Some of the best family games are the simplest games and we have been playing one such game – Dobble. Dobble is a card game for the whole family, a game of observation and speed – a bit like that old classic card game, Snap, but much more fun, more advanced and involved, and certainly much harder. This is a game that has 55 circular cards, supplied in their own handy little travel tin, and is five mini-games in one tin, but they are all variations on the same theme. Do you think you are observant enough to play?
Dobble (a play on the word Double) is a very clever speed and observation card game for the whole family. It is suitable for 2-8 players aged 6+ and has a playing time of around 5 to 15 minutes. Each two cards have one symbol in common and the idea is to be the first to spot them, name it and win the card. There are 57 symbols in total, and you have to be fast enough to spot the matching pair.
Each of the round Dobble cards has eight different colourful images on it, in various sizes. If you look at any two cards, they will have one, and only one, matching image on them, along with seven that don’t match. The aim of the game is to be eagle-eyed enough to spot the two matching images on your card and the draw card and call it before any of your opponents do. It is a game of fast observation.
There are five mini games to play all based around observation; Fill the Well, The Towering Inferno, Hot Potato, Catch Them All, and The Poisoned Gift.
Overall, Dobble is a really great game, lots of fun and quick to play! It is one of the very few games that can be played by adults and children at the same time, without either age group being at a disadvantage and no adaptations needing to be made to level the playing field.
Playing time can be as long as you want it to be – a round of Dobble only takes around five minutes, depending on the variation of the game you are playing, but it’s so good that one game just won’t be enough.
We have played it as a family game (2 adults and 2 kids), the kids have played it between themselves, and we have also played it just with the adults. Whatever way we played it, we all agreed that it was excellent fun, everyone thoroughly enjoyed it but it is definitely most enjoyable when more people are playing.
The consensus for our favourite version of the game was Fill the Well because it is fast, fun and furiously competitive. The aim of Fill the Well is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards.
The game is supplied in a compact tin with a secure lid which makes it an ideal travel game for taking almost anywhere. It will fit nicely in your bag, glove box and is a great size for taking camping or to the beach and the perfect size so you have something on hand to play and pass the time in case you are waiting longer than expected at a restaurant or on a train.
Dobble is a simple game to play and one that you can learn in less than 30 seconds. It is lots of fun for children, teenagers and adults of all ages, with the added bonus that everyone can play equally as well together. A game that encourages concentration and observation.
A compact game that is BIG on fun!
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £13.99
Available to buy from Amazon here.
