We were given the opportunity to review Tapple and Wonky: The Crazy Cubes Card Game from USAopoly, which was really fun for us. We received both games from USAopoly for our review.
Wonky: The Crazy Cubes Card Game
Wonky: The Crazy Cubes Card Game is a game of balance and strategy. Each player received cards to tell them which blocks they place in the center building area. There are 9 blocks in 3 colors and sizes (large, medium, and small). The cards tells the player which block to play (ie purple medium). The blocks are stacked in the center of the playing area. You must play it without knocking down the tower of blocks. If you knock it over you start it again. The winner is the person who plays their last card, stacks the block and does not knock over the tower.
We enjoyed this games. The kids had fun stacking the blocks and trying not to knock it down. Since the cards have pictures on them it was easy for my young reader to play as well. It does take hand-eye coordination to keep the blocks stacked without knocking over.
The game plays fairly quickly. There are hints on how to play in teams within the instruction book. The reason it is “Wonky” is because the blocks are not just flat and square, they have some shape and rounding to them, making placement of the blocks strategic if you want to make it easier or more difficult to stack other blocks on top of a placed block.
The game is low maintenance, easy to store in the included Wonky bag, and a quick game for the whole family. USAopoly recommends the game for ages 8 and up, probably due to the strategic play and steady hand for game success. My 6 year old didn’t like the game much, but enjoyed trying to stack the blocks and playing with the blocks. My 10 year old enjoyed the game and was happy with herself when she successfully stacked a tower.
Overall, this is a fun game for the whole family. You can purchase your own USAopoly Wonky game through their website for $19.95.
Tapple: Fast Word Fun for Everyone
Tapple is a fun, quick moving game for the whole family. You can play several players or teams and these hints are in the instructions. The game is compact, requires 2 AA batteries to work the timer, and has an easy to use, built in carrying pocket for the cards.
The game starts with the first player pushing the timer button in the middle of the board and grabbing a category card. There are easy to hard category cards, 4 categories/questions per card. The first player pushes the timer button and picks a category card question (ie. Vegetables). Then the plays names something that is from the category that begins with a letter on the wheel that has not already been used. (i.e. Corn). If the player chooses “corn” then they would push down the letter C on the Tapple wheel gameboard and then push the timer button to reset the timer back to 10 seconds for the next player to grab a card and more forward.
The game is fast paced. And if you pair that with the timer clicking or buzzing when you do not think of something in 10 seconds, along with the pounding reset of the timer button, you can get a little excited with the game.
My son enjoyed playing Tapple. Because he is 6 I drew his cards and read them for them, because he is a beginning reader, but my 10 year old daughter drew her own cards. The categories were fun and the game had a great rhythm to it.
We very much enjoyed this game. We liked this the best of the 2 games. Both kids thought it was fun and got into the game, shouting out answers and pounding the timer button. I really like that the cards can be stored inside the game board. The box design bothered me because it isn’t easy to put the board inside the box to store due to the plastic, see-through part of the box. I would like a storage box that is solid or a bag for storage.
Tapple: Fast Word Fun for Everyone is recommended by USAopoly for ages 8 and up; however, my 6 year old loved playing the game, though he needed the cards read to him, which I’m sure is why it is rated for the age group that it is.
Otherwise, I think it’s a fun game and the whole family really enjoyed it. You can purchase your own Tapple game through the USAopoly website for $19.95.
USAopoly games are brightly colored, have good instructions, and were fun to play. Be sure to check out USAopoly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. And see what the other TOS Review Crew has to say about their reviews of USAopoly games by clicking the button below.
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