A lightweight headset containing sensors for the forehead and earlobes measures your brainwave activity. When you focus your concentration, a small foam ball will rise on a gentle stream of air. Relax your thoughts and the ball will descend. By using a combination of physical and mental coordination, you must then guide the ball through a customizable obstacle course–the various obstacles can be repositioned into many different configurations. Mindflex™ combines advanced technology with the power of thought to create an interactive experience unlike any other– a game where players compete in the ultimate mental marathon!

For ages 8 and up.
Requires 4 "C" and 2 "AAA' batteries.

Mindflex--featuring a headset that reads your brain waves and a levitating foam ball--is the kind of game that must be seen to be believed. Recommended for players aged eight and older, the game begins when you strap on the headset so you can use your powers of concentration to move the ball around the game console and through a mind-bending obstacle course. A dial-in console lets you to keep the ball lifted on a cushion of air, but raising and lowering the ball must be accomplished by alternating concentrating and relaxing your mind.

At a Glance Ages: 8+ Requires: 4 "C" and 3 "AAA" batteries (not included) Screwdriver for battery installation

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Adults and kids guide a foam ball through obstacles using the power of their minds. The Challenging: Players unable to perceive a relationship between their minds and the ball's height may grow impatient. In a Nutshell: Foam ball really does rise and fall, and choice of games and obstacle courses provides hours of amusement.

Your telekinetic fantasies becomes a reality with the Mattel Mindflex. View larger.

The challenging obstacle course will hone your mental focus. View larger.

Headset Measures your Brain Waves
Tired of games that depend on the roll of a die or lucky draw? With the help of advanced technology, Mindflex introduces a whole new way to play--by using the power of your mind!

You'll feel like a character in a science fiction movie as you strap on the headset, connect the clips to your ear lobes, and align the metal forehead sensor just above your left eyebrow. But even this strange accessory won't prepare you for the sight of a foam ball quivering five inches above the game console!

Move the Ball with the Power of your Mind
Skeptics will be quick to point out that the console's moveable fan nozzle holds the ball aloft on a cushion of air. However, as players learn to alternately focus and relax their minds, the ball will respond by rising and falling. An instruction manual provides various concentration and relaxation techniques to try such as math problems or visualization and practice exercises.

Once you feel like you've mastered the art of telekinesis, you can test your mental acuity with five challenging games designed for groups of one to four players. Use the game console to select your game, set the difficulty level, and track your scores.

Design a Mind-Bending Obstacle Course
A variety of hoops, hurdles, funnels, and a teeter-totter can be positioned however you choose on the game console. Players use their minds to move the ball under, over, or through the obstacles. Several games test speed, while another challenges players to lift a ball up and through a funnel, shooting it across the game console to score points.

While Mindflex's advanced technology is sure to intrigue, mastering the games may prove difficult for some. Because concentration techniques will vary from person to person, the game rewards patience and a willingness to experiment. Fans of mazes and brain teasers will appreciate the mental challenge, and creative types will like designing the obstacle courses.

Mindflex's game console requires four "C" batteries (not included), and the headset requires three "AAA" batteries (not included). The four foam balls should be handled with care to keep their ability to levitate. Fortunately, the game console features an inner compartment for safe ball storage.

What's in the Box
Game console, headset, four foam balls, and various obstacles. (Batteries not included.)

Bananagrams is a fast and fun word game that requires no pencil, paper or board. All you need is a table. One hand can be played in as little as five minutes. It is a great for family fun as well as being educational. Bananagrams portability makes it perfect for travel. Just grab the pouch and go.

SCRABBLE SLAM is a fast-paced word game where anything could happen! Race against each other to change the existing four-letter word and get rid of your cards. “Game” could become “fame” and “fame” could become “fate”—you never know where it’ll go. Be the first player to get rid of all of your cards to win!

Our tactile wooden block game combines the logic and strategy of Set® with the creative multi-maneuver game play of Scrabble®. Easy-to-learn rules mean youll be creating columns and rows of matching colors and shapes in no time! Look for opportunities to score big by placing a tile that touches multiple pieces and matches both shapes and colors; the player with the most points wins. 108 blocks.

One of the most successful games of all time, Settlers of Catan is a trading and building game set in the mythical world of Catan. Players roll dice to determine which resources are generated each round and then must strategically trade those resources with other players to get what they need to build their settlements, cities, and roads. With multiple ways to gain victory points and a board that changes in every play, Settlers of Catan is a game that can be played hundreds of different ways. The base of a hugely successful franchise, with multiple engaging expansions, Settlers is the core game of many collections, and is a wonderful way to spend time with family and friends. For 3 to 4 players.

The Settlers of Catan from Mayfair Games is an award-winning strategy game where players collect resources and use them to build roads, settlements and cities on their way to victory. The board itself is variable, making each game a little different from the next. Each round of The Settlers of Catan is intended to keep three or four players ages 10 and above engaged for up to 90 minutes.

The game map changes every time for an endless variety of play. View larger.

