Dodo, By Thames & Kosmos - REVIEW

Nature / Type:             Board game for kids  

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️   

Recommended age:    6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Young board gamers who love speed + memory games

This is a delightful game where players team up to build bridges to save a dodo egg. With clock ticking and zero down-time, the game keeps everyone on their toes. Check out Dodo from Thames & Kosmos (thanks to VR Distribution for providing a copy!)

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Stunning Tabletop Setup - With Cliff Edges & Spiralling Bridges

The stunning vertically-oriented tabletop setup took my breath away! The mountain, with its steep, treacherous cliff edges and protruding outcrops, forms the perfect backdrop for the spiralling bridges. At the top, the dramatic peak showcases a cute dodo standing proudly. The best part? When you’re ready to roll the egg down, simply tip the dodo forward to watch it gaze down the mountain, sending the egg tumbling out of its nest. It’s comical with a playful tension! 

(2) Flurry Of Action- Be Quick To Save The Falling Dodo Egg!

I love how the adorable theme fits perfectly with the gameplay. Kids work together to quickly build bridges and save the falling dodo egg. The process is a flurry of action: roll the die, flip the tokens, gather the right materials, match icons, and complete the bridge sections before the egg tumbles off the mountain. Once all the bridges are built, you bring the boat over, moor it on the dock, and catch the egg with it! It’s simple enough for kids to understand, with clear, colorful resources and well-labeled components. A game full of frantic fun, it encourages teamwork, speed, and memory!

(3) Wobbly Egg With Unpredictable Movements

The wobbly egg is the star of the game, with its unpredictable, threatening movements that keep you on edge. Sometimes it rolls along merrily, other times it slows to a crawl, making it hard to predict when disaster will strike. The frantic real-time bridge-building adds a hilarious rush, when you scrambling to stay ahead of the egg whilst trying to remember the location of your tokens. The egg’s weight tilts the boat comically as you try to catch it, turning the final win into a moment of laughter!

(4) Adjustable Difficulty Levels

I love the adjustable difficulty modes! In easy mode, you can skip the skull spaces for faster play. The Expert mode adds more memory challenges, cranking up the stress as you race to complete the six bridges, each getting progressively harder with more spaces to fill!

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Big W (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Exit The Game Kids - Riddles In Monsterville, By Thames & Kosmos - REVIEW

Nature / Type:            Board game / Escape room for kids  

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️    

Recommended age:    5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids that enjoy escape room experience / detective games / solving puzzles 

Dive into a whimsical adventure with this escape room game for kids! In “Exit The Game Kids - Riddles In Monsterville” by Thames & Kosmos, players must outsmart the mischievous cookie monsters who have stolen cookie jars from neighborhood. Thank you VR Distribution for providing a copy! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Team Up Or Play Solo - Solve Riddles & Unlock Cookie Jars 

Kids aged five and up can team up or play solo to solve riddles and unlock cookie jars. The game includes six types of visual puzzles on 36 illustrated cards, featuring tasks like matching emotions and completing puzzles. Players identify 3 monsters for each riddle and use the decoder dial to check their answers—silver keys confirm correct answers, while red Xs indicate errors. Correct answers earn tokens on face-down cookie jars, with exciting “spoils” revealed at the end - from icing cookies with sprinkles, to sewing kits and even stinky socks!

(2) Puzzles Of Varying Difficulty 

The game features puzzles of varying difficulty. One of the simplest is “Smiley Riddles,” where kids match three emojis to the monsters’ expressions. The “Snail Trail Riddle” involves tracing a trail from an object to a monster—it’s a blast! The jigsaw puzzle riddle challenges kids to arrange 4 puzzle pieces to complete three monsters - which surprisingly, is not as easy as it seems! 

(3) Challenge Yourself With Lasso Riddle, Favourite Food Riddle & Outline Riddle

Now for the more challenging tasks! The Lasso Riddle involves wrapping a string between semi-circles to identify three monsters not caught by the cord. This puzzle tests fine motor skills as little hands wrap the twine around a card (which turns out to be pretty difficult to manage!). The Favorite Food Riddle demands deduction and elimination to find three monsters that enjoy the foods at each table setting, using four food cards for guidance. The Outline Riddle is the toughest for us —players must identify three disguised monsters based solely on their outlines, with subtle differences from their normal forms.

(4) Great Replay Value - Tackle Each Puzzle Multiple Times 

I LOVE the replayability! You can tackle each puzzle multiple times, as there are six cards for each puzzle type with various combinations. No reading is required—everything is image-based, making it accessible for younger players to join in on the fun!

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.gameology.com.au/products/exit-the-game-kids-riddles-in-monsterville (Australia) 

https://www.bigw.com.au/product/exit-the-game-kids-riddles-in-monsterville-board-game/p/9900411557 (Australia)

https://vaultgames.com.au/products/exit-the-game-kids-riddles-in-monsterville (Australia) 

Enjoy the video!