Quercetti Skyrail Suspension Basic Marble Run, By Quercetti - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Marble run with unique suspension cables 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Adults and older kids that love constructing and admiring the magic of marble run! 

 “Quercetti Skyrail Suspension Basic Marble Run” by Quercetti - it’s eye-catching, dangerous-looking. It reminds me of a hair-raisingly scary roller coaster experience, with narrow tracks spiralling downwards and suspended midair (supported by thin cables). Thank you Heebie Jeebies for providing another super COOL toy for review! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Roller Coaster Style Marble Run

This is one of the few most exciting marble runs I have ever tested; It has stunning red tracks turning and revolving around a central pillar, and a uniquely-design suspension cables that can be adjusted in height and inclination. In this set, you will find 132 pieces, including 7 straight tracks, 12 curved tracks, 8 marbles of two types / dimensions, 5 base, 6 tie rods with hook and wire, 9 columns, 16 brackets and joints, and 18 connections. The illustrated guide is easy to follow; our 7 year-old completed most of the construction independently (apart from the final installation of the suspension wires, where he needed a hand). We were extremely thrilled to see the final structure comes into life! It’s an astounding, vibrant, and visually-gripping 16 feet of track! I find the tie-ropes suspension innovative and original, and I love the fun but a little serious touch to the ball run track. 

(2) Unique Marble Run Set With Suspension Cables To Adjust Height & Inclines

It’s mesmerising watching the 8 marbles rolling and spiralling down along the track, and halted gracefully at the “stopper”. It’s a visually engaging way to observe and learn about basic engineering principles in the world of physics - gravitation, velocity, kinetic energy, centripetal acceleration (ie. changes to velocity when an object travels on circular path). And if any of these sound too complex, we can just simply enjoy the breathtaking structure and admire the beauty of marbles racing around the course.  We also love experimenting with the cables to find the right inclines and height, and to create optimal speed for the marbles to complete the run! 

(3) Made-In-Italy Marble Run Set 

Quercetti prides itself as one of the few companies that control its production chain directly. The entire production cycle (from the design to delivery) was carried out in Italy. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Professor Plums (Australia)

Enjoy the video! 

TumbleMaze, By Blue Orange - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Logic puzzle with marble run concept 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Older kids and adults who enjoy logic puzzles with an action element 

Blue Orange is one of my few favourite brands for board games and all things fun. Leisure Learning sent us the TumbleMaze for review recently, and I must say, we are very impressed with this smartly-designed logic game. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Marble Run + Logic Puzzle - This game incorporates marble run, gravity, chain reaction, and logic puzzle into one!  Included within are a transparent maze board (that can be set up slightly slanted), 21 “walls” with 3 different lengths (that serve as “ramps” to guide the marble run), 5 steel balls, 40 challenge sheets, 3 blank challenge sheets, and illustrated rules. To play this game, pick a challenge sheet and slide it under the slanted plane; Next, set up the walls and the starting position of the balls to match the illustrated card. Now, exercise your brain and figure out where to add the indicated wall piece(s) to change the trajectory of the balls. Finally, release the balls and check if they reach the targeted end positions. We love a thrilling ball run and watch how the invisible forces of physics create series of movement. I love how each challenge is completed with a cool action element! 

(2) Different Difficulty Levels - The difficulty level of the challenges increases progressively, which is an excellent way for us to learn and discover new techniques at each stage. Some challenges are pretty straightforward - add a wall and adjust the direction. Some play around with the theory of “chain effect” - for example, hit a ball against a specific wall and triggers the movement of another ball; some require us to “block off” and capture a ball using multiple walls. The solution is at the reverse side of the card. The game makes sense to young kids, but is also tricky enough for older players. 

(3) Clever Design Features - I love the few thoughtful and clever features. I like the fact that we can insert the challenge sheets beneath the transparent peg board for easy set-up. I love that the balls can be released with the push of lever, and I love the 3 empty “make your own” challenge sheets for those who desire to invent your own puzzles! The plastic components are of decent quality and reasonably durable. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/tumble-maze (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Xyloba Sound Marble Run Melody Track Happy Birthday (Full Version), By Xyloba - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Innovative wooden music marble run 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Adults + Kids that love marble run construction / music composition 