Settlers of Catan engages both children and adults, garnering best-seller status in both Germany and the US. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Engaging strategy game that's different each time you play The Bad: Requires three or four players In a Nutshell: The Settlers of Catan is fun, easy to learn, and keeps advanced players on their toes At a Glance Ages: 10 and up Requires: Three or four players

On the Road to Settlement
The game rules and almanac booklet sets out four pages of guidelines for getting started. Don't worry, the rules are straightforward and the four pages include plenty of illustrations. There's a starting map that shows a well-balanced set-up for beginners to follow and directions that allow more advanced players to lay out the map of the island at random. You'll have to pop the die-cut components of the game out of their cardboard holders before you play your first game.

The almanac portion of the booklet is laid out alphabetically, so while playing you can find answers to specific questions quickly. Useful entries remind you exactly what role pieces like the robber play, how actions like maritime trade work, and how to set up the board or finish the game.

Exploring and Developing Catan
The board consists of 19 terrain hexes surrounded by the ocean. Each type of terrain produces a different type of resource: brick, wool, ore, grain or lumber. There's also a desert hex that produces no resources. As the game progresses, players use resources to build roads along the edges of these hexes and settlements or cities on the intersections where three hexes meet. Each player begins the game with two settlements and two roads.

Each player's roll of the dice causes certain hexes to produce resources, which you collect if you have a settlement on one of them. On your turn, you'll use various combinations of the resources you've acquired to build new roads and settlements, upgrade settlements to cities, or purchase development cards. The ability to trade resources with other players adds a new level of strategy and ensures that the game includes lots of interaction between players. You can also trade without worrying about other players using an unfavorable maritime trade rate. Elements including a robber piece that lets you steal from other players and a variety of development cards add intrigue to the game.

The objective of The Settlers of Catan is to be the first one who collects 10 victory points. Each settlement is worth one victory point and each city is worth two victory points. You can also earn victory points by holding the "Longest Road" card, the "Largest Army" card, or special victory point development cards.

Best-Selling Game of the Year
It's easy to see why The Settlers of Catan has been recognized as a best-selling Game of the Year in both Germany and the U. S. We found this game to be fun and engaging for both children and adults, and the variable nature of the playing field really made us want to play again and again. When we started pausing to contemplate our opponents' strategy and factoring the probability of different dice rolls into our moves, the game sometimes took longer than expected, but we were so engrossed we didn't even notice until it was all over.

Due to the widespread popularity of the original game, several expansion sets (sold separately) are available that allow you to explore new aspects of the game or add more players. The only downside to this game is that you need to have either three or four players to play, so it's great that expansion sets are available that will allow you to add players.

What's in the Box
Six sea frame pieces, 19 terrain hexes, nine harbor pieces, 18 circular number tokens, 126 game cards, 16 cities, 20 settlements, 60 roads, two dice, a robber and a rules and almanac booklet.

The challenge of Quiddler is to arrange your entire hand into words. Draw and discard in turn. Try to use those high point letters, but don't get caught with them uncombined! Quiddler is fast paced because you can play using everyday words. A bonus is given for the most words in each round (so little words can help you win), as well as for the longest word. Quiddler is a delightful challenge for both rookies and word game lovers. Quiddler is for up to eight players.

The rules are brutal, but the rewards are worth it in this card game that works a bit like Scrabble. Although there is a solitary version of the game for one player, you can play with up to eight. Cards containing letters of the alphabet and special combinations of letters are dealt in increasing number each time the dealer completes a round. Once you've collected your share, you can discard and pick up a new card with each turn. The object is to turn all the letters in your possession into dictionary-proof words while leaving one stray card as a final discard. You want to be the first to accomplish the goal, of course, but there is a scoring system that makes the play competitive for everyone. One nice element is the cards themselves: the letter design is based on beautiful artwork from Celtic manuscripts. This card game is a 1999 Parents' Choice Silver Award winner. --Tom Keogh

Quench your thirst for more Bella, Edward, Jacob, and the gang! Test your Twilight movie knowledge with this Scene It? DVD game! Collectible metal tokens included. Features heart-stopping clips from the hit film!

Scene It? Twilight Deluxe Edition features hundreds of heart-stopping clips, trivia questions, and on-screen puzzlers from the Twilight movie phenomenon! Experience customized mini-games and bonus activities that are unique to the Scene It? Twilight game. They will challenge your observation, memory, and puzzle-solving skills. This game will quench players' thirsts for more Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black, and the gang, while reliving favorite Twilight movie moments again and again! Includes game DVD, 4 collectible metal tokens, 100 trivia cards, 30 fate cards, 6-sided die, 8-sided die, and instruction sheet.

Quench your thirst for trivia with Twilight Scene It? Deluxe Edition. Recommended for ages 13 and older, this DVD/trivia game features hundreds of questions about all of your favorite moments from the Twilight movie. More than just a trivia game, Scene It? also challenges you to use observation, memory, wordplay, and problem-solving to decode special DVD puzzles. Designed for two or more players, this trivia game is ideal for both serious and casual fans of Twilight.

Scene It? Deluxe Twilight Edition Ages: 13+ Players: 2 or more Requires: DVD player TV Remote control

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Novelty factor: The Good: Unique DVD puzzles and trivia appeals to Twilight fans of all levels. The Challenging: Limited target audience, might turn off non-fans. In a Nutshell: An interactive DVD/board game, made especially for Twilight fans.

