Holiday Preview - Games

Patchwork is a fast-paced logic game for two to five players designed to build logic, memory and patterning skills in a fun setting. Players trade colorful, two-sided cards between elegant wood racks to create sets, or steal them from each other. Game play takes 20 to 30 minutes. "The game employs a totally unique game mechanic that is easy to learn, fun to play and teach[es] logic, memory and sequencing skills," Daniel Weaver, founder of Knightweaver Games, told TDmonthly. This product has received the following awards: 2009 Oppenheim Gold Seal; 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products; 2009 Seal of Excellence for Kid's Strategy Game from Creative Child Magazine; and 2009 Outstanding Products iParenting Media Award. Launch date: January 29, 2009.
— "It is an engaging game that encourages player to think logically while trading card with other players.  You have to use logic, memory and create pattern sets to win the game," said Angel Stahl of Angel's Toy Barn in Greensburg, Pa., who especially liked this game at the 2009 ASTRA Marketplace.
Editor's Note: Gamewright announced May 25, 2010, that it signed an agreement for the worldwide publishing rights to Patchwork. Play will remain the same; however, Gamewright will re-launch the game as FlipOut in late 2010 or early 2011.

Everyone takes turns to spin the hamburger to see how many bites the pig will take. Players move the pig's hand to his mouth each time he takes a bite. With every bite the pig's stomach gets bigger, bigger and bigger. But the player who feeds him too much loses the game. This game has no loose parts, making it ideal for fun on the go. Launch date: July 2009.

Think fast! What word means “a partially dried grape”? Be the first to say “raisin,” and you’re on your way to winning this riotous game of rapid word recall. Players take turns reading clues aloud, competing to blurt out the correct answer first and move ahead on the board. The first person or team to circle the board wins. Sounds simple, right? But as the race for the right word heats up, and the blurting gets boisterous, it’s easy to get tongue-tied! Blurt is a great vocabulary builder for kids, a hilarious addition to adult parties, and a must for family game night. Includes junior version for ages 7 to 9. For 3 to 12 players.

Each card is an opportunity to explore, explain and express oneself on subjects from serious to silly and everything in between — leisure suits to lava lamps and pet rocks to a favorite rock group on 8-track tape. Launch date: March 2009.

In this game, the goal is to collect monster friends. Kids learn more about each monster by flipping over their deed and reading the bios. Players can also learn cool monster jokes to share with friends. Launch date: June 2009.

We developed this game at the urging of teachers who, while praising the content of our popular TerraCarta USA playing cards, wanted a product more suitable for classroom use. The result is the States of the Union game. The maps are much larger so that kids and grandparents will have an easier time reading place names. The playing card pips have been removed, and we have added rules for two fun, fast-paced quiz games.

Learn the States! Playing the States of the Union game can foster a new curiosity about our country among children of all ages. Great for Travel! Contents include cards of all fifty states plus the District of Columbia in superb detail – state flags, mountains, rivers, national parks, historic sites and a fold-out map of the United States. The full deck also makes a fascinating set of flash cards. Can you name the “Grand Canyon State”?

As with all of our products, we have followed the successful model of dynamic packaging design, educational value, and a commitment to the concept of helping kids develop a good mental map of the world through game play.

Designed to provide a thoughtful and imaginative play experience, this game features a princess who needs to be rescued from a mean guard and fierce dog. Players go through fields, woods, mountains and villages in search of things magical and practical that are needed to free the Princess. Participants share and help each other remember where special things are hidden, and together think their way past the obstacles. The games includes a 12" x 12" board, die, movers, night cards, good grief cards and special things.

Players race to get rid of the cards in their hands 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. It's "the fastest Rummy game available," Leah Osterhaus, VP of marketing for Out of the Box Publishing, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 15, 2009.
Awards: 2009 Major Fun

In this card game for two to eight players, players assemble sets of cards to make their army of knights and dragons. A player can include the magical breath weapon with his knight or dragon to destroy the knight or dragon of the same color. "You assemble the cards to make the image of your knight or dragon. The cards are in four languages, so there maybe some accidental learning," Dr. Daniel Sulliban, owner of Earwig Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Tayu is named after the legendary Chinese hero who saved his country from flooding by creating a series of waterways. In the game, each player trys to create as many water channels from one side of the board to the other, while at the same time blocking his competitor. Twists and turns are the norm in this fast-packed strategy game. "Choosy, quality toy-store owners agree that this game is of the highest quality and provides the most fun for the money," Jodi Swindle, operations manager for Goliath Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

WarStone is a collectible card game using marbles to compete against opponents on a board. The starter set is designed for 2, 3, or 4 players. To start a game, divide the card deck by color and match up stones with cards of the same color. Set up the battlefield. Place stones in their starting positions. Stones with icons match the icons on the cards. Except for Hex cards, each stone has a matching card. The object of the game is to fire at an opponent and knock a predetermined number of them off the battlefield. The cards instruct you how to attack. Contents include 24 WarStone Stands, 24 Page Rule Book, 2 Savage Stones, 4 Master Stones, 16 Core Stones, 60 Cards, Ruler and Markers, and Storage Pouch.

