superfluous to exercising your creativity, visual perception and word skills.

Word on the Street Party Case

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Taunt, tease and smack talk your way to a better vocabulary and word recall skills with Word on the Street. This high-energy party game lets teams heckle each another as the opposing team draws a category card and then brainstorms words that fit the category. Before time runs out, the team must agree on a word and pull tiles with each letter of that word one lane closer to their side of the street. Word on the Street is a clever tug of words game that challenges players to think quickly and creatively as they try to capture letters. The party case includes a carrying case and an extra timer.

Kabaleo

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Pick up some party snacks, gather the family and, most importantly, put on your very best poker face. You’re gonna need it to bluff your way to sweet game night victory with Kabaleo. The object of the game is to have the majority of the pyramids on the playing board at the end of the game be in your color. On your turn, place a colored pyramid on the board by itself or stack it on another pyramid. The pyramid on top determines the color of the pile. But be sure to be discreet as you go about placing pyramids on the board because nobody knows which color is yours…and that’s how you want to keep it!

Forbidden Island

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Fire up your frontal cortex. You’re going to need it on a do-or-die mission to capture four sacred treasures from Forbidden Island before this perilous paradise sinks and takes you and everyone else with it. But leave your competitive spirit at home because this 2010 Mensa Favorite Brainy Games Winner is a cooperative game where you win or lose as a team, making it a rewarding game for families. Ornate treasure figurines and sturdy cards with vivid illustrations help immerse players in the game as tensions and waters rise in a race against the clock.

Reverse Charades

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Between the non-stop hilarity and get-out-of-your-seat action, it’s no coincidence that charades has been a go-to party game for decades. But even consummate crowd pleasers can benefit from a new perspective. Enter Reverse Charades. Here’s the twist: Instead of one person acting out words for their team, the team acts out words for one person. Each guesser gets 60 seconds to guess as many words as they can. Like the traditional game, Reverse Charades boosts word skills and creativity. But it gets extra credit for encouraging cooperation as team members work together to act out their words.

Anomia

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Sure, coming up with the name of a frozen food or a dog breed sounds easy enough. Or at least that’s what you think while downing a Hot Pocket and petting your cocker spaniel. Turns out, coming up with it before your opponent in a game of Anomia is not quite as easy. The rules for this Mensa Select winner are simple: Flip over a card from the pile and face off with the player whose card has the same symbol as yours. Then, blurt out an example of the person, place or thing on your opponent’s card before they can do the same. Win or lose, you’ll laugh, shout and exercise your noggin.

Dabble

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Once upon a time in a Brooklyn basement, there was an 84-year-old inventor who tinkered away creating one failed invention after another. Then one day (80 failed inventions later), he was cutting up plastic tiles and came up with the idea for Dabble, Creative Child Magazine’s 2011 Game of the Year. This fast-paced word skills game gives each player 20 letters and five minutes to come up with words of two, three, four, five or six letters. Moral of the story: The mind can do great things at any age as long as you keep it stimulated and never give up. So kick your neurons into gear with a game of Dabble.

Trigger

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Slap yourself silly in this ridiculously fun party game. 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 sample statements :

• 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 such a tiny tin!

Perplexus Epic

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Two things make a maze addictive. First, it has to be challenging enough to hold your interest. And second, it has to be possible to solve so you can experience the thrill of victory (and not go completely mad.) Perplexus Epic meets both criteria. This 3-D labyrinth challenges players to carefully flip, shift and twist a transparent sphere as they try to maneuver a small marble around 125 barriers. Perplexus Epic will entertain both children and adults alike as they think in 360 degrees, exercise their fine motor skills and improve hand-eye coordination.

Q-Ba-Maze 2.0 Big Box

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Building blocks get a modern-day makeover with interlocking translucent cubes and marbles that roll, drop and spiral in surprising ways. Part art and part science, Q-BA-MAZE inspires both right- and left-brain thinking as you construct marble mazes that are aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound. Single-exit and bottom-exit cubes let you decide which way the marble will roll. When the marble reaches a double-exit cube, the suspense begins. Q-BA-MAZE will inspire your inner engineer, inventor and artist as you create everything from bridges to robots to abstract pieces of art.