The ultimate Twilight trivia experience, this DVD/board game is packed with Twilight-themed trivia, puzzles, and mini-games. View larger.

A Dazzling Twilight Experience
From the game pieces to the trivia cards, every aspect of Twilight Scene It? has been infused with the spirit of Twilight. The game begins with players choosing one of four collectible tokens to represent their team. Sculpted out of metal, these tokens have been modeled after some of Twilight's most iconic items: Charlie's house, a baseball, Bella's truck, and Edward's piano.

Teams advance around the board by answering two types of questions: traditional trivia cards and DVD-based puzzles. The trivia cards, which resemble what you might find in Trivial Pursuit, provide questions in a wide range of difficulty. Some of the tougher questions are challenging enough to stump even the most devoted Twilight fans. Players can also strategically use special "Fate Cards" to throw their opponents off course.

The main attraction, however, is the interactive DVD. Hosted by Dr. Carlisle Cullen (played by Peter Facinelli), it is filled with hundreds of video clips, sound bites, and images from the movie. When players draw a DVD challenge card, they must solve a video puzzle. These puzzles range from memory games to message decryptions, and will put your knowledge of Twilight to the test.

Fun for Every Level of Twilight Fan
The DVD has been designed with the fans in mind. Everything about it has been adapted from the film, right down to the gothic font used for the menus. You'll see cameos by your favorite characters and relive classic moments from the film. Also included are several mini-games, so you can get a quick Twilight fix even when you're not playing the board game.

With hundreds of questions, Twilight Scene It? has something for every type of Twilight fan. The difficulty is varied enough to keep everyone engaged -- from Twilight die-hards to casual fans. Also, some of the video puzzles are completely self-contained, so even non-fans can participate in the game.

What's in the Box
DVD, game board, 4 collectible metal tokens, 100 trivia cards, 30 Fate cards, 1 six-sided numbered die, 1 eight-sided category die, 4 category reference cards, and instruction sheet.

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It's the electronic game that's as fast as you are. Test your speed and agility in a race against time using five targets and an electronic handheld unit. To start, set up your targets on the table, around the room, around the house or throughout the yard. Then, follow the announcer's commands as you zip around your racecourse to tag your targets with the handheld unit. The fastest time wins. Features four game modes that challenge your speed, skill, memory, coordination and teamwork. Includes ergonomically designed Hyper Dash unit and five labelled targets. Requires 3 "AAA" batteries, not included. Measures 4.5"L x 12"W x 10"H.

Uno Moo Preschool Game by MattelThe farm animals have come out of their barn to play UNO@! Round them up by matching colors or animals. Is there a blue pig on the barn roof? Match it with any blue animal or any color pig. You can also play a farmer - he's wild and matches anything! The first player to get all of their figures back in the barn wins! Includes 1 Play-and-Store Barn, 28 Animal and Farmer Figures and 4 haystack partitions.For Ages: 3 years & up.

This award winning card game is for one or more players. It is recommended for ages six and above. The object of the game is to identify "sets" of three cards. Each card is unique in its four features; color - red, green or purple, symbol - diamond, squiggle or oval, shading - solid, striped or open, and number - 1, 2 or 3. A "set" consists of three cards on which each feature is either the same on all of the cards, or different on all of the cards. This game contains complete instructions for play, 81 cards, and a durable plastic carrying case.

SET is a card game of quick recognition and deduction. Each card contains one of three symbols (squiggles, diamonds, ovals) in varying numbers (up to three), colors (purple, green, red), and degrees of shading. A dealer arranges 12 cards, face up, and the players--without taking turns--hastily scrutinize the images for logical "sets" of three cards linked by combinations of sameness or difference. It's not as complicated as it sounds: examples include a trio of paired ovals with increasing levels of shading between cards, or disparate symbols in different colors which increase in number on each card (card one has a green squiggle, card two a pair of purple ovals, card three a trio of diamonds). The trick is to keep calm while trying to make the rapid connections. The Darwinian nature of the game (remember: everyone plays simultaneously) is certain to cause some feistiness among more competitive players. --Tom Keogh

Get ready to react fast! Turn on the Bop It game unit and get ready to bop, pull and twist your way to victory. For even more of a challenge, activate the microphone and shout it, too! Choose to play alone or invite your friends for a game of Party Bop-you'll all have to use your knees, elbows, and hips to win! The better you get, the more skill levels you unlock, so think fast and be the Bop It master!For 1 or more players, ages 8 and up.3 AAA batteries included.

Fun for the whole family, Bop It is like a modern-day, handheld "Simon Says." After pulling the blue knob to activate the game, just follow the voiced directions and get ready to bop it, twist it, pull it, or shout it! But make sure you do it before the buzzer sounds! Designed for ages eight and up, the game will have you showing off your bopping talent by being the first to "stay alive."

