MAPOMINOES - Asia & Australia, by WildCard Games - REVIEW

Nature / Type:            Board game / Card game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️     

Recommended age:    8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Geography enthusiast / gamers with a love for travel 

MAPOMINOES is an innovative game that offers a unique way to explore the world from the comfort of home. Whether you’re a geography enthusiast or someone with a love for travel, this portable game will captivate your imagination. Check out MAPOMINOES - Asia & Australia by WildCard Games (kindly provided by Divisible by Zero) 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) A "Dominoes" Game - Connect Country Cards & Transit Cards

The game includes 51 country cards and 14 transit cards. Players are dealt country cards (minus one starting card) and two transit cards, and must place countries adjacent to ones they border in real life. Each country is represented by a card, and the card lists the countries that border it. For example, Laos’ card lists its bordering countries, such as Cambodia and Thailand, which can be placed next to it. If you get stuck, transit cards can represent countries or bodies of water, like oceans. For instance, you can use a transit card to link Australia to the Indian Ocean. The game plays like dominoes, where you connect countries to build a continental map. No prior geography knowledge is needed—everything you need is on the cards!

(2) Strategy! Strategy! Strategy!

This is a game of strategy! Block opponents by holding onto “high-value” cards like China (country with the most countries at borders), or try to get rid of cards with few borders (eg Brunei or Qatar). Use transit cards wisely to connect your remaining cards, and aim for ‘double connections’ (play a card that connects two or more cards on table) to earn extra turns. With limited space on the table, planning around the edges gives a strategic advantage. Every game is unique due to the different border connections, ensuring replayability. Plus, there’s option of sand-timer to add an extra level of urgency!

(3) Learn Country's Name / Flag / Capital / Population & More!

Each card features the country’s name, flag, capital, area, population, a map, and its neighboring countries. The cards are visually clear and easy to read. Plus, the rules include a reference map, helping you see the bigger picture and learn as you play.

(4) Expandable With Other Continental Versions

Mapominoes can expand to include other continental versions, letting you connect the whole world. The consistent art style ensures compatibility between versions.

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.mindgamesgeelong.com.au/purchase-games-online/games/travel/display/8680-mapominoes-asia-and-australia (Australia) 

https://www.cowtrees.au/educational-toys/489-mapominoes-asia-australasia.html (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

World Safari-Premium, By Creative Educational Aids - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:            Board game / card game  

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   9 year-old ++ (or all ages!) 

Who would love this: Kids and grown-ups that love travelling and learning about the world & countries 

 “World Safari-Premium” by Creative Educational Aids magically transports us around the world; from Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, back to Sydney Opera House - all in one game! We are loving it! Thank you Divisible by Zero for providing this! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Spin The Spinner & Identify A Country On World Map

The set includes a foldable play board and 6 play pieces - it has the classic Monopoly feel, save that now we are using an in-built spinner as dice, and there’s not much “chance” in this game (you gotta know your geographic knowledge to gain an advantage!). To play this game, spin the spinner (with 50 country names), read the country name, and shout out the country number on the world map to advance the given number of spaces on the play path. You will need to identify the exact location of Jamaica, Algeria, Argentina, Greece, and Egypt to move your pieces! Too tough? Fear not! The spinner gives a “colour clue” to narrow down the selections. For example, Japan is coded as “purple”, which matches its colour on the world map. The map also has labels showing the continents, oceans, seas for extra hints. 

(2) Fun Facts In Different Topics - Continents & Countries/ Geographic Features & More 

Of course, there is more! Each space on the path presents a challenge in 5 different topics. There are a total of 864 questions (answers provided) and 35 visual challenges. The questions cover continents and countries (eg continent with world’s largest desert ‘the Sahara’), geographic features (eg describe a hot spring), people and places (eg name the world’s largest port), general knowledge (which ocean contains the most islands), and visual challenge (where players are asked to guess a landmark site or animal from an image with brief description). I love that the questions cover a wide levels of difficulty - so all ages can play! 

(3) 50 Information Cards & 50 Country Cards - More Ways To Play!

The set also includes 50 information cards (contains facts such as capital, cities, languages, currency, flag, trivia facts of a country), and 50 country cards (with illustrated map showing surrounding nations, area in sq km, and population). There are a few suggested ways to play with these cards, including matching game, memory game, clue game, quiz game and more! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://littlewishestoys.com.au/products/worldsafari (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

BrainBox The World, By BEZZERWIZZER Studio - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Fun facts around the world 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids who love fun facts and travel 

 “BrainBox The World” from BEZZERWIZZER Studio is an intriguing game for kids and adults who love fun facts about different nations and cultures, and enjoy quizzes and competitive race! Thank you Leisure Learning for providing this game for a review! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) 55 Picture Cards Featuring Countries Around The World - The set includes 55 picture cards, each focuses on a specific country with brightly-painted pictures and labels of iconic items associated with it - such as famous landmarks, cultural costumes, flag, map, native animals, musical instrument, and many more. For example, on the “China” card, you would see the “Great Wall of China”, a giant panda, Beijing the capital on the map, a Terracotta warrior, a pagoda, and a farmer harvesting rice. There are also cards about USA, Costa Rica, United Kingdom, Turkeys, and many more. I love how succinct, easy to read, and appealing the cards are. Kids are drawn to the interesting cards immediately; they enjoy studying the pictures whilst searching for their “dream travel destinations”. 