Dragon Face

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Fast forward to the year 2527. The universe is divided into two ideological spheres and an epic battle of the minds is underway. Your mission? Capture your opponent’s Emperor. To do this, you need to jump over your opponent’s Ambassadors and Governors to convert them to your way of thinking, which will take some serious critical thinking on your part. Nobody ever said conquering the universe would be easy. Dragon Face combines elements of checkers and chess (but with simpler rules) and has a simple complexity that makes it a smart game for strategy game fans ages eight and up.

Trango

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

We’re a nation of mad multi-taskers and our brains are frantically trying to keep up. Help your gray matter out with a game that exercises your visual perception and critical thinking skills in one fell swoop. In Trango, players roll the die to determine how many tiles to place on each turn. The object of the game is to score the most points by creating geometric shapes called Trangos, ranging from a simple four-piece triad to a 10-piece spade. But your brain has to do double duty to recognize patterns while also thinking strategically to try to block your opponents from making their own Trangos.

Spell It

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Rev up your spelling engines... On your marks... Get set... Roll the five alphabet dice! All players now have the ingredients needed to whip up a word, using at least 3 of the 5 letters. Be the first to call out and spell a word related to the given theme and you win a chip! Spell It! is the fun, fast-paced party game that will keep your brain on its toes!

Washington DC 4D Cityscape

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Most jigsaw puzzles are flat and two-dimensional. A few break on through to the third. Only the 4D Cityscape incorporates the 4th dimension - time. The first two layers of this beautifully designed puzzle assemble together to form a geometric map of the city. The third layer incorporates 3D replicas of the structures and monuments that make our nation's capitol's architecture so distinctive. As you work your way through the enclosed Time Poster, you add each building in chronological order, so you see how the city developed and evolved over time. From 1792 through the present day, the puzzle is a history lesson that you build yourself, and is sure to please history buffs as well as puzzle aficionados. The completed puzzle measures 26 x 15 x 2.5 inches, with over 1100 pieces.

Pajaggle

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Despite all our complex emotions and sophisticated neurotransmissions, humans can be truly simple creatures at times. As proven by the same smug sense of satisfaction people get from plugging a thick puzzle piece into a snug-fitting socket of Pajaggle. This fun twist on a traditional puzzle challenges players to assemble Pajaggle as fast as they can. Time yourself or test your speed against other players. But don’t let the seemingly simple spirograph-like pieces fool you. With so many similar shapes, Pajaggle is sure to give your visual perception skills a serious workout.

Spontuneous

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

You secretly wish life were a musical and you could fearlessly break out Singin' in the Rain accompanied by Mr. Tambourine Man without being told to Beat It. With Spontuneous, you can. This laugh- and sing-out-loud party game goes like this: All players write down a trigger word from the lyrics of a song they know. On your turn, flip the 15-second timer, say one of your trigger words, then kick back and watch the other players race to belt out a five-word portion of any song containing your word. The first person to do so gets to roll the dice and advance on the game board’s treble clef.

Cubu

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Brain game or work of art? With Cubu, you get both. This challenging card game tests the visual perception skills of the design inclined as they follow number and color sequences to quickly calculate the position of particular squares. We won’t get bogged down with the rules here because we’d much rather talk about the drop-dead gorgeous box and the engaging patterns, vibrant colors and stunning graphics of the playing cards. Inspired by Bauhaus artist Josef Albers’ series of paintings that explored color, “Homage to the Square,” Cubu makes a chic gift for aficionados of well-designed goods.

Distraction

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Research shows it’s difficult for humans to memorize a sequence of numbers longer than seven digits. But your memory skills are top notch, so you’re confident it’ll be a cinch. Prove it with a game of Distraction. Remember these digits: 7, 3, 6. Now, bang out a drum beat on the table. Okay, remember these numbers: 4, 2. Next, answer this: if you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring? Now, remember the numbers 9, 1, 3—in order with the five digits that appeared before you had to bang on the table and answer a silly question. Remember the sequence right to get rid of your cards and win the game.

Rollors

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

With all due respect to a certain three-letter video game console that lets you roll a virtual bowling ball at virtual pins, it just can’t compete with a day spent outside soaking up some sun while rolling real live disks at a real live goal. That’s why there’s Rollors, a portable game for two to six players that sets up in seconds on grass or sand. Rollors has multiple variations, including a children’s version. Whichever one you play, the object of the game is the same: Roll your disk closest to the goal. All you have to do is pack your coordination skills, a picnic lunch and a little bit of luck.

