Games for Kids (Ages 3-10)

Break Free: How are your super spy handcuff unlocking skills?

Playing spies is pretty classic childhood play and Yulu has now made a line of action games out of this fantastic theme under the brand Sp..

Dr. Beaker – Fun follow up to Dr. Eureka

I really love Dr. Eureka from Blue Orange! Quick overview of the game (if you haven’t been lucky to play it yet!) is that you have to get..

Tricky Trunks: You’ll want to play with these elephants!

I have to say first that the artwork in Tricky Trunks is just so darn adorable — which makes any game that’s supposed to appeal to kids t..

Fill Those Easter Baskets with Some GAMES!

I don’t have a super sweet tooth so gobs and gobs of Easter candy just isn’t my thing. However, if the Easter Bunny filled my basket with..

Space Planets: How stellar are your rolling skills?

First review of the new year goes to Space Planets, a little game I saw at the HABA booth last Toy Fair that I haven’t had a chance to pla..

2016 Holiday Picks

Here are some of the games I thought were stand-outs this year. They may not have exactly come out this year (although many did), they cam..

2016 Stocking Stuffer List

While I’m working on my 2016 Holiday Picks article, I thought I’d post my stocking stuffer list (not idea, but I’ve been busy with ChiTAG ..

2016 ChiTAG Picks

Whew – what a weekend! ChiTAG is over and I had an amazing time at the conferences, the TAGIE Awards, PlayChic, and finally the fair itsel..

Ghost Hunters: Because Halloween is right around the corner!

Halloween is ONE week from today – can you believe we’re that far into 2016?! I can’t. Since Halloween is right around the corner, I thoug..

Tutti Frutti: Cute and Quick!

I was given a copy of the new game Tutti Frutti from Gigamic and I must say that the packaging is charming. It’s an adorable slim tin wit..

Little Red Riding Hood: They’ve done it again!

Last year the Three Little Piggies from Smart Games was one of my 2015 holiday picks. It’s so darn cute and the kiddos loved playing with..

Splash Attack: Speed fish find (and then eat) game!

Two fish games in a row – what are the odds? Last week it was Fish Frenzy from Crash of Games; this week it’s Splash Attack from Gigamic. ..

Balance Beans: See-saw brainteaser for kids

Balance Beans is a solo player logic game for kids. Like many ThinkFun games, there’s a centerpiece (the see-saw), pieces you place on th..

Beyond Candy Land: Games for 3 and 4 year olds

I was recently asked by ClassCrasher, a Chicago-based company that helps parents find fun classes for kids without a long commitment, to d..

Thumpin’ Thingdoodles: Snap Bracelet Fun!

Remember snap (or “slap”) bracelets from the late 80s/early 90s? (Yep, I’m dating myself here.) They were initially called “Slap Wraps” a..

The Easter Bunny Is Bringing Games!

The Easter Bunny is coming (and sooner than usual), but that means it’s time for my annual article on what GAMES the Easter Bunny should b..

2015 Holiday Picks

I really enjoyed all of these games this year (yes, some aren’t 2015 releases but I didn’t get to them until this year). Thanks for readi..

2015 ChiTAG Games Recap

Finally! My ChiTAG games recap talking about some of the cool games I saw/played at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair! Granted I will say that..

Yeti in My Spaghetti: Go ahead and play with your pasta

This might be one of the shortest reviews yet! Why? Well for starters the title, Yeti in My Spaghetti, pretty much explains the game. Addi..

#ForceFriday: Loopin Chewie Looks AMAZING!

It’s here! #ForceFriday…. and all the Star Wars merchandise you could ever want is now on store shelves, including the new Loopin Chewi..

Chef Showdown: Why this game is my FAVORITE to demo

This article is going to be shameless self-promotion (don’t stop reading!), and I should have written it a while ago but admittedly, self-..

Memory Mix Up: A fun take on a memory from my childhood

Years ago when I was in elementary school we had birthday parties where you went to your friend’s house and played games. And while the in..

Hide the Kids: Don’t actually, instead buy them this game

I’m rather geeked about how cute Hide the Kids is! The game includes a fabric wolf (who kind of has buckteeth) finger puppet and one play..

5 Card Games That Can Be Played In the Car (or at Airport)

Almost everyone has a cell phone these days but when you’re driving a few thousand (or even just a few hundred miles) you’re going to burn..

Three Little Piggies: It’s just SO CUTE!!

Adults seem to gravitate to beautiful boxes, whereas kids seem to like games that look a bit like toys. So when I saw Three Little Piggies..

Hoppy Floppy’s Happy Hunt and Easter basket games

A few times in the past couple years I’ve gone on little jaunts about how kids deserve something better from the Easter Bunny than crappy ..

Robot Turtles: Kickstarter phenom lands at ThinkFun

If you’re on the internet and interested in games, I’m almost positive you’ve heard of Robot Turtles. I can’t recall the last time a game..

Games for Kids (Ages 3-10)

Picture Carousel: A Fun Children’s Game from Tactic

With MY vacation over it’s time to get back to reviewing some fun games! (For those who are curious, yes, it was filled with all things i..

Coconuts: QUALITY Fun with a Crazy Monkey

I love when my expectations are exceeded, especially when it comes to the quality of a game. There are times I open boxes and cannot beli..

Choco: Finding That Long Lost Toy: When Buried Memories Surface

There are lots of brands we get warm-fuzzy feelings about because we recall them from our childhood. Some brands rely on the “warm-fuzzie..

Cheese Louise: A discussion on prototypes

When I was at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair before Thanksgiving, Nick Metzler was demoing his new game with PlaSmart, Squashed. As Nick w..

Raccoon Rumpus: My cute little idea is a HIT!

Last week was a good week for Raccoon Rumpus as I found out that it was named as one of the “30 Coolest Toys of the Year” by Family Fun ma..

Acuity: BlueMatter Games talks about their awesome game, the biz and prototyping!

A couple years ago at ChiTAG I kept running into these two other inventors… it was almost like they were following me. Or was I following..

Fibber: A Ridiculous Twist on a Classic

Some of my loyal readers may know, but if you don’t the last couple times Spin Master has sent me games they send me a couple copies of ea..

Chicks Go Boom: Who doesn’t like a popping chicken coop?

Update: Cluck ‘N Chuck is now called Chicks Go Boom

Back when I wrote about the trends I saw at 2012 Toy Fair I mentioned (and showed th..

Boo Who? or Geistertreppe: Worth the hunt to find

Awhile back I was looking to get my hands on the 2004 Kinderspiel des Jahres winner, Geistertreppe but ended up getting a copy of Boo Wh..

Trucky 3: Truckloads of easy to hard puzzle fun!

Since it’s back to school time and I’m a big fan of one-player puzzle challenges I thought I’d share with you one of my newest finds. W..

Don’t Rock the Boat: Toy-etic plastic action games return!

Years ago when I started in the toy and game invention biz I was told that plastic action (sometimes called “skill and action”) games we..

Magician’s Kitchen: Storybook beautiful award-winning game

Are you familiar with Playroom Entertainment’s Three Magician’s? If you’re not, I’m sure you’re going to be hearing more about them soo..

SORRY!: Yea, bet they’re sorry they asked.

In a recent interview I was asked “Are games for adults too?” and I think I had a coronary because in my world, OF COURSE games are for ad..

The Easter Bunny’s Bringing GAMES!

The Easter Bunny’s Bringing GAMES!

I’m one of those “picky candy” people and frankly, some of the easter classics just don’t do it for ..

$Head Math: Ditch the calculators & iPhones. We’re doing this old school!$