 I love marble run with sound - oh that tingling excitement listening to the notes resonated each time when a ball hit a chime bar! I have seen a few different versions of such ball run sets, but @xyloba_marble_run is the ONLY marble run construction that is designed to play COMPLETE songs. I am enchanted by the ingenious design. Introducing today: the “Xyloba Sound Marble Run Melody Track Happy Birthday (Full Version)”. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Marble Run That Plays Complete Song - To play the classic “Happy Birthday” song, we need a music composition with the notes arranged at the correct order, played at the right beat and “time value” (eg in crotchet, minim, or quaver). I can only imagine the challenge to design a “music instrument” using the concept of marble run: the precise control of speed, gaps between two notes, quality and sequence of finely tuned chime bars, and the integrity of the structure. What Xyloba does  is impeccable and simply beautiful! The set comprises 75 pieces of elements (wooden blocks with connecting pegs, chime bars and arched holders, ramps, bases with marble “captures”, marbles etc). We dropped 4 marbles into the track at the beginning of each line of the melody, watching the marbles striking the individually mounted chimes one at a time, while cascading seamlessly down the track and hitting the right notes in succession. I love that Xyloba combines the inventive world of construction with the boundless universe of music. The sound produced by the chimes is pure, crisp, and surreally magical. 

(2) Clever Interlocking System - The design is elegant, well thought of with clever interlocking system. The illustrated instructions are clear and detailed, and the assembly process is easily comprehensible and straightforward. 

(3) Quality - The set is made-in-Switzerland. The workmanship is top-notch, and I love the durable and smoothly-finished natural beech wood material. This is an heirloom quality toy that can last for many generations and will be deeply loved by many. 

(4) Experiment & Compose - And of course, a musically talented builder will be able to modify and interchange the pieces to experiment, create and compose different tunes using the available components. 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.oskarswoodenark.com.au/products/xyloba-sound-marble-run-melody-track-happy-birthday (Australia) 

https://www.xyloba.ch/ch-ch/en_GB/cat/Xyloba-melody-tracks-3849/prod/xyloba-melody-track-happy-birthday-36759/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Bamboo Construct & Roll, By Expore Nook - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Beautifully-crafted bamboo pieces to construct your own ball-run track  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Parents/ kids who love open-ended resources for indoor/ outdoor play 

We love dynamic constructions toys involving rolling balls. They are like a personalised playground of our own - offering boundless possibilities and exciting outcomes. “Bamboo Construct & Roll” from Explore Nook is probably one of the most open-ended ball-run sets I have ever seen. I’m loving how it encourages imaginative play and creativity in such unrestrained way! 

Why I love ❤️ it?: 

(1) Design & Construct - Included within are 8 ramp channels, 6 tubular stands, 4 base stands, and 4 upper stands. When I first saw this toy in the website, I wasn’t too sure how the pieces can stay together during a ball-run. I was delighted to discover the little “secrets” behind it - all the tubes and curvy stands are thoughtfully crafted with dowel pegs and holes, so we can simply push and wriggle and connect the pieces. I’m impressed with how sturdy the construction result is; the pieces attached tightly together, and the ramp tracks lean on the upper stands comfortably. The illustrated guide suggests a “basic construction” form, using different number of tubes for height adjustment to create a continuous and descending ramp. But of course, the kids’ imagination always travels beyond the “basic”. They modified the angles and directions, built-up tunnels, “mixed it up” with other loose parts and blocks, and wanted to explore the interaction between the momentum of a fast-rolling ball and spinning wheel. 

(2) Compactly-Packed - The completed structure might seem massive, but once we disconnect the separate pieces, they can be compactly and conveniently packed into a reasonable-size box for easy portability. 

(3) Open-Ended Ball Run Track - The set goes well with anything that “rolls”, including the “3 Large-Sized Wooden Balls” set from Explore Nook (which allows us to test out the varying force, motion, sound, and action produced by 3 sizes of balls). 

(4) Natural Bamboo Material - Each piece is made of 100% natural bamboo that possesses unique DNA and character of its own. The tubular stands have slight differences in diameter and height. The ramp channels have its personal shades and inimitable markings. They are light weight and sustainable, designed in Australia and beautifully-crafted in Vietnam. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://explorenook.com.au/product/bamboo-construct-and-roll/

Enjoy the video! 

Mechanics Gravity Loops & Turns, By Geomag

Nature/ Type:          Clever STEM Toy with exciting Loops and Turns

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Science + Construction/ Building / Marble Run lovers! 