Bop It! Ages: 8+ Requires: 3 "AAA" batteries (included) Phillips screwdriver to replace batteries No assembly required

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: The Good: Offers variety of games depending on expertise level or number of players. The Challenging: High scores are reset when batteries are changed. In a Nutshell: Travel-friendly, interactive hand-held game that's great for solo or group play.

Be the first to bop it and "stay alive!" View larger.

Colorful, Interactive, and Easy to Carry
Bop It is the same size of a small, hand-held car vacuum, and is very light--weighing under a pound--making it easy to travel with. The toy is made up of four main components--a large button in the middle to bop, a blue gadget to pull, a yellow gadget to twist, and a green lever to move sideways for shouting.

Once the game is activated, simply follow the voiced directions before the buzzer sounds. As the game goes on, you will take less time with each turn to complete the actions. So be prepared to "bop it" or "pull it" quickly!

Bop It features useful rubber grips around the "twisting" and "pulling" gadgets to prevent it from slipping out of your hands. The bright, primary colors of the gadgets also add to the fun and goofiness of the game itself.

Fun, Competitive Play or Solo Mode
Bop It can be played by one person in solo mode or in a group/party setting. The toy is interactive and mentally stimulating--which keeps the game interesting and challenging for players of all ages. Bop It promotes responsive reflexes and good listening skills, along with lots of twisting, bopping family fun.

What's in the Box
Bop It, three "AAA" batteries and instructions.

Five Crowns is a fast paced ingenious rummy-like card game. Its double deck contains five suits (the stars are new), but it has no aces or twos. This unique deck gives you many more options for arranging your hand into sets and sequences. The challenge is to see them make the right combinations, be the first to go out, then watch the others scramble as they get one last chance to cut their losses. Five Crowns, with its beautiful cards, is easy to learn. It starts with three cards and 3's are wild. The next hand has four cards and 4's are wild, and so on. You'll need luck and skill throughout the game because even in the last hand a worthy opponent can come from behind and win. Remember, "the game isn't over 'til the Kings go wild!" Five Crowns is for up to 2 to 7 players.

Connect 4 x 4 is similar to the classic original, but now you can play with up to four people, and the double-sided grid adds greater complexity and more chances to win. Designed for ages eight and up, Connect 4 x 4 may have doubled the challenge, the amount of players, and the grid--but the fun and scoring are still the same: four in a row and you win!

Connect 4 x 4 Ages: 8+ Required: 4 players

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: The Good: Up to four people can play Connect 4 x 4; features new colors and helpful blockers. The Challenging: Younger children may need pointers on the double-sided grid when first playing. In a Nutshell: Fun remake of a favorite game with added challenge and complexity.

Double-sided Grid, More Colors, New Pieces
Connect 4 x 4 is the only checkers four-in-a-row, four-player game--making it perfect for family game nights. With the new double-sided grid, you can score on both the front and back side of the game.

Game play is simple--pick a line, drop a checker in on each turn, and hope that your opponents don't foil your strategy before you get four checkers in a row! The game has also added "blockers," which can be used to block your opponents on both sides of the grid in one turn. However, make sure to save your blockers for when you really need them--you only get two and they are valuable!

When you're finished playing Connect 4 x 4, a convenient locking top slide keeps the pieces on the grid so you never have to worry about lost checkers.

Challenging Remake of a Timeless Favorite
If you grew up playing Connect 4, you'll quickly realize that Connect 4 x 4 is like having both an old favorite and a new game all in one. You can still play the game with two players, but now also have the option of playing with four. The double-sided grid adds a welcome challenge and complexity for long-time Connect 4 players. A word of warning for younger players: the added complexity may be a bit challenging to understand at first, but once they do, they'll definitely be hooked.

What's in the Box
Double-sided grid, 68 checkers (17 of each color), and eight blockers (two of each color).

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The double-sided grid adds more opportunity to score, or be scored against!

Take the challenge of the only 4-in-a-row game for 4 players. Doubling the grid and doubling the number of players creates more challenge and more fun. Take turns dropping a checker into the grid to create a line of 4 checkers horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, just like the original Connect 4. The double-sided grid allows you to make a line on either side, or by weaving through from one side to the other.For 4 players, ages 8 and up.

Apples to Apples is an award-winning party game that will have everyone laughing. We had a blast playing this game and think it is a perfect game for a "board game night" with friends and family. It is quick to set up, easy to learn, challenging, and a whole lot of fun.

The party box includes over a thousand cards for many card combinations. View larger.

Unexpected and funny comparisons make the game fun to come back to again and again. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Quick set up; inspires quick thinking and creativity; fun for whole family The Bad: Not as fun without at least five players; subject matter targeted for mid-teens and older In a Nutshell: Quick-paced board game requires just a minute to set up and will have everyone laughing for hours At a Glance Ages: 12 and up Requires: At least four players

Smart, Award-Winning Fun
Apples to Apples has won numerous awards including "Party Game of the Year" by Games magazine and "Mensa Select" by Mensa International. And for good reason: it involves quick thinking, humor, and strategy. For teens, the game teaches them to think about how different things can be compared to one another and how analogies are formed. One of our criticisms is that although the game states that it is designed for ages 12 and older, many of the subjects are clearly for older teens.

