When you have a bit of time to spare and want to play a board game but don’t have the time before the kids get ready for bed, you just want a game that you can pick up and play without any time investment, is quick and easy to play whilst still being enjoyable and fun for all the family. Ideal and John Adams (the toys and game company not the second president of the United States of America) have some pick up and play games that do the job. One of these games is Pointz, a game where you race against the spinner.
Pointz is a challenge game for 2 or more players age 6+ with a playing time of around 10 to 20 minutes. It features classic games that you already know, with an added spin! Player’s race against the spinner and complete challenges on the cards that involve moving, speaking, acting, thinking, looking and reacting to win the point! Can you beat the spinner and be the player to win most Pointz?
In the box:
- Arrow-shaped Spinner
- 80 Challenge Cards
- Instructions
This game features an arrow-shaped box that holds the deck of 80 challenge cards (the Pointz). Setting the game up takes a matter of ten seconds, it really is a game that you can pick up and play straightaway – simply pop the Pointz cards (colour-side up) into the arrow and have the players sit around the table and put the spinner in the middle.
The plastic arrow is the spinner and a good and sturdy container to hold the cards. The youngest player has the privilege of going first and getting the game off to a start, they spin the arrow and the player that it points at must take the top challenge card from the arrow and read it aloud.
The instructions on the card are then followed – they are all quite different and either the reader of the card will be asked to complete a task or any other player in the game. The called-upon player will have to speak, act, search, think or react their way to winning that point, all against the clock (until the spinner stops) with challenges involved that include speaking about your last birthday or getting physical and doing star jumps – if the card is won, it goes onto the winning player’s pile, and they win the Pointz. If the challenge is not completed, it goes onto the Jackpot pile in the middle, where it is then up for grabs by anyone.
Unlike most games, there is no set limit on how many points are needed to win, it can last as long as you want it to – the winner is the person with the most Pointz cards (won challenges), so you could agree a 5 minute or 10 minute game length or play as we did with the first player to collect ten Pointz.
Overall, we think Pointz is a fast and fun game with varied family-friendly challenges. With challenges that involve different actions no player will be disadvantaged, and the speaking challenges are excellent for getting everybody immersed in the game.
The game is really simple to play and the takes as long as you want to play, so if you’re short on time you can have a very quick 5 or 10 minutes game and when time is not so in demand you can play a longer more involved game – it is a game that suits all people and situations. With 80 challenge cards each game is different.
The arrow-shaped spinner moves freely and smoothly when spun and it is great that it holds the challenge cards as well for easy storage.
Pointz is a quick simple game that can easily be picked up and played anywhere and is small and portable to throw in your bag when travelling. With no limits on the time taken to play it, it can be played just as easily at home or in the park.
A quick, simple and fun game that the whole family can join in with, very enjoyable.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99
For more information, visit www.johnadams.co.uk. Available to buy from Amazon here.