We have tested three sets of Geomag Mechanics Gravity range, each has its own uniqueness and features that get us excited. But this Mechanics Gravity Loops & Turns is, without a doubt, the boy’s ultimate favourite. Today, I’m going to share with you the what, why, and WOW of this ingenious STEM toy! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Loops & Turns 360 Degree- This set comes with 130 mechanical elements (connectors, magnetic rod, cylindrical and modular parts, clear ramps, steel spheres, and instruction booklet) to build a circuit system that loops and turns! The most distinctive feature of this kit is the “loopy” ramp that turns 360 degree like an adrenaline-pumping roller coaster in mini scale! This set also comes with two innovative cannons; When a moving sphere hits the cannon piece, the attraction force is triggered and launches the ball at the other side in incredibly furious speed, sends it to a 360 degree loop and back to its starting spot. I love how engaging and stimulating the experience is. The futuristic colours (green, white, blue, bold orange) add on to the aesthetic level of this creative structure. 

(2) Straight-Forward Instructions- The recommended age of this toy is 8, but once you get used to the assembling techniques, a younger kid (like my six-year-old) can also participate in the building process and be part of this impressive experiment! The only part which is a little more challenging to slot in is probably the turning ramps. Other than that, the connection is generally straight-forward. I love the satisfying “click” sound when some of the parts are connected correctly. The illustration booklet has detailed diagrams with step-by-step guide on how to link the pieces together, which I find really helpful. 

(3) Quality- I love the Swiss made quality. I also love the fact that this set is made of 74% recycled plastic. You gotta love a brand that plays a part in sustainability! The product is aligned with stringent European and international safety standards, which is a BIG tick! ✅ 

(4) Expandable - MOST importantly, the set can be combined with other kits from the “Gravity Mechanics” range and make one BIG exciting track! Watch the videos below! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.geomagworld.com/en/ (Website) 

Enjoy the videos! 

Mechanics Gravity Loops & Turns: 

Combining Geomag Vertical Motor + Race Track + Loops & Turns: 

3D Wooden Marble Run Puzzle Craft, by Funyards Australia - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Solar / or Battery-Powered Wooden Marble Run  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Science + Craft Lovers! 

“Oh YES! It works! It works!” Once again, Funyards Australia blew us away with its innovative range of STEM-focused products! We tested this “3D Wooden Marble Run Puzzle Craft” recently. We are thoroughly impressed by its almost impeccable mechanism and clever design! This set is purely MAGICAL and impossible to resists! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Smart STEM Toy- This toy elevates the usual STEM products to another new complex level! Like other solar-powered range from Funyards Australia, this marble run kit combines physics knowledge with artistic craft. But this set pushes the demonstration of science further and beyond; apart from transformation of solar to kinetic energy, we always get to watch the mechanical effect of rotating gears, cleverness of “perpetual motion”, substitution of battery-power, and the work of invisible gravity force! The set comes with wooden sheets with removable laser-cut plywood pieces, a tube of glue, solar panel, motor with battery holder, 3 steel balls, and an instructions sheet. I love the versatility of this set - apart from working perfectly under direct sunlight, we can also switch the solar-powered mode to battery-operation. We love watching the spinning motion of the gear and how it captures the steel balls one at a time, lifting them up to the start of the track repeatedly, in an endless loop. We are thrilled assembling the pieces and witnessing this marvellous model comes into “life” (it took around half an hour to complete). 

(2) Good Instructions- I love the easy to follow and step-by-step illustrative guide. I love that this kit labels each of the wooden sheets with alphabetical letters, which makes the construction process much quicker and easier! The pieces connect well and serve their purposes. 

(3) Beautiful Display Item - We love the structural integrity and sturdiness of the wooden model. This is a beautiful decorative item that is fun to play with and delightful to look at!

(4) Compact - I love the compact flat-pack box made of eco-friendly and recyclable cardboard - light weight, exquisite, and makes such elegant gift! 

This is another awesome educational STEM toy from Funyards Australia ! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Funyards Australia 

Enjoy the video! 

Mechanics Gravity Race Track, By Geomag - REVIEW

 

Nature/ Type:         Cool STEM toy with exciting race track run  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: STEM + construction/ building + ball run lovers! 

Mechanics Gravity Race Track is another spellbinding Geomag creation that we really love! Imagine magnetic charm, chain reaction, invisible forces of nature, and accelerated speed, combined with inventive engineering construction. That’s Geomag for you!

