We love gaming in our house. When we say gaming, although we do like playing on the Xbox (and the kids on their phones) we are actually referring to much more sociable game playing, board and tabletop gaming, where all the family can join in. Putting down the electronics and sitting around the table together is much more enjoyable and fun and is good quality family time. With Coronavirus, lockdowns, school closures and self-isolation we have been playing a lot of different games. Now that the Christmas school holidays have started, we looked through our board game shelf and got out a game we haven’t played in a while, Sneak Peek from John Adams.
Sneak Peek is a quick and fast-paced memory and matching tabletop card game where only a quick mind, eagle eyes and fast fingers will see you victorious. You have to flip the cards and match by colour, symbol or both and the winner is the player that is holding the most cards.
In the box:
- Sneak Peek Metal Card Storage Tin
- 64 Game Cards
- Instructions
We all really took to this game. The rules and gameplay are really easy to grasp and understand, making it a perfect family game for players aged 5 years plus. It is much more fun than any other memory and matching game that we have ever played before.
Sneak Peek is a set of 64 game cards that come supplied in a small metal tin, that has an eye on the lid. Due to its size, it is also perfect as a travelling game. It is a game for two to four players, aged 5 years upwards, gameplay takes around 10 minutes and it can be played in two ways. The 64 game cards are all round and feature different symbols and colours on them. The game is a cross between the popular and timeless card games Snap and Patience.
To play Sneak Peek (game 1), the cards are shuffled and placed face down on the table. The oldest player gets to go first (much to the annoyance of our youngest player as most games see her starting first). The starting player turns over the top 3 cards, placing them face up on the table. If they are a match (colour, symbol or both) then that player keeps them and turns over another 3 cards. If there isn’t a match all the players have a few seconds to memorise what and where the cards are before they are all turned face down on the table, in the same place.
Play continues clockwise around the table with the next player turning over 3 cards, these cards can be new ones from the deck or the ones that have already been played. If that player can match 3 cards, they keep them, if not everyone memorises them and they are placed face down with play continuing.
Play continues until the entire deck has been played and cards have been matched or all the players have played a turn each once the deck has all been turned over and no more matches made. The winner is the player that has matched and collected most cards.
You can also play the game a second way, called Sleek Seek. This time the youngest player goes first (much to our youngest players delight) and cards are turned over one at a time rather than three. The first person to see matching cards must shout “Seek” and take the 3 matching cards (if two or more players shout at the same time those cards are removed from play and no one gets them). Play continues until all the cards are face up on the table and the game ends when no more 3 card matches can be made. Again the winner is the player with the most cards.
We really enjoyed this game as it was inclusive for everybody without the children being disadvantaged by the adult’s knowledge and because it was so simple, could be played anywhere and is a quick and fun game to play. And it is a game that pleases the eleven-year-old as her memory and recall are freakishly good and she won a majority of the games.
Sneak Peek is an excellent addition to the games shelf and is also ideal for travelling. It is perfect for quick play and filling small chunks of time, especially when other games will take just far too long at the end of a busy day. And it also is perfect for keeping the kids off their screens!
A fast, fun and really enjoyable pick up and play game.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99
For more information, visit www.johnadams.co.uk. Available to buy from Amazon here.
