Blue Orange Games
Plenty of Fun!
My 10-year-old grandson and I recently enjoyed a cold and rainy weekend together with a fun and educational selection of games from Blue Orange.
Blue Orange has created entertaining games for families for a decade. The classic format and construction of recycled tin and wood products takes me back to the days where I didn’t need batteries or an Internet connection to play. I doubt my grandson can remember a day without electronic gadgets. His portable gaming system and iPod accompany him everywhere. This is why I was amazed at how quickly the he put the gadgetry aside when the board and card games came out to play!
We both appreciated that Blue Orange products are made from recycled products, and that the company plants two trees for every one used in the making of games. Kids are quite savvy these days about the environment and their future. Blue Orange is setting a good example
Enjoy the selection of our favorite family and party games below!
Spot It!
This compact card game is just the right size to tuck into a holiday stocking and features 55 cards, each with eight symbols. There are only two matching symbols between any two cards. The object of the game is to Spot It!
I love brain games. After all, grandparents need to exercise their brain to keep up with the youngsters! Spot It! takes a sharp eye and quick reflexes to be the first to spot a match.
The grandson and I would be speeding along, catching the matches one after another and then we would both be stumped! Once we realized the the symbols were clearly right in front of us we would end up with the giggles!
Also of merit is that there is more than a single way to play with the selection of mini games, party games, and tournament play. This little game packs plenty of action! Recommended for ages seven years and older and for two to eight players.
Spot It! at YouTube
Tell Tale Fairy Tales - Imagine!
Once upon a time… With the card game Tell tale Fairy Tales players create stories inspired by the colorfully illustrated cards. Individuals can play the game on their own, or pair up with a friend for team play.
One of the first things I liked about Tell Tale Fairy Tales is that there is no scoring and no winners. The object of the game is to create and share imaginative stories. Everyone is a winner as the game encourages imaginative play.
Games can be played individually or in two-player teams which promotes cooperation and sharing. The grandson and I enjoyed taking turns as the story emerged from our back-and-forth take on the illustrated cards.
Some elements came from fairy tales we knew and enjoyed. I noticed as play went on more original scenes developed from our own imaginations.
Although the game is recommended for ages five years and older, I am looking forward to sharing Tell Tales Fairy Tales with my three-year-old grand-daughter. She is at the age where she adores pretend play and silly stories. I have a feeling the game will be a hit!
The card game is enclosed in a tin container, handy for sleepovers and road trips. Instructions allow for a variety of ways to play the game.
Tell Tale Fairy Tales at YouTube
Yamslam
Yamslam is a dice game which combines risk and strategy while attempting to win the highest value chips.
The game may seem similar to other dice games which use “poker hands” to score. Yam slam takes the game one step further by deleting the score pad and adding the scoring chips. While a “full house” or “five of a kind” are welcome “hands,” it is important to score high soon as there is a limited number of high-scoring chips. You really need to take a chance early in the game!
The grandson was a bit wary of the game at first. He quickly caught on to which combinations scored the highest and became more confident. At ten years of age he still may be a bit young for the game.
I can imagine that Yamslam will become a favorite for family game night and he will take delight of beating his dad and grand-dad at the game!
Yamslam at YouTube
Fastrack!
Fastrack promises non-stop action in a classic board game setting.
The grandson and I had a terrific time and plenty of giggles at his ability to score and my ability to either miss or send my wooden disks flying outside of the game board.
My skill did improve in time, although the grandson remains the champ. This may be why Fastrack ruled the day as he kept on insisting on one more game!
I enjoyed the simplicity of the game and the classic look and feel of the wooden board and disks. I am sure that this is not a game that will sit unused in our game cupboard!
Fastrack at YouTube
Pixy Cubes - Imagination comes in cubes!
Let’s get creative!
Pixy Cubes can be played two ways! You can use the 16 engraved cubes to create colorful pictures and you can choose to play games! Whichever way you choose to play, Pixy Cubes aids in the development of agility, creativity and memory.
Designed for one to four players ages six years and older, Pixy Cubes comes complete with 16 cubes, ten design cards, 10 challenge cards, and illustrated rules. Take the challenge and copy the example patterns or design some of your own.
Parents and caregivers will appreciate that the use of the Pixy Cube cards can effectively help children improve color and shape recognition skills, decision-making, abstract-reasoning, problem solving and perceptual skills, as well as memory, sequencing, and coordination.
Pixy Cubes at YouTube
Sketch It!
You need to be quick on the draw when playing this party game!
Sketch It! isn’t just about your quick reflexes. The game requires equal amounts of quick thinking, creativity, and the ability to read visual clues.
All players compete simultaneously after receiving their visual clue. The sooner you finish sketching the higher you score AND the sooner another player properly identifies your sketch the higher you both score.
You don’t need to be an artist to sketch; it helps to be an accurate doodler!
Sketch It! at YouTube
Discover More
Blue Orange Games have been creating enjoyable and educational family games for more than 18 years.
Having won more than 200 awards the company mandate is to select durable and feel-good materials so that the game may be passed down and shared by generations.
With ecological respect the company plants two trees for every tree used in making their wooden games. This is something rarely seen in the game and toy industry!
Learn more about Blue Orange Games and further offerings for your family game night by visiting the official website!
Blue Orange Games
- Blue Orange Games – Hot Games for a Cool Planet
Learn all about the selection of games to be shared by your family!
Media Resources
Media resources and images courtesy of Blue Orange Games.
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