For families who enjoy word-play, Think Words Spin is a fun, quick-thinking game that will amuse players aged from eight to 88.
I was provided with a copy of this game for review purposes.
Actually, Think Words Spin isn’t just a game – it’s multiple games in one. There are seven different variants, each of which can be picked up in seconds.
The basis of each version is the same. The game comprises a spinner and a deck of 80 double-sided cards. Each bears a single letter on one side and four colour-coded question categories on the other.
One game variant involves encircling the spinner with eight cards letter-side up. You spin the spinner, which will come to a stop pointing to a coloured letter. The aim is to be the first player to name something starting with that letter corresponding to the category of the matching colour on the top card in the spinner. So, for instance, for a blue ‘W’ and the category ‘spicy foods’, a suitable answer would be ‘wasabi’. Whoever ends the game having accumulated the most cards/points is the winner.
It really is as simple as it sounds.
What did we think of it?
I played a session with the boys – Isaac (ten) and Toby (nearly eight) – trying out different game variants. We soon worked out which versions we preferred. The boys even started inventing their own rules, demonstrating how adaptable the basic concept is.
Similarly, it’s flexible enough that you can play with as few as two or as many as eight players. You can also easily change the length of the game. Play until the entire deck is exhausted, to a set time limit or operate a ‘first-to-X’ type limit. It’s entirely up to you.
Both boys enjoyed the opportunity to show off their knowledge and vocabulary, which was great. However, it is definitely a game where older players with broader general knowledge will have a distinct advantage. Some question categories (e.g. ‘leaders and politicians’) are clearly much easier for adults to answer.
The minimalist rules make starting a game simple and unfussy. However, simple rules do mean there is scope for ambiguity. So if you have a family who like to nit-pick over any grey areas, be ready for the inevitable arguments!
My one primary niggle is that the open-fronted packaging is designed primarily for display purposes on a shop shelf. However, after use the cards can easily slide out of the spinner and the open front, resulting in potential damage or loss. Not ideal.
Nonetheless, we found Think Words Spin to be challenging and fun. It’s surprisingly versatile for an inexpensive and simple game. We wouldn’t play it for hours on end but its speed, simplicity and flexibility make it perfect for a quick couple of rounds to get us warmed up at the beginning of a long gaming session.
Think Words Spin is available from major retailers with a recommended retail price of £12.99. You can find out more about the game on the John Adams website or for more on their wider range of games check out the John Adams IDEAL Facebook page.
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