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Smart STEM Toy - This set comes with 67 pieces in various cylindrical parts, modular pieces, connectors, magnetic rod, ramps, steel spheres, instruction booklet, and a super COOL magnetic cannon that works MAGIC! We love the modern and futuristic green, blue, white and bold orange, with translucent tracks for fast and furious ball run. The completed structure displays a circular racing track that visually demonstrates the law of magnetic physics; When a moving sphere hits the cannon piece, the attraction force reacts by propelling a ball at the other side, launching it in exceeding speed to travel in a circular circuit and back. I love the engaging and stimulating way to learn about science! 

(2) Straightforward Building Process- The recommended age for this toy is 8 year-old, but it is not too overly hard for a 6-year-old to build, especially once we understood the assembling techniques. This set took us around 30 minutes to complete. Our six-year-old struggled a little slotting the cursive ramps, but other than that, the process is generally straight-forward. I particularly love the satisfying and audibly “click” when the clear tunnels are fitted onto the blue connectors. I love the illustrative step-by-step instructions booklet! 

(3) Space-Saving + Easy To Dismantle- I also love that the fully assembled structure does not take up much table space. It’s also easy to dismantle the structure and store away the separable pieces.

(4) Quality- I love the Swiss made quality, meeting of stringent European and international safety standards, and the fact that this set is made of 76% recycled plastic! It’s always great to know the environmental stance taken by a toy brand that we support! 

(5) Expandable- MOST IMPORTANTLY, this set can be combined with other kits from the “Gravity Mechanics” range to build into something MORE complex and brilliantly thrilling! I will share more in the coming posts! Stay tuned. 

# gifted in exchange for review

Where to buy this: 

https://www.geomagworld.com/en/ (Website) 

Enjoy the video (Race Track): 

Combining Geomag Vertical Motor + Race Track: 

Mechanics Gravity Recycled Vertical Motor 183, by Geomag

Nature/ Type:          Smart STEM toy 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Construction + science lovers! 

Invisible gravity force, magnetic charm, speed and engineering construction! YES YES YES!!! Geomag has blew us away again with its innovation. Thank you for providing this “Mechanics Gravity Recycled Vertical Motor 183” to me for review. We’re loving this!! 

Why I love ❤️ this set: 

(1) Exciting Track Circuit- This set comes with 183 pieces in various geometric shapes, connectors, accessories, magnetic rod, ramps, steel spheres, and an instruction booklet. We love the futuristic green, white and bold orange! The completed structure displays the power of gravity in a fast motion marble run track! First, load the spheres, manually spin the propeller, and watch miniature balls travel-down an elevator, before joining a track circuit that accelerates and turns and descends into a capturing pen. We love marble run, and this set ticks all the right elements we are looking for: aesthetically-cool, interesting to watch, and super fun to build! I love a STEM toy that is educational, stimulating, and mechanically exciting! 

(2) Easy To Assemble- Despite the recommended age of 8 year-old, the set is reasonably easy to assemble once we understood the techniques. We took around 45 minutes to complete this structure; the six-year-old struggled a little slotting the transparent ramps, but other than that, the process is generally straight-forward, full of common sense, and I particularly love the satisfying “click” when the clear tunnels are fitted onto the blue connectors. 

(3) Good Quality - I love the Swiss made quality, meeting of stringent European and international safety standards, and the fact that the toy is made of 90% recycled plastic! I love a brand that shows its care towards the planet and plays a part in sustainability. 

(4) Small-Space & Easy To Pack Away- The fully assembled structure surprisingly doesn’t take up much table space, and it’s really easy to dismantle and store away the separable pieces. 

(5) Expandable- The set can be combined with other kits from the “Gravity Mechanics” range and make the already very exciting track into something MORE complex and unbelievably impressive! Stay tuned and I will share with you more in my coming posts on these amazing expanded versions! 

# gifted in exchange for review

Where to buy this: 

https://www.geomagworld.com/en/

Enjoy the video! 

Kebo Magnetic Marble Run, by Toymagine

Nature/ Type:          Magnetic ball run with innovative LED balls 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  3 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Magnetic tiles and ball run lovers! 

When Toymagine recommended and gifted me the 96 pieces Kebo Magnetic Marble Run in exchange for honest review, I had my doubts; after all, “Kebo” hasn’t quite established its name yet in Australia, and I couldn’t find sufficient reviews out there to ascertain its quality. But my oh my, just when you thought you have seen enough “similar” marble run products, Kebo throws in unexpected surprises and makes me reevaluate what I thought I knew. Thank you Toymagine , this marble run set is FANTASTIC! 

