Hi-Tower – with volleyball to give you some sense of scale |
My teenage son, Rory, was sitting beside me when the email came through offering me the chance to review a Giant Jenga game courtesy of Garden Games. I don’t usually get asked to review things (apart from some books of late) and the last thing we were asked to test was a chip fryer this time last year. That went down rather well, but unfortunately we had to give it back. However, the good people at Garden Games were letting us keep this. So we said yes, please!
Dougie trying a novel approach to removing the blocks?! |
Despite being a teenager, and programmed to find most things boring, Rory got into the spirit of the game. The language was choice at times, but the three of us had a laugh together and there was the predictable male surprise whenever I was successful at removing a block.
I’m sure if Rory had been younger he would have adored playing separately with the blocks, creating his own towers, buildings etc. As it was, game over, he disappeared and left us to figure out which way the blocks went back into the bag.
Would we recommend it? Yes, I think this would be enjoyed by all ages (over the age of 6) and particularly in the summer when having a barbecue or party. Please note, as it’s quite addictive, the competitive dads will be in their element!
The Mega Hi-Tower costs £49.99 from http://www.gardengames.co.uk/
Oh. My. God. My 4 year old loves jenga. Not that we play it properly. We just build increasingly ornate towers with it and see how high we can get. We'd reach the ceiling with those big ones!
Steve – and then it would all come crashing down on your head, or the telly. You could wear cycle helmets, I suppose?
Trish you have a very naughty streak……
Aw by giant jenga I was imagining huge great blocks you could build towers taller than the house with….
Libby – I dont know what you mean 😉
Macy – For fifty quid?!
Love your description of teenhood "programmed to find most things boring" yes that describes mine. This looks fun, tactile and even playable with a drink in hand…
About last weekend – It would be perfect with a drink in hand; the task requires such focus and a steadiness of hand that being a little tipsy would make it a whole lot harder.
That brought back many memories of playing the indoor version of the game with our kids when they were smaller – happy days!
Curry Queen – Funny but when we started playing again the memories came flooding back too. The squabbling was just the same!!
I'd no idea Dougie was so multitalented. We always just used our hands, but of course, regular Jenga's much smaller…(snickering in Seoul, where there's hardly enough room for regular Jenga, much less the giant version. I'll file the information away the next time I need to send a gift to someone in Texas…)
Ms Caroline – using your hands is just too easy. Have you never played this version? 😉
We have the small version too, I think the bits are scattered around various boxes in my youngest's bedroom.
With this big version, I think my two would start lobbing the bits at each other, someone would get hurt, they'd start fighting and then retire to sulk.
I would be finding the bits in the bushes for months afterwards…
Sarah – Haha! I think even in the confines of our sitting room, and only one teenage boy present, there was a distinct feeling that 'it could all end in tears'!
Jenga is awesome, my kids loved it so much!