June 2011 Notable Toys — General Games

This clever version of tick-tack-toe never ends in a tie. There are three O pieces, which also are numbered 1, 3 and 5, and three X pieces, numbered 2, 4 and 6. If your first game of tick-tack-toe ends in a tie, then play continues based on the numbers 1 through 6 that are on the pieces. Number 1 (an O) moves first to another open spot on the board. Then Number 2 takes a turn (an X) , then Number 3, and so on, until a player gets three X's or O's in a row. It takes real thought and makes tick-tack-toe fun again.

Kloo has taken the proven five principles of language learning and embedded them in a game system. These principles of language learning are independently corroborated by language experts. It means you can just play and learn a language at least 200% faster and much more easily. There is no work, writing or study – just playing, learning naturally and having fun. Comes in French or Spanish.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011

The game consists of a board approximately 30 inches long, 16 inches wide and having surrounding sides that are 4 inches high. The game also has several small rooms laid out on the board. The pins (Skittles) are positioned amongst the rooms and a top is launched and sent spinning from one end of the table in an effort to topple as many of the skittles as possible. Each skittle, knocked down, scores a differing number of points. This game probably dates back to, at least, the late 1700s and most likely originated in France Table A Toupie) or England.
Awards— Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys for 2011

With easy and challenging charades, and with charades for different tastes and interests, the Family Charades In-A-Box Compendium can be played by virtually any member of the family. It includes six games, one each for ages 4+, 7+, 8+, 10+, 12+, and 14+.

Say Anything Family has 350 family oriented questions that allows families to enjoy the laughter and fun of the original party game. Ask a fun opinion question, everyone else comes up with an answer, secretly pick which one you like the most, everyone bets on what they think you just picked. Reveal the answer and score. "This game is fun for both parents and kids, while helping kids develop social interaction skills," Luke Warren, a rep for North Star Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2011.

Reverse Charades is a fun twist on a classic stand-by (where one person acts out words for the team to guess). With Reverse Charades, the entire team has 60 seconds to act out as many words as one person can guess. It's a fast-paced, fiercely fun team competition that's great for groups such as families, work teams, school groups, party-goers or among a few close friends. The things that sets it apart is the "overall inclusive nature of the game to entertain large groups across all ages," Bryce Porter, Chief Party Officer of RETROPlay LLC. told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2010.
Awards- 2011 Major Fun Award, voted 2010 Best New Family Game by KSL Studio 5

Exercise your mind and outwit your opponents with Mosaic 4, the new fast paced 4 in a row abstract strategy game! Mosaic 4 is set up on a board of movable squares. Two to four players compete to be the first to get 4 tokens in a row. On their turn, each player can either place a token on the board, or shift an entire row or column of movable squares over by one space. The rules are simple but the game gets increasingly challenging. Mosaic 4 comes with instructions in English, Spanish, German and French. "The movable board squares add an extra challenge," Mary Lin from Gridly Games told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2011.

Hit the Trail comes packaged in a mini backpack which includes 72 cards, 3 dice, and pencil. Each player is dealt 7 cards. The player then picks a card and lays it face up. (This is where the strategy comes in) Do you pick a lower point card or a higher point card? The Youngest player then rolls the three dice, trying to match one of the die or combination of dice to their card amount which is face up. Each time the die/dice combination match the player's card that is face up, the player gets to move the card into their “mile pile” trying to be the first to hike 100 miles. Players must beware of getting caught with a “cooler card” – like the mother bear & cubs in the trail. If you get caught with one of the three cooler cards you loose 10 miles. Other twists in the game include bonus rolls if the player’s dice totals the card amount that is face up. Don’t forget to look out for the trips /doubles rule which is when any of the dice come up with doubles or triples. You take a card from the person to your right. Launch date: May 2011.
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