Holiday Gift Guide: Rubik's Race and Outsmart Board Games | Toronto Teacher Mom

Holiday Gift Guide: Rubik's Race and Outsmart Board Games

Sunday, December 16, 2012


One of my favourite things to do over the holidays is pull out our huge and growing collection of board games. There is something about sitting around the table with family and friends enjoying a good challenge that gets me all excited. It probably has something to do with the fact that I am very competitive by nature. What can I say? I love a good thinking game! This year, we have a new board game that will be sure to get many hours of play - Rubik's Race.


Rubik's Race is the ultimate face-to-face game that consists of two trays, a divider, 48 tiles and a scrambler. To begin, place 24 tiles on each of the trays and link them together with the divider. Shake the scrambler and then begin to slide the tiles in order to recreate the pattern in the scrambler. The first person to recreate the 9-tile pattern in the centre of the tray lowers the divider and wins. The concept is so simple yet the possibilities are endless. I have played this games several times with my 7-year-old daughter and it is so much fun. I marvel at my daughter who has been able to solve the puzzle quicker each time. The game reminds me of those slider puzzles we used to play as a child. I also remember when the tiles would stick easily making it difficult to solve quickly. With Rubik's Race, the tiles are loose which allows for ease of play. The downside is that if you slide too hard, the tiles will pop out of place. Also, you have to set up the tiles every time you play. I use zip lock bags to sort an equal number of each coloured tile to speed up the process. All in all, I really love this game which is recommended for kids ages 5 and up. It comes with additional full-board patterns for individual challenges, which is a nice bonus.


OutSmart is a fun and fast paced family game recommended for ages 8 and up. It features creative engaging questions that all have multiple correct answers.  In order to play, everyone takes an answer sheet. The dice is rolled to determine the number of answers required. Someone reads aloud a topic teaser and one question from one of the 120 question cards included in the game. Players then write answers to try and OutSmart their opponents by giving the most correct answers each round. The trick to choose between more popular and less obvious answers and then trying to say them in turn before other players do since only original answers count. OutSmart is a game of knowledge, strategy, timing, luck and loads of humour all rolled into one.

Disclosure: I was sent product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Oh this game sounds perfect for our family! Love that it is a game almost all ages can play. Thanks for the review including the tips about the ziplock. I'm going to pick one up to put under the tree!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Stephanie! If you loved those sliding puzzles as a child, you'll love Rubik's Race since you have to solve a different puzzle each time so you'll never get bored!

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  2. We always buy a new board game for Christmas. This looks great.

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  3. This looks like alot of fun! I know my kids would love this!

    thanks

    Rafflecopter Name is Anne Taylor

    ReplyDelete

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