(2) 440 Questions - Now let’s the true FUN begin! The kids spend 10 seconds (or more) observing the visual clues on the card; then flip the card around, throw the dice, and answer one of the 8 questions printed at the reverse side of the card (depending on which number is rolled). There are a total 440 questions, covering a mix of range. Some test the eye for detail and observation skills (eg. what’s the colour of the butterfly’s wings? How many Orchids are shown?); Some test your memory and geography knowledge (eg which sea is to the north of Panama? Name the capital city), and some are the mix of both (what colours are the stripes on the flag?). Both of my kids love the challenges, and my 4 year-old even outshines the brother in most questions about colours and objects! 

(3) Quality Of Components - The quality of the components are decent and sturdy. The 55 picture cards are made of thick durable cardboard, and there is also a ten-second sand timer, and a 8-sided translucent dice in cobalt blue included. 

(4) Unique Cube-Shaped Package Box - I love the cube-shaped package box that gives the game a wacky character, and I really love the magnetic closure on the lid that keep things neat! 

Check out also my review on:

BrainBox Maths, by BEZZERWIZZER Studio 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/brainbox-the-world (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Australia Geography Game – Second Edition, By Knowledge Builder - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Board game for kids 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids/ adults that enjoy travelling and want to learn more about the famous landmarks around Australia 

I love an adventure of discovering wonders of places - MINUS the motion sickness, logistic planning, and budget juggling. 🤣 Knowledge Builder provided us with this “Australia Geography Game – Second Edition” for a review, and I can’t wait to share about it! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Learn About Australian Landmarks Through Games - I love that we get to learn about Australian famous landmarks through a game! The instructions are simple - throw a dice, choose your route, move your counter, collect sufficient “Landmark Cards” (at least 20 points and one card from each State and Territory), and be the first player that reaches Canberra. This is a competitive game, but no one is obsessed with being the “winner”; instead, we enjoyed the “process” of getting to the final destination, choosing our routes, admiring the Landmark Cards, and acquiring new knowledge along the way. The 2nd edition contains 126 Landmark Cards, and 10 additional blank Landmark Cards (to “add on”with your favourite Aussie locations). Each Landmark Card has a picture of the place, and fun facts on the reverse (for example, do you know that Kakadu National Park is the largest in Australia, and “Broken Hill” is also known as the “Silver City”?). 

(2) Two Ways To Play - I love that the game incorporates little “twists” into the game by throwing in 40 “Outback Cards”. Many of them would send you to a new destination (e.g. “go skiing in the Snowy Mountains NSW” or “Move to Uluṟu NT”) - which would either disrupt your entire strategy, or set you nearer for the win! I also love that the game provides an alternative and advanced way to play - for example, player who got an “Outback Card” would have to answer a question on the card before given a chance to decide a next step [eg “which Australian landmark is the world’s largest rock” (answer: Mount Augustus)]. You can also add more “kangaroo stickers” (included) on the board to increase the encounters of Outback Card. 

(3) Quality Components and HUGE Game Board - The foldable board is gigantic (800 x 750 mm), completes with clear labels and geographic icons (mountain, river, desert etc). I love the 2 clear plastic trays (to keep the Landmark Cards organised) and the sturdy storage box. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.knowledgebuilder.com.au/product/australian-geography-game-toy-products/

Enjoy the video! 

Travel Bug (Australia Edition), By Travel Bug Game - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Board game with a "travel-around-Australia" theme  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  6 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids & adults who love strategy games, especially one with a travel-related / or Australia theme 

You know a game has done it right when your kid keeps requesting to play with it again and again, and couldn’t stop talking about “that game where you get to travel all around Australia!” 🤣 We recently received the Travel Bug Game (Australia) for a review, and let me just say: this game is a BLAST! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Travel Around Australia In Minutes - it’s not a common thing that we get to “travel” around Australia, choosing our preferred mode of transportation, and collecting souvenirs, without a care of logistic planning or money. “Travel Bug” makes our dream comes true - combining laughter, family time, geographic-learning, and hint of competitiveness (earn points to win), all in one game. To set up the game, spread out the Australian map game board, arrange the tokens, get ready the souvenir cards, draw your “Home City”, and distribute the “travel cards”. On each turn, players need to perform up to 4 different steps (optional card exchange, travel, collect souvenirs, and pick up 2 travel cards). Our six-year-old learned heaps about Australia in a short span of time; we talked about the “Twelve Apostles” in Victoria, Uluṟu in Northern Territory, and local flora and fauna (eg Tawny Frogmouth, Echidna, Gouldian Finch, and Blue Gum). We get to fly from Hobart to Darwin, ride a train to Alice Spring, drive a 4WD to Melbourne, and take a ship to Broome, all within “minutes”!

(2) Competitive + Cooperative - I love the elements of strategy and “working together” incorporated in the game. From time to time, players need negotiate a “win-win” card swap (eg you need a “Ship” card to get out of Tasmania from Devonport, but you would need as many 4WD cards as possible to navigate your way around WA). 

(3) Game With Twists - I love the little “twists” that make this game entertaining. Our boy loves tossing the “Travel Bug” coin that can earn (or cost) him 5 points; he also loves the “Try Your Luck Card” that acts like a “Chance” card in Monopoly (beware of flood or bushfire!). 

(4) Quality Components - The game components are beautiful. I love the light weight fabric game board that can be folded into a compact size. I love that everything can be snugly fit into a small box for easy portability. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.travel-bug-game.com/product/travel-bug-australian-edition-game/

Enjoy the video!