Games and Puzzles

Dobble is a modern-day classic game of observation. Each card in the tin is unique and has 8 symbolss on it.  However one of these, but only one, symbols is shared with each of other cards.  You have to be the first to spot that shared symbol .  It should be easy but it's not.

Suitable for 6 years+  (younger children might stuggle with some of the symbols so try Kids Dobble which has fewer but more recognisable symbols)

A simple matching and memory game.  Each player has a board with 6 dinosaur pictures on.  The picture cards are placed faced downwards on the table.  Players take it in turn to pick a card.  If it matches one of the pictures on their card, they keep it.  If not, the card is returned to the table face downwards and it's the next player's turn.

The winner is the one who completes their dinosaur board first.

2 - 4 players

Age suitability: 3 - 7 years

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Orchard Toys is a Norfolk-based company designing and making their games in-house. They have been going for years and have a reputation for producing good, honest games which are both fun and educational.  All the games are fully tested by teachers and of course by children so they are totally safe and dependable.

Most of the games are aimed at the 3-6 year olds.  To an adult the games will inevitably seem somewhat simplistic but they really know that age group so I never have any hesitation about recommending them.  Obviously children develop at different rates so some children may not be able to follow the instructions at first but that doesn't seem to matter as they enjoy playing with the colourful cards.  As the child develops, it isn't long before they fully appreciate the game and they benefit from the educational aspects whilst enjoying themselves.

This is the brain game that everyone knows.  Voted one the best 25 toys of the last twenty five years and approved by Mensa, it deserves to be so well known.  Personally I find it infuriatingly difficult, so much so that when demonstrating it, I have had to memorise how to do one of the easier challenges and then hope that no one asks me to show them how to do any of the other challenges.

You set the board up as detailed in one of the 40 challenge cards.  Then you have to slide the other vehicles out of the way so that your little red car can escape.

Single person brain game.

Age suitability: 8+

 23 x 20 x 6 cm Approx.

Test your brainpower by manoeuvring the squirrels around the board so that they drop the nuts in the holes.

Single player brain teaser game for children aged 6 onwards.  There is a booklet with 60 different challenges.  The early ones are relatively straightforward but the harder ones will stretch many an adult.

To see more, please watch the video:

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Single person brain game for children 6 years old and upwards.

There are sixty challenges, easy ones at the beginning and getting harder and harder.  Position the four penguins as indicated on the challenge and then try and fit in the ice floes around them. There may only be four ice floes but it's really quite tricky.

The board is about 15cm across and comes with a lid, making it a great travel game.

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Single player brain game for children age 6 upwards with a booklet of 120 challenges that start easy and get harder and harder.

Single player brain game for children age 6 upwards with a booklet of 120 challenges that start easy and get harder and harder.

Single player brain game for children age 6 upwards with a booklet of challenges that start easy and get harder and harder.

Single player brain game for children age 6 upwards with a booklet of 120 challenges that start easy and get harder and harder.

Use the walls to place the coloured blocks.

Comes in a little box, about 14x10cm, and so makes a great travel game.

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Escape from the tower to the exit steps by finding your way across the board using the designated blocks. 

Single player puzzle game.

Great logic game, contains a booklet with 60 challenges. This is one of the harder Smart Games. The early challenges are relatively easy whilst the later ones are hard.

The board is about 15cm across and comes with a lid, making it a great travel game.

Age suitability: 8 years to adult.

Please watch the video for more information:

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Slide the asteroids around the board to allow the spaceship to escape.

Single player puzzle game.

Great logic game, contains a booklet with 60 challenges. The early ones are relatively easy whilst the later ones will stretch many an adult.

The board is about 15cm across and comes with a lid, making it a great travel game.

Age suitability: 8 years to adults:

Please watch the video for more information:

SG426

 

 Play the centuries-old strategy game on this wooden board.

Comes with 48 colourful acrylic 'stones'.

Two-player game for people of almost all ages (not suitable for the under 3 year-olds - small bits - choking hazard).

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Single person brain teaser game for children age 7 and upwards.

Choose one of the eighty challenges.  They start easy but get harder and harder as you work through the book.

You'll be told the outcome of the battle between the two pirate ships and the 4 navy ships, which side ends up being sunk and which victorious.  Place the two rock pieces where indicated on the board and then work out where to place all the ships.  Each ship has canons on both sides, so if you place them side by side, both ships sink.  If you place them side on, just one will sink.

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SG421