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Cheap Games and Puzzles Buying Guide
), a Pictionary offshoot that requires players to build objects with Lego bricks, rather than draw them, and Mattel's Loopz (starting at $30, Amazon
), an electronic Simon Says-style game.
If you prefer to stay within the cheap games segment, however, you'll find plenty of alternatives that retail at half the price and are just as engaging. The makers of the award-winning cheap word game Bananagrams (starting at $15, Amazon
Milton Bradley's updated Connect 4 x 4 sells for a starting price of $17, but the original Connect 4 is available for as little as $7. Classic favorites that go over just as well with boys as girls, such as Monopoly (starting at $10, Amazon
Board games and puzzles are an excellent way to introduce concepts of fair play and strategy to children. Cheap games help them experience winning and losing in a non-threatening environment that just happens to be fun, as well. And, as we found during our in-person toys reviews, cheap games are a particularly good choice for children with siblings because most are appropriate for a wide range of ages. Spot It, a favorite of our child testers, appealed not only to our 7-year-old tester, but to her 9-year-old sister, 4-year-old brother, and even her mom and dad. (The full review and video review also available.) Bananagrams, Appletters, and Pairs in Pears also have cognitive value; as one parent points out in a toys review on Epinions, these cheap toys for boys and girls can help youngsters with word-building and spelling.
See also our full review of Scrambled States of America, an educational game.
Cheap games are often quite durable, and we didn't notice any negative comments in toys reviews about how our choices hold up. Perhaps the only significant downside to cheap games for girls and boys is that they can't be played alone. If the intended recipient prefers to play on her or his own, or doesn't have siblings or lots of play dates, a cheap game may not be the best choice.
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Best Games and Puzzles
Rory's Story Cubes
Rory's Story Cubes by Gamewright is less a structured game than an exercise in storytelling. Choose this game for kids with big imaginations or as a fun English-class aid. Read more »Where to buy
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Uberstix
At first glance, Uberstix impress with their versatility. However, the shortcomings of Uberstix quickly became apparent when our 8-year-old tester got down to the business of construction. Read more »Where to buy
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