Hilarious Comparisons and Analogies
The name of the game is a play on the phrase "apples to oranges," and the game is about making comparisons between different things. General game play is as follows: players are dealt red cards which have a noun printed on them, and the judge (a different player in each turn) draws a green card on which an adjective is printed and places it for all players to see. Each player then chooses a red card they are holding that they think best describes the green card. The judge then decides which adjective she likes best.

The fun is in the variety of unexpected comparisons people make, sometimes apt, funny, creative, or simply absurd. For example: people might match "Awkward" with "Oil Spills," "My First Kiss," "Dandruff," and "Gold Chains. " Or: "Painful" with "High School Reunions" and "Regis Philben. " Strategy comes into play since, because each player takes turns being the judge, you begin to pick up on the preferences of each player and tailor your choices accordingly.

Players can also try variations on the basic game play. For example, instead of choosing the most apt comparison, players might try choosing the red card that is least like the green one. These variations keep the game fresh and interesting every time.

Conversation Kick Starter
Part of the fun is in standing up for your choices. For instance, you might discuss why you think "Regis Philben" is painful, or segue into a discussion of the embarrassing situations you got into on your first day of school, or your first kiss. Apples to Apples excels as an ice breaker and promotes a good amount of social interaction, as many conversations will be kick started thanks to these little cards.

More Players, More Fun
Although the box states that the game is playable with just four players, we found that the game is a lot more fun when there are at least five or six players. This increases both the frequency of funny answers and also requires players to refine their strategy a little more. Once we got going, hours passed, and it was only the lateness of the hour that reminded some of us that we had to go home.

This Party Box set comes with more than 1,000 cards total, and will entertain for a long time. Additional expansion sets are available to further increase the variety of word combinations.

What's in the Box
756 Red Apple Cards, 252 Green Apple Cards, card tray, quick play rules.

Apples to Apples is the game of hilarious comparisons! It's as easy as "comparing apples to apples"... just open the box, deal the cards, and you're ready to play. Select the card from your hand that you think is best described by a card played by the judge. If the judge picks your card, you win that round. And everyone gets a chance to be the judge. Each round is filled with surprising and outrageous comparisons from a wide range of people, places, things and events. Includes over 1,000 cards.

Challenge your friends and see who knows more about Twilight New Moon - the more you know the greater chance of you winning; Based on the popular movie, the game includes a board with images from the movie, scene cards with images from the movie, playing pieces and dice; Answer questions about New Moon and about your friends to move forward around the board; If you are the first to travel the entire board and collect all 8 scene cards, you win!

Find it fast, find it first! Pictureka is the exciting game of visual hide and seek. Players compete to collect the most mission cards to win the game. Great for the whole family, and kids as young as six can play with older kids and parents. No batteries required.

Now players can experience the most current version of Monopoly with an electronic banking unit instead of cash. A truly fun experience which utilizes today's trend of a cashless society.

The Monopoly Electronic Banking Edition game combines the best of classic Monopoly with updated electronic transactions. As with the original version, players still operate with money, learn real-world economics, competition and strategy, try to stay out of jail, and try their best to get filthy rich. But this version has been updated to reflect changes in how the real world uses money: All transactions are conducted with Monopoly's new banking card system. Anyone from age 8 and up will enjoy this updated version of one of the world's most famous games. Uses two "AAA" batteries, not included.

Includes gameboard, electronic banker unit, title deed cards, chance and community chest cards, 6 debit cards, 2 dice, 6 modern tokens - Segway Personal Transporter, Baseball Cap, Altoids Tin, Space Shuttle, Flat-Screen TV and Dog in Handbag, 32 houses, 12 hotels and instructions. Anyone from age 8 and up will enjoy this updated version of one of the world's most famous games. Uses two "AAA" batteries, not included.

The Monopoly Electronic Banking Edition game combines the best of classic Monopoly with updated electronic transactions. As with the original version, players still operate with money, learn real-world economics, competition and strategy, try to stay out of jail, and try their best to get filthy rich. But this version has been updated to reflect changes in how the real world uses money: All transactions are conducted with Monopoly's new banking card system. Anyone from age 8 and up will enjoy this updated version of one of the world's most famous games.

Updated from the original game, the Banking Edition features updated tokens, money system, and more. View larger.

This version of Monopoly features bank card accounts. View larger.

Classic Fun with Modern Twists
Aside from the electronic banking, the basic rules of this game have not changed from the Monopoly everybody remembers. Tokens, houses, hotels, chance and community chest cards, cardboard property deeds -- if you've played the classic version, you'll know how to play. The board is different in how it folds up in the box, but once you spread it out, it's the same.

The tokens have changed to reflect today's culture. Instead of irons and racing cars, the tokens depict modern icons such as a Segway and a tin of Altoids. Instead of railroads, there are airports. The utilities are Internet service providers and cell phone services. Properties have also been updated -- from the upscale blue Times Square to the economy purple Texas Stadium. In this game, you can go to jail for identity theft or lose $1 million when a virus infects your computer network. And of course, property values are exponentially higher than in the original game.