One of four new Haba card games-easy to carry along and fun to play! This Lucky Sock Dip card game will help you to match up the mismatched up socks and get that old 'sock monster'!

Imagine if a bakery merged with barber shop. What would you call the new business? Bread Heads? ... Cookie Cutters? ... How about Shave 'n Cream? Think up these and other creative answers in this hilarious party game where naming is the name of the game. Randomly select two different business cards and then try to come up with a clever name for their unlikely merger. If your name wins the most votes, you're the boss. Game includes 200 business cards, 8 write-erase boards, 8 write-erase markers, 8 voting wheels, 2 card stands, 1 sand timer, 1 score board and instructions. Launch date: March 2009.

This deluxe game set come with seven monter-themed games. The three-tiered box includes Moody Monsters matching game, a 56-card deck of playing cards with four different game instructions, and a Mix & Match puzzle game. Moody Monsters features 15 different monsters, each addressing the social and emotional needs of children.

Two of Around the Table's award winning games in one tin. Family Talk and Grandparent Talk cards,  each with 100 cards per deck, connect generations through fun and diverse conversations.  Available March 2009.

In this fast-paced card and dice game for the whole family, players take turns as the sushi chef by rolling four sushi dice. Other players then race to match sushi cards in their hand to the sushi that was rolled. The first to do so says "Order up!" and lays down his or her cards. Whoever gets the most sushi cards by the end of the game wins. Players can use Wild Wasabi to help, but must beware the dreaded Stinky Sushi card. "It is easy to play, and the whimsical theme keeps you coming back for another hand," Mike Richie, game developer for Mindtwister USA, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009.

Created by teens, for teens, this set of 50 diverse questions is sure to spark some colorful conversations. The cool carabiner clip attaches to backpacks, sports bags and overnight bags. Launch date: February 15, 2009.

The chickens are hanging out on their colorful wooden perch. But if one of them decides to leave, the whole perch will teeter. The goal is to collect as many chickens, hay bales and wagon wheels before the rocking perch topples. The chickens, hay bales and wagon wheels have different weights, meaning different point values. The player with the highest score wins the game. Selecting a heavier piece receives more points but entails more risk of making the perch topple. If a player causes the perch to topple, five points will be deducted from his or her total. "Two trees are planted for every tree used in the creation of this game," Adeline Bertrix, sales manager at Blue Orange Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
— Chickyboom is a top seller at Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., Owner John MacDougall told TDmonthly in summer 2009.
— Three of 44 retailers named this game as an overall best seller in late fall 2009.

American Ody-see is a strategic educational game designed to teach American geography and history by using competitive fun and stunning images. It can be played by children and adults alike. It includes reference to all 50 states plus the territories of the USA. "American Ody-see boasts two versions in each game (Time Limit and Home City), as well as being able to be played by children as young as 8 who can outplay adults, so it has an extraordinarily wide market appeal from schools, homeschooling, families and adults, even to 'serious' gamers," Len Wicks, chief executive of ody-see.com ltd, told TDmonthly. Launch date: July 2009.

Expand your Flibbix possibilities with the Flibbix Bridge. A little trapdoor can send players onto a playing level they're not expecting. Launch date: February 2009.

Rubber chicken meets disc golf in this ridiculously fun game.  Players each choose a different colored rubber chicken.  One player throws the target nice and far!  The target becomes the "hole," like in golf.  Players then take turns flickin' their chicken at the target.  If you don't make it on the target, throw again from where it landed. Each throw counts as a point.  Try to land any part of your rubber chicken on the target within the least amount of throws as possible. The player with the lowest score after nine-rounds is the winner.  For 2- 4 players. 

Follow history in the making with our 44th President. Each card in this 510-card deck identifies an actual campaign promise made by Obama, and provides background information on the impact of the promise. This deck is an ideal starting point for lively debates, discussions and classroom activities. Compiled by reporters and researchers at Politifact.com, this deck can be used interactively to track the progress of each promise. It is made in the USA. Launch date: March 2008.

WordTeasers: Junior is designed to help children improve their vocabulary while providing laugh-out-loud fun. Players simply open the box, pull out a card, read the Challenge Question out loud, and then answer it. Answers may cause uncontrollable laughter or interesting debate. The game may also be used for writing prompts in the classroom. "It's both an education game and a party game. It's fun for kids and their families — a great dinner-time activity," Jack Roberts, senior vice president of Elm Education Marketing, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 15, 2009.

Spin for a Hero, and something to ride: a rival, a treasure (to find or to hide). Choose a cave, or a castle with fortified towers, a friend and an object with magical powers. Get all of them first and you'll get the glory ... of winning ... and using them all in a story. The game includes: four Heroes, four Rivals, four Helpers, four Magical Objects, four Means of Transport, four Treasures and four Fairy Tale Places. Launch date: 2009.