Why I love ❤️ this toy: 

(1) Fantastic LED Balls - My boy calls this the “lightning set”! I have never seen a magnetic set with LED balls before, so imagine our thrills watching two red and green orbs rolling and travelling down the vibrancy of colours while glowing in sharp brightness, flashing their lights in exciting high-speed! I was told by Toymagine that the LED balls are included as part of a special deal struck by the amazing owner Neha with the manufacturer; so when you buy a Kebo set from Toymagine , you get two rare-to-find luminous balls (plus 6 “ordinary” balls) to elevate your ball run experience! 

(2) Unique Mini Figures with Magnets - The set also includes two unique figures with magnets embedded at the soles of their feet. The figures can hence perform all sorts of impossible acrobatic stunts on the magnetic structures: standing upside down, bowing 90 degree with one foot, tiptoeing at the edge with a high kick. It’s insanely fun to watch! 

(3) Secure "Click" Design- Each of the square magnetic tiles has 8 attachment “dots” which can connect securely with the ball run pieces with an audibly and very satisfying “click” sound. I find the ease of connection and magnetic strength really impressive. The set comes with a total of 96 pieces including a bowl, U-shaped, corners, straight pieces of two different lengths, 4 wavy slides, 34 square tiles etc. LOVE the variety. 

(4) Beautiful Colours - The translucent colours is truly magical and spell-binding! 

(5) Safe Materials- According to Toymagine website, the pieces were done using ultrasonic welding process, riveted on edges for double protection, made of child-safe, non-toxic, BPA free and lead free CPC certified materials. 

Thank you Toymagine ! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

(Australia) https://www.toymagine.com.au/

Enjoy the video! 

Trix Track - Up Stairs Track, by Wonderworld Toy

 

Nature/ Type:        Construction and Building + Ball Run

Rating:                  ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age: 3 year-old ++

Who would love this: Kids and adults who love a mesmerising ball run

Trix Track - Up Stairs Track by Wonderworld Toy . This is one lovely toy that a grown-up, kid and even toddler of one-year-old get to have a play and enjoy. 

Why I love ❤️ this toy? 

(1) Easy Instructions: It’s easy to build, and the instructions are good. My four year-old assisted me with the construction, and we got the structure done within 10 minutes. No stress at all. 

(2) Clever Spinning Handle: The spinning handle that moves the ball up and up. My kids (including a 20 month-old) love turning it. It’s easy to manoeuvre and really fun to watch .The fact that the ball can go one round and back again means it’s mess-free! No marble rolling around the house waiting to be picked up! 

(3) Wooden Materials: The wooden material is high quality, sturdy, colourful, and natural! 

If there is one thing I can change, I hope the instructions booklet can give us a few more ideas on how the pieces can form into other structures in order to increase the replay value. But overall, we had a great time playing with this. 

Enjoy the video for some fascinating ball run in action. 

Quadrilla Wooden Marble Run Construction- the Xcellerator, by Hape

Nature/ Type:         Construction and Building / Marble Run

Rating:                    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommended age: 4 year-old ++

Who would love this: Marble Run fans who don't mind some packing up at the end of day

This toy has a very fancy long name- it’s called the Hape Quadrilla Wooden Marble Run Construction - The Xcellerator. To play this game, you need patience and perseverance: First, build up the impressive tall structure (there are a few different marble run structural designs in the instructions booklet, or you can design your own). Next, throw in the marbles and watch them go spin and spiral and completely out of control! 

Why I love ❤️ this: 

(1) Fantastic Wooden Materials: Perhaps the most unique feature of this set is that all pieces are made of birch and rubber wood, so they look natural, colourful, and long lasting. 

(2) Quality Time with Family. Let’s face it, a four-year-old is not going to build the structure all by himself, so parents, yes, you do need to help! The structures are kind-of complicated, with marbles spiralling, dropping out, and spewing out everywhere, and scattering around the entire house, while creating rain-drop noises. It's one fun game that makes us giggle, shriek, and laugh like a bunch of little kids again. 

There is no catchment tray for the marbles for this set, so expect to get messy and search for the marbles all around the house right after. But that’s probably part of the fun of the entire game, agree? 😊

Enjoy the videos below for some crazy, insane, thrilling, and very messy marble run action!