Pathagon

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

We know what you’re thinking: Another good-looking critical thinking game. But for a game to pass the muster of our marvelously discerning game buyer, it has to have more than just beauty and brains. It has to have that hard-to-find "aha!" moment where you realize that brain exercise can be ridiculously fun. Pathagon has that moment. Not to mention simple rules, brilliantly subtle strategy, beautifully made wooden pieces and a smart combination of offensive and defensive moves as players work to be the first to create a path from one side of the board to the other.

Eternas

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

We’re always on the lookout for gifts that cool and clever dads will covet. We knew we'd found one the second we spotted Eternas. This three-dimensional, two-player strategy game challenges players to be the first to get four of their colored beads in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Sounds easy enough. But the circular shape allows for borderless play, which ups the strategy quotient and makes the game more fun. This handsome, crafted-from-hardwood game was made to be left out on the coffee table, where it’ll always be ready to beckon your brain to come out and play.

City Square Off

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Your competitive side loves strategic territory games, but the confrontational aspect of stealing territory from your opponents makes your kinder, gentler side a little squeamish. Enter City Square Off: a tactical game of city planning where players have their own 9x9 boards and winning doesn’t require any backstabbing. Gameplay is simple: draw a shape card and then simultaneously try to fit the matching Tetris-like tile into your city grid. Each tile you place must touch the starter tile or another tile already in play. But plan wisely; if you go off the grid, you'll blow your chance of being named Master City Planner.

Rory's Story Cubes: Actions

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Rory’s Story Cubes: Actions was designed to help people learn a second language, but they come in just as handy as a party game, writing exercise, creativity booster or bedtime story helper. This set of nine cubes depicts 54 of the action verbs used most in second language development. Just roll the cubes and use your imagination to come up with a story using all the words shown on the face-up side of the cubes. Start with a few cubes for an easier challenge, then work your way up to crafting a story using all nine. For even richer stories, combine the action verbs with the original Rory’s Story Cubes.

Brain Beats CD

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Your ability to remember a ridiculously large number of songs by heart is legendary. But you couldn't recite the state capitals, the Bill of Rights or the quadratic formula to save your shower-singing, car-crooning, karaoke-rocking life. That’s all about to change with Brain Beats. This mnemonic CD features 12 brilliantly catchy songs to help you remember things you’ve always wanted to learn, but couldn't. Play it for the kids in the car, listen to it on your music-playing thingamajig at the gym or crank it up in the privacy of your living room. Before you know it, you’ll be belting out everything from the first 84 digits of Pi to how to say hello, goodbye and thank you in multiple languages.

Love the Tour the States video? Get the hand-drawn poster here.

Track Listing (click here for lyrics):

Touchy Feely

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

It's time to get in touch with your feelings. Not those feelings. The other kind. IT's called "stereognosis," or the ability to recognize and perceive objects through texture, size, spatial properties, and temperature. Give yours a workout with a game of Touchy Feely. Just draw a card, then reach into the nylon Tube of Touch to find the object shown on the card using only your sense of touch. It sounds easy enough, but identifying something based exclusively not tactile perception is a skill that's rarely exercised, making Touchy Feely, more challenging than you'd think. Play the game solo in a race against time or challenge an opponent to see who can find the object first. Either way, you'll get in touch with your feelings and exercise your sensory perception, memory, and fine motor skill while having fun.
Another cool note about Touchy Feely: We consulted with two Occupational Therapists as we developed the game and used their insights to select the 26 objects included for their unique tactile and sensory stimulating characteristics.

Colorfall

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Domino, meet my friend design. There's an almost innate sense of satisfaction that comes from setting up dominoes into elaborate designs, then knocking them down in a chain reaction and listening to their gentle click-clack sound. And that's all fine and dandy, don't misunderstand. But where's the color? Where's the whimsy? Where's the ability to create striking images based on design cards or random ideas you have floating around in your noggin? They're all right here in Colorfall! These eco-friendly, hand-painted wooden tiles come with 20 design cards with images such as the Eiffel Tower, a garden gnome, and a liger. Just set up the tiles according to the design card, then knock down to reveal the image! Or, to let your imagination really run wild, ditch the cards and creative free play for hours.