The big switch, of course, is the electronic banking. Each player starts with $15 million in their bank card account, and the banker adds amounts (such as when the player passes go) or subtracts (such as when the player pays to get out of jail) by inserting the player's card in the plus or minus slot of the Banker Unit. When one player has to pay another player, the banker debits or credits each account as appropriate.

Monopoly for Right Now
The electronic banking is neat and easy to handle, and as an added educational bonus, the player who takes on the banker role will quickly become familiar with basic bookkeeping concepts. The bank cards operate more like debit than credit, so players will learn responsible money management, not how to run up credit card debt.

This version of Monopoly doesn't play significantly differently than the original. The game can still take hours to play, and the instructions offer several alternatives for those who want speedier play. The updates introduce a few elements of surprise along the way, but for the most part it's still the same great Monopoly that will provide the same kind of family fun with some surprising, up-to-date twists.

Pros

• Same basic game play, but with up-to-date references
• Electronic banking works well, easy to learn
• Teaches responsible money management
• Fun for both kids and adults

Cons

• Player customizations might not work with the new version
• Updated references will eventually become out of date, too

What's in the Box
Game board, electronic Banker Unit, 6 tokens, 28 title deed cards, 16 chance cards, 16 community chest cards, 6 Monopoly bank cards, 32 houses, 12 hotels, and 2 dice.

Ages 3 & up. Play a card from your hand, place your chip on a corresponding character on the board. When you have 4 in a row, it's a SEQUENCE and you win! Use a UNICORN card to place your chip anywhere. Remove your opponent's chip with a DRAGON card. Have fun with your friends and family.

October 2, 1900. 28 years to the day that noted London eccentric, Phileas Fogg accepted and then won a L20,000 bet that he could travel "Around the World in 80 Days". Now at the dawn of the century it was time for a new "impossible journey". Some old friends have gathered to celebrate Fogg's impetuous and lucrative gamble--and to propose a new wager of their own. The stakes: $1 Million in a winner-takes-all competition. The objective: to see which of them can travel by rail to the most cities in North America--in just 7 days. The journey begins immediately. Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure where players collect cards of various types of train cars that enable them to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America. Included in this popular game made by Days of Wonder is a detailed board, game cards, help cards, rules, train miniatures, and more!

Join your friends in a race to claim railway routes across North America! Ticket to Ride, an award-winning strategy game, challenges players ages eight and older to complete multiple train routes connecting major cities. As miniature trains begin to populate the board map of North America, secret city-to-city rail connections are completed or hopelessly blocked by merciless competitors. Providing an enticing mixture of strategy and luck for groups of two to five players, Ticket to Ride squeezes the journey of a lifetime into a mere hour or less.

Ages: 8+ Requires: 2 to 5 players

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Railway race game balances strategy and luck of the draw. The Bad: Streamlined North American version less complex than its European counterpart. In a Nutshell: Game play often results in surprise endings.

Designed for two to five players, this highly-strategic board game will have players vying for train routes. View larger.

Secret Rail Destinations Keep Everyone Guessing
All the action takes place on a detailed, color-illustrated board map of North America. Newbies will want to dedicate 10 to 15 minutes to the well-organized instruction manual, then pass out miniature trains, train-car cards, and destination tickets to each player. Game play is straightforward and consists of only three possible moves per turn: drawing an additional train-car card, drawing a destination ticket, or building a train route.

The train-car cards are color-coded to match specific railway routes, so the basic idea is to collect multiple cards of the same color and then claim a route to score points. Destination tickets present an added challenge by assigning secret routes such as "Seattle to Montreal" and awarding bonus points for completion of these routes. Because the tickets are kept secret, each player's plan for railway domination won't be revealed until the end!

Ride the Rails in Less than an Hour
Because Ticket to Ride only requires two players and can be played in less than an hour, opportunities abound for trying different strategies. While your success relies somewhat on the luck of the draw, part of the fun is trying different strategies like drawing extra destination tickets, discarding difficult tickets, or vying for the longest continuous route (worth 10 points).

Surprise Winners and Reversals of Fortune
Once the miniature trains are played out, each player's destination tickets are revealed. Because an incomplete route can result in a loss of as many as 22 points, last-minute reversals of fortune are commonplace, and victory is never guaranteed.

While those who are already familiar with the more intricate European version of Ticket to Ride might be disappointed by this simpler version, beginners are sure to find it a wonderful introduction to the Days of Wonder board game series. Purchase of the game includes access to online game play, where additional maps and game variants await.

What's in the Box
One board map of North American train routes, 240 colored train cars (including additional replacement cars), 144 illustrated cards, five wooden scoring markers, one rules booklet, one Days of Wonder online access ticket.

Hatch elaborate plans on how to secure railway domination! View larger.

The game features real-life locations across the North American continent. View larger.

Rush Hour is the mind-challenging game of pure bumper-to-bumper fun! Players set up the cars and trucks on a game grid to match one of forty color-coded challenge cards, and then try to maneuver the red car to escape the gridlock. Four levels of play range from beginner to expert. Measures 9"W x 8"H x 2.5"D.

