SmartGames Jump in' - Sliding Animal Travel Puzzle Game, Ages 7+

These are great games! I love that they are so portable, and that they are great for kids and adults. I have a couple in my fifth grade classroom, and they are wonderful for kids who are finished with their work and need something hands-on but stimulating. These really test your mind and are quite addicting. They start off super easy, but continue up through 60 increasingly more difficult levels. I have 2 at home and still have not solved the last level of challenges. I have a lovely game-loving friend with Down's Syndrome who introduced these to me. We played it as a cooperative game, working together to solve the challenges. It is fun either way. I bought a few as gifts for nephews. There are several choices and they are pretty sturdy. I will say that there are small pieces which could easily get lost, and you wouldn't be able to play if you don't have them all. However, it all fits nicely into a sturdy little box, so if you're careful, it should last for years. Sometimes I put one on the coffee table when I have guests. It's great to sit and play with for people who might need something to do with their hands.

First the bad, because it’s a short list: the lid doesn’t stay on well, so if you’re traveling with it, you’ll need a rubber band to hold it in place. Now the good: this is easy enough at the basic level for my seven-year-old to play, but challenging enough at the expert level that some of us have not been able to solve it without going to the answer key in the back. Although it’s a one player game, we tend all look at it together as a family to see if we can solve the riddle together. It’s more of an us against the game. We’ve been playing for months and have yet to get bored, but we do sometimes get frustrated. That’s when the solution guide comes in handy. It usually comes with a bunch of “oh we missed something so easy!” and laughs all around.The pieces are well put together and fit into the holes just right, so they’re sturdy enough, but they move easily as well. Overall, a great thinking game that challenges all ages. Easy to travel with and entertaining for hours.

Jump In is another winning puzzle game from Smart Games designer Raf Peeters. It offers a clever concept, unique moves and thought-provoking challenges. All in a compact game board with artfully rendered game pieces—endearing bunnies, sly foxes and fairy-tale mushrooms. Using a combination of moves—jumping for the bunnies and sliding for the foxes—your goal is to get all the bunnies safely into their rabbit holes before the foxes decide it’s time for lunch. As part of the set-up, each challenge shows the minimum number of moves required to solve. There are 60 challenges, in five levels from Starter to Wizard. The early challenges are seductively easy; the bunnies hop, the foxes slide, and you’ve got the solution. At some point along the way, you hit a wall. The challenges aren’t so easy anymore, and now your little gray cells are in for a real workout. Don’t let the cute critters fool you; this puzzle has some fiendishly difficult challenges. The final one requires a whopping 87 moves to solve! The challenges reward solvers who can visualize several moves ahead, and the game provides a fun way to build that skill. This game would be an excellent addition to the resource collection for a gifted/talented classroom.

This is a great puzzle game! I opened it today. The woodland theme is perfect for my daughter, and the logic puzzles have kept her entertained for literally hours today. She hasn't struck me as particularly puzzle-minded in the past but she does not want to do anything else. She has blown through the "starter" and "junior" puzzles today, but I tried the most challenging puzzles in the booklet and they are HARD - there is definitely room to grow. I love that she can play alone and that it is non-competitive. It seems like it would be a good pre-chess game. (certain pieces move in specific ways, and to win requires coordinating the movement of several pieces) The pieces are sturdy and cute. The game comes in a compact, sturdy plastic case. It's billed as a travel game. I wouldn't take it to the doctors office or on a car trip (pieces that are not required for a particular puzzle are just loose) but I would take it to a restaurant, in a hotel, camping, etc. I will definitely be putting this on my list of things to buy for our friends as birthday or holiday gifts.

My children tend to get bored on car trips. So, I purchased several travel games to break up the monotony of video gams and tv in the car. This product is self-explanatory and easy to use. Just the right size for travelling. Good for children ages 6 and up. Durable and fun. Definitely entertaining.

Such a cute concept! Encourages logic and problem solving. I play it with my 5 year old and talk her through how to test ideas and think ahead to future moves.

This is one of the more challenging Smart Games offerings. I mean, it's accessibly challenging. (For example, Logi Bugs is fun, but also is pitifully easy even at the highest level.) Adults would enjoy this game. Kids would enjoy it too, but might find it a little tough. (IDK, there are some really bright kids out there.) The pieces are adorable and satisfying to manipulate. High, high quality, as with all Smart Games. At 7" x 7" (about 2-3 " deep) it's a little large for travel, but you could take it with you. I highly recommend this one.

This is one of the rare games in my house that everyone, age 8 to teen/adult, is willing to play. The puzzle facet is interesting, and the different levels make it so younger/newer players can have some success as they get the hang of it. The more advanced puzzles really do give your brain a workout. It says it is a "one player" game, but I have five kids and 1-3 of them can play with this together with lots of turn-taking and discussion. There's a lot of movement and it's both fun and logical to make little rabbits hop around the game board. The pieces are super cute, (bunnies!) so often, when they tire of puzzling, they will make up little stories about the animals. This gives it additional play value, for sure, but could also be a drawback for travel or regular playroom messiness, since you do have to keep track of all the pieces in order to do the puzzles. They come in plastic zipper bags, so it's not hard, but be aware that everything needs to stay together. Really attractive and well-made. This was a good purchase for us. I also recommend "Smart Farm," a similar puzzle-type game with farm animal pieces.

This game is really nice.the child can play alone.problem solving ability ,critical thinking etc r developed.yes I too enjoy playing it.its fun to play this gsme.

Its a good game to keep oneself busy and challenged!

Very stimulating game for kids which they thoroughly enjoy!

Good product... Kids will like this... Wished it not so expensive