Mine Shift

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

It’s a funny thing about games. The simpler the are, they better they get. Which is the case with the boardless game of Mine Shift. The object of the game is to move all four of your jewels through a mine shaft maze made of tiles, but the tiles have walls that block your progress. On your turn, you can move a jewel one space, rotate a tile a quarter turn to open up a pathway or shift a tile to an empty space. The goal of each move is to either get your jewel closer to the other side, or mess with your opponent. With 27 tiles and almost endless combinations, this Mensa Select award winner is never the same game twice.

Dancing Eggs

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

If family game night has grown a little humdrum, then it’s time to inject some boisterous fun with Dancing Eggs. The object of the game is to collect as many eggs as possible. But don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched, because the real challenge of the game isn’t just catching eggs—it’s keeping them. That’s because you have to hold your eggs where the dice say without dropping them: between the knees, in your armpit, under your chin. Which gets even harder when you’re doing an egg dance race around the table. Win or lose, you’ll have a blast while exercising fine and gross motor skills.

Gary Gouda

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Gary Gouda is a mouse. And like most mice, he loves cheese. Your job is to help Gary find the most cheese while navigating his way through a 16-room house. But the more cheese Gary eats, the bigger he gets. And the bigger he gets, the harder it is to fit through some of the doors in his house. If Gary unsuccessfully tries to fit through a door, he has to go to a room of the next player's choosing and give up all his cheese. So you need to put your mad memory skills to the test to help our cheese-loving little friend remember which doors are too small for him to fit through. And don't forget to watch out for Kiki the cat!

Mastermind

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Mastermind is a classic code-breaking game of logic and reason. The object of the game is for the codebreaker to guess the sequence of four colored pegs of the code-maker’s choosing through a series of guesses that become increasingly calculated and educated. This two-player strategy game exercises critical thinking skills and bridges generations, making it a smart game for families. Just don’t be surprised when Junior gives Grandpa a run for his money and exhibits code-breaking skills worthy of recruitment by the CIA, MI6 and countless other clandestine intelligence agencies.

You've Been Sentenced

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

There are roughly 250,000 words in the Oxford English Dictionary. In You’ve Been Sentenced, you only get to use 2,500 of ‘em. Players are dealt 10 cards each and race to construct the longest, grammatically correct and sensible sentence using the words on their cards. Those last two are important because any player can object to another player’s sentence based on grammar and sensibility. That’s when the fun begins as the objecting and defending players plead their case to a jury of other players. You’ve Been Sentenced makes learning about sentence structure fun and is a smart tool for teachers.

Fastrack

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Let’s face it. You were never good at waiting your turn. So naturally, you spawned offspring with a penchant for impatience, too. Lucky for you and your impetuous progeny, both players get to play at the same time with Fastrack. This high-quality wooden game features strong elastic bands on each side of the racing-themed game board. Each player starts with five wooden disks and tries to fling them to their opponent’s side of the board using the aforementioned elastic bands and their very best hand-eye coordination skills. The first player to send all 10 disks to the other side wins the game.

Colorforms 60th Anniversary Edition

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Toys come. Toys go. But the really great ones like Colorforms stick around for decades. Since 1951, Colorforms have sparked the imagination of generations and sold over one billion sets—and counting. The 60th Anniversary Colorforms Set is an exact replica of the original and includes an activity book, play board and 350 brightly colored pieces that attach to each other or any glossy surface. The versatile shapes can be configured into endless combinations and then reconfigured on a whim. This Parent’s Choice Award Winner and Toy Hall of Famer builds creativity and visual perception skills.

Iota

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Iota is a pocket-sized game that packs a big mind punch. Each card contains a color, number and shape. Your job is to add cards to the grid while making sure that the color, shape and number are either all the same or all different in each row. Sounds simple enough, but as the grid expands, so does the mental challenge! Along the way, you’ll exercise your visual perception and pattern recognition skills. Iota comes in a handy tin that’s perfect for travel.

Snake Oil

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:08 +0000

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. We’ve got a must-have cure-all for your word woes and neuron malfunctions. It’s called Snake Oil. And unlike the dubious elixirs of the same name sold in the Old West, this Snake Oil actually works to rev up your gray matter. One player picks a customer card to determine his or her persona. Then, the other players combine two word cards to create a product to pitch to the customer. So you might have to sell a pocket worm to a caveman or a burp cannon to a cheerleader. If your product sells, you get the customer card. The player with the most customer cards wins.