Honk! Honk! It's gridlock and the little red car can't move. The player is a traffic cop in the Rush Hour Traffic Jam Puzzle where the objective is to get the red car off the road. To play, pick one of 40 challenge cards; solutions are printed on the back of each card. Then set up the cars and buses in a specified pattern on the 6-inch-square road grid. Move the vehicles one by one (obey those traffic laws!) until the red car can escape the traffic jam. There are four levels of difficulty. Kids can alternate turns with another player or just "play in traffic" alone. The game from Binary Arts received a national award from Mensa and is used in elementary school math classes. The design includes clear instructions printed on the sturdy box, which can be used both as a playing tray and for storage. The game cards stow away in a drawer in the road grid. This is a 1999 Parents' Choice recommended toy. --Marcie Bovetz

America's number one card game, UNO offers hours of fun. It's easy to learn, always unpredictable, and never dull. It can be played with 2 to 10 players, individually, or in teams. And it can even be educational, teaching younger kids number recognition.

With Rush Hour Junior, younger players can experience the fun and challenge of Rush Hour in this exciting junior version. After setting up their game board according to pictures on various challenge cards, players steer their ice cream truck through a jumble of blocking cars, trucks and buses. A playful theme and 40 age-appropriate challenges will keep even the most restless child captivated for hours

So easy to use even very small kids can set up the rockets, jump, stomp, and launch rockets on their own. Kids easily give this kids rocket power, and they will be grinning ear to ear about the distance they made it fly. The perfect indoor or outdoor toy. Includes 4 safe, foam rockets, launch pad, hose, stand. Ages 3+

Kids can get rid of some excess energy with this air-powered outdoor rocket toy. No battery or fuel is needed to get the rockets airborne--just some old-fashioned stomping power. Set up the simple launch stand in a clear outdoor area, connect the 38-inch-long vinyl air hose and blast pad, load one of the 9-inch yellow foam rockets--and watch out. Our 5-year-old assistant reviewer really got a kick out of jumping on the purple blast-off pad and watching her rockets soar 50 feet or more, though she had to fight the adults for a turn. If the three rockets included with the kit aren't enough fun, you can order stomp parachutes and spin copters from the manufacturer. --Marianne Painter

Enter the world of twilight the game. The more you know about Twilight, the greater your chance of winning. Answer questions about Twilight, and about your friends to earn Scene cards and move forward around the board. If you are the first to travel the entire board and collect all 8 Scene cards....you win!

Everybody remembers the Monopoly game - that's why it's still the most popular, most widely played, and best-selling board game in the world! Across the generations and around the globe, what other game brings back so many memories of wheeling-and-dealing family fun' No other game has turned so many game playing moments into memories! Whether you're discovering the fun for the first time or reliving the carefree days of youth, get out there and Buy! Sell! Mortgage! Build houses and hotels! And collect those rents! That's what makes Monopoly the great American game - just ask Rich Uncle Pennybags! For 2 to 8 players. Game includes: game board, 10 tokens, title deed cards, play money, chance cards, community chest cards, 32 houses, 12 hotels and two dice.

In 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression, an unemployed heating engineer from Pennsylvania created the game of Monopoly. Realizing that his get-rich theme might appeal to other Americans, he had the game printed and distributed in a Philadelphia department store. When he couldn't keep up with the overwhelming requests for more sets, he arranged for Parker Brothers to take over the game. And the rest, as they say, is history. But Monopoly is far from a quaint historical relic. To this day, it remains a riveting game of luck, chance, and savvy wheeling and dealing--all of which can make some lucky dog rich, rich, rich! Based on the purchase of Atlantic City real estate (a city currently renowned for its get-rich gambling opportunities), Monopoly is now printed in 26 languages with more than 200 million sets sold worldwide. Players still scoot the same beloved board pieces: the old shoe, the terrier, and the hot rod. This set also includes rules for a shortened version of the game and a new token, winner of Monopoly's recent "design a token" contest. This is capitalism at its most fun and ruthless, a must-have edition in the family game closet. --Gail Hudson

TRIVIAL PURSUIT: The Beatles Collectors Edition. COME AND GET IT! For the first time ever, Americas favorite trivia game teams up with the worlds most legendary rock-n-roll band. Are you the ultimate Beatles fan? Now you can show off your Beatlemania by acing over 2,500 fab questions from six categories covering two decades of everything Beatles - including their history, music, movies, album and single releases, their rise to fame in America and their post-Beatles pursuits. Theres a challenge for every fan as players rock-n-roll a Beatles die to determine the question level: easy, medium or hard! And a customized game board totally rocks with an all-new bonus track that creates more strategy, more interaction and more Beatlemania as players enter different zones including Come Together, All You Need Is Love, Get Back and Ticket to Ride. Its a game youll want to play Eight Days A Week!

Twister is the game that ties you up in knots. Spin the dial and move a hand or foot to the colored circle on the floor mat. Can you get there' dont touch the mat with anything but a hand or foot. It is for 2 or 4 players. It includes a spinner, a mat and instructions. Instructions are available in English and Spanish.

