Hamsterolle

Hamsterrolle 

Hamsterrolle

Hamsterrolle is a really simple dexterity balancing game but I love it because it rolls across the table as you add things (not far but makes the game more challenging) which makes it different from the other balancing games I have mentioned like Animal upon Animal or Suspend.  If you can't tell I love balancing games and they are great for motor skills for little ones,.

The different size, shape and weights of the various pieces make this game into a great show of cause and effect of adding weight onto something and watching the direct movement that effect has. It is great for playing with balancing too as just a fun toy.  This game plays 2-4 people, plays in about 20 minutes or less and says ages 7 and up but easily I can play with this with my careful 3 year old though note that some of the pieces are small and probably not been painted with child safe paint so be careful and always play responsibly with your children.

Game Play

The circle yellow roll is placed in the centre of the table and the black cone (the only cone shape) is placed central bottom of the roll.  Every player is given one of each type of piece available, so one large yellow rectangle, one small blue square etc.  On your turn you must place a piece on the roll in the direction the roll is going (which the starter player decides), however you must place a piece that is different from the last piece played (i.e. you cannot place a yellow rectangle on top of another yellow rectangle).

If you the only piece you have is the one that has been played before you must take a piece from further down the hamster roll - as in take a piece off the roll - and put that on again in the direction of the roll.  Or if the only piece you have left is one that has just been played, you can still play this piece but it has to be in the next "compartment" (divided by black shelves) to the one just played.

The only other rule is anything placed must be higher then the last piece played, so you cannot place a piece lower down on the hamster roll that might have more room, you must always be playing in the direction the hamster roll is moving.

First player to use all their pieces wins.


Review

I love dexterity games and this is another lovely one. I love the wooden pieces which are great for just playing with and even the wooden roll feels very stable and not like its going to fall apart if I roll it off the table by accident.  It is really easy to set up and play and even easier to loose to a 5 year old which makes it a great family game.  My son likes just playing balancing with the wheel bit adding things on either side to see what make the roll stop in the middle - it is a great thing to watch and enjoy as a parent to see your child experiment with the world around.

If you accidentally knock things off the roll on your turn you only take two of the items that have fallen and the rest go back in the box - which means even kids don't get punished too much for being wobbly.

This one is harder to get in the UK but I know for a fact that eclectic games in Reading usually has it in stock and for much cheaper then on amazon (usually).  So definitely email or message them first to get it if your friendly local game store doesn't have it as they almost always have it in stock when they can.