I have always enjoyed playing board games. I used to have a huge collection of my own, but several got lost over the last few years. Moving from house to house can do that to you.
My favorite kind of board games, well kind of games, period, have always been the kinds that really make you think. Games that stimulate my brain for hours bring a smile to my face, so yes, I couldn't wait to try out this game, Rush Hour, that was sent to me a couple of weeks ago. It's from Thinkfun.
It's a sliding block logic game and it's for one player
Product Details
ThinkFun® Brain Fitness games help keep your mind young and sharp – all through play. This award-winning logic game will test the skills of even the fiercest puzzlers!
- For ages 8 and up
- There are a total of 80 challenges
- 15 blocking vehicles
- 1 red hero car
- 1 playing grid
- Instructions and solution guide
- Stimulates the brain
My Thoughts on This Game
This game is currently one of my favorites. You know why? Because it definitely does make you think. I used to play an app /game with the exact concept on my tablet. It's called "Unblock Me". Ever heard of it? Well, if you have, then you should be able to understand this game.
Basically you have these challenges ranging from beginner to expert level. In Rush Hour, all you have to do is look inside of the instruction booklet and recreate what you see on the page. Here is an example below:
This is an example of one of the challenges that you have to try and get the little red car out of.
It is the first challenge shown on the top left corner of the booklet.
Alright, so what you have to do is maneuver the cars in such a way that will clear the way for your red hero car to "escape" the grid. See that tiny white indention on the right? Well, that's where you must reach.
Look easy? This actually is one of the easier ones, so maybe you figured out the solution already. But, just in case you still don't understand, let me try and explain.
You can move any car on the grid, okay? If they are vertical, however, they can only go either up or down. If they are horizontal, then they can only move left or right. You simply move the cars in that way, until you have a clear path for your red car to escape to!
This game is so much fun. I am on challenge 74. I have been having so much fun playing this game. Some I have found extremely easy, while some others have caused me to think really hard. I love how they make my brain work itself.
My 5 year old, who everyone calls a brainiac loves this game as well. Oh yes, I'm aware that this game is most suitable for ages 8 and up, but let me tell you something--my little boy watched me playing it one day and said, "Mom, I wanna try it. Can I please?" I love hearing that. So, of course I let him play. I was doing one of the expert challenges (I have been doing them from the very first level till I reach the end. I haven't skipped a single one)
All I told him was, "Go ahead. The cars have to stay on the board. You can only move these cars (as I pointed), this way, and these cars that way. You have to help the little red car escape." I wasn't too sure he understood, but my son can really surprise me from time to time. He sat there for a minute or two and I could imagine the little gears in his head turning as he tried to figure out what move he wanted to make. It was an amazing thing to watch for me. That little boy figured out how to play! He did six in a row. I held back and did not help him, but he didn't actually ask me for help either. He did six in a row, taking his time, but honestly, not as much time as you would think most people would, and he got through them. I wish I could have filmed it. He got tired of playing after those six. I sat there with my mouth slightly open as he completed those challenges alone. Wow. By the way, this game just so happens to be a MENSA Select game...
I am going to keep playing this game until I'm done with all the challenges and I'm pretty sure that my kiddo will want to try to finish more on his own. This game is a wonderful brain game. It soothes me sometimes in between all my blog writing and book reviews. I'm hooked on it. I'll be a bit sad when I completely finish it, but maybe I will start them all over again and try to time myself to make it even harder? Sounds fun to me.
I wish I could own all of the ThinkFun games because there are many more similar to this and some I've never heard of before.
Like brain games or puzzles as much as I do?
**Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.**
If you are into brain games like me, leave me a comment telling me what kind of brain games YOUR into :)
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