Over forty years old and going strong! Soon after its release in 1966, Twister was made instantly popular when Johnny Carson and Eva Gabor played it on The Tonight Show. Such a simple concept, with so much potential for hilarity. The game includes a plastic mat with red, blue, yellow, and green spots; a spinner; and instructions. To play (as if you didn't already know…), two to four players face each other, with the plastic mat in the center. A referee spins the spinner, then calls out the body part and the color the arrow points to ("Left foot, blue," "Right hand, yellow"). All players, at the same time, follow the directions, placing the appropriate body part on a vacant circle. Players become increasingly entangled, until someone (or everyone) finally topples, and is eliminated. The last person standing—er, crouching—wins. If this doesn't bring families and friends (and celebrities) closer together, we don't know what does! Out-and-out fun. --Emilie Coulter

Build on every Go and watch your city fortune grow! In this metropolitan edition of MONOPOLY, be the top property developer and watch your dream city rise before your eyes. What will you build-- houses or industrial complexes, schools, skyscrapers or stadiums? The choice is yours. But watch outa rival developer could build a sewage plant right next to your prize property and make its value plummet! So build wisely and rake in the rent... and the prestigious MONOPOLY tower could be yours! Features 80 3-D buildings so you can develop your MONOPOLY property. Includes gameboard, 6 movers, buildings, 22 District cards, 25 Chance cards, 6 Reminder cards, 1 Rent Dodge card, 2 dice, 1 money pack, 1 trading unit and instructions. Requires 2 AAA batteries (not included). For 2 to 6 players. Ages 8 and up.

Monopoly City adds new twists to the classic board game. Designed for children ages eight and up, this board game will teach your kids about what it takes to be the best property developer and the work that goes into building their dream city. With the goal of owning the prestigious Monopoly tower, your kids will be learning important lessons about money while wheeling and dealing their way to the top.

Monopoly City Ages: 8+ Requires: 2 "AAA" batteries (not included) Phillips screwdriver to replace batteries 2 to 6 players

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: The Good: A fun family game that teaches important lessons about money. The Challenging: Rules may be challenging for younger players. In a Nutshell: An exciting, futuristic twist on the classic Monopoly game.

Build your own 3-D city in hopes of owning the prestigious Monopoly tower. View larger.

Cool New 3-D Buildings
Monopoly City is exactly like classic Monopoly in lay out, rules, and gameplay--roll the dice, move your character around the board, and try not to spend too much time in jail or go bankrupt! However Monopoly City has also made several neat changes, with newly named properties, new monetary values, futuristic buildings, and new playing cards.

Whereas with the original version of Monopoly Park Place was one of the most prestigious properties to own--with Monopoly City you will be striving to acquire a permit for the fancy Fortune Valley. The buildings are modern and 3-D, and the currency has much higher values, ranging up to five million dollars--no small change here!

Instead of property deeds, you acquire permits for the zones you'd like to build in, and this latest version also includes an electronic trading unit, making it possible to hold "public" or "private" auctions for your properties and districts.

Learning Important Values While Having Fun
Monopoly City is not only fun for your kids and the family, but it also teaches important lessons and values about money--including the work and planning that goes into building their own dream city. We also like that this board game includes several new fun features like the electronic trading unit and updated cards. Long-time Monopoly fans will find these new twists fun and interesting. And for those who are just learning how to play, the game is certain to become an instant hit.

What's in the Box
Game board, six movers, buildings, 22 District cards, 25 Chance cards, six Reminder cards, one Rent Dodge card, two dice, one money pack, and one trading unit with instructions. (Batteries not included.)

This is the classic "child's first game", and preschoolers will love it. Children draw colored cards, and move their plastic gingerbread playing tokens to the next square of the same color. Passing the peppermint forest and the ice cream sea on the way, the first one to reach the candy castle wins. No need to read to play this game.2 to 4 players can play this game. This board game includes a game board, four plastic playing pieces, 64 cards, "Legend of the Lost Candy Castle", and instructions in English and Spanish.

"Once upon a time, King Kandy, the Imperial Head Bonbon and Grand Jujube of Candy Land disappeared." Thus begins the magical journey of Milton Bradley's classic Candy Land board game. Captivated by the story of a kidnapped king and eager to help find him, little ones move their gingerbread pawns along a rainbow path and through a land of candy characters, all subjects of King Kandy's realm.

Playing cards thoughtfully designed for non-readers are coded with colorful squares matching the jeweled stepping-stone path or an occasional token matching one of the characters' symbols: draw a blue card, move to the nearest blue stepping-stone; draw a snowflake and earn a visit to Queen Frostine's iceberg. There are occasional pitfalls, too: land on the wrong square and you might be stuck in Molasses Swamp until a red card is drawn. With all these enticing, sugarcoated images (and King Kandy plainly visible at path's end), children can't help but be delighted by Candy Land. It's delicious! Instructions are in both Spanish and English. Candy Land is for two to four players) --Julie Ubben

Now five to six players can explore and settle Catan! The 5-6 Player Expansion for The Settlers of Catan allows you to add up to two more opponents without sacrificing ease of play. Designed for five or six players, it adds even more drama to the award-winning game of discovery, settlement, conflict, and commerce. You must have The Settlers of Catan board game in order to use this extension, sold separately.