Jenga: Just Add Flat, Solid Surface and Enjoy!
Written: Sep 25 '05 (Updated Nov 01 '05)
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Pros: Game length, social value, simplicity
Cons: Skill levels of players may vary, making it less fun for advanced players
The Bottom Line: A staple for any household with children ages 8 and up.
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| meagandowney's Full Review: Jenga |
I bought Milton Bradley's Jenga several years ago for two children when they were just 7 and 8 years old. Now, they are 11 and 12 and Jenga is still a family mainstay.
One of the best parts of Jenga is the game's relatively short length. It isn't so long that players with short attention spans abandon the game, as can happen with Life or even Clue. Most games last between fifteen minutes to thirty minutes, depending on how much coffee the players have had to drink that day.
It's also important to note that Jenga is just as fun with two players as it is with four or more, a nice feature for family games. And because rounds are relatively short, it's always easy for new players to join in on the next round. In the meantime, watching is nearly as suspenseful for people not playing as it is for those in the game.
Furthermore, a the rules are simple and intuitive for children who don't enjoy more complicated board games.
Age Range
Jenga is appropriate for players aged eight to adult. While smaller children can play it, their eye-hand coordination skills aren't quite ready for a suspense-filled game. Half the fun for younger children watching or playing is when the tower of blocks comes crashing down and all of the players respond - and because they're usually not interested in restacking the tower, it's better to stick with the suggested age range so that play time is maximized.
Contents
The game comes with 54 Precision Wood Crafed hardwood blocks that are stacked three per level with each level alternating the blocks direction until you're left with a tower that is about a foot and a half tall. Apart from the blocks and a clear plastic support for storing the tower in the box, there are no bells or whistles to this game.
Just be sure not to lose the box, as stacking the tower and fitting it snugly in the box it came with saves the most room and makes it more enticing to pull out and play. The blocks are smooth without splinters and the perfect size for little hands to grab.
Object
The object of the game is to avoid being the one who causes the tower to come crashing down. Each player takes turns pulling exactly one block from the tower, and then must place it back on top of the tower without knocking it off balance. It is perfectly fine to carefully test out to see which blocks are looser and not necessary to keep the tower standing. One false move, however, and a player can easily knock down the tower even when extracting a loose block or placing it back on top. Eventually, the tower grows taller and tower as more blocks are extracted and placed on top.
It's a riveting game to watch and play. It truly is, as the box indicates, "Edge-Of-Your-Seat Fun." After the tower crashes, everyone screams "Jenga!" And the tower is rebuilt for another round.
Social Value
Unlike most board games, Jenga is not fiercely competitive to the extent that it makes younger children feel rejected when they lose or take joy in the demise of other players. All players are dealing with the same amount of suspense and require the same skills to win, so if anything the game brings participants closer together as they empathize with each other an exhale relief when each turn ends.
The climactic value of the tower falling down contributes to this as well as everyone is disappointed at it's collapse. Also, players tend to want to coach or help other players choose the "right" block to extract because, unlike cards, everyone knows what "hand" is given to each player on each turn.
Educational Value
Jenga helps children develop their sense of spatial relationships and concentration, as well as eye-hand coordination. They also learn basic concepts of weight and balance. They will also hone strategizing skills and cause and effect relationships.
I highly recommend this game for families with children ages 8 and up. You'll pull it out and find that it's highly addictive!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 10
Type of Toy: Game
Age Range of Child: 9 Years or Older
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meagandowney
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Member: Meagan Downey
Location: Chicago, IL
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