Jump In - Limited Edition, by SmartGames

“Jump In” has always been one of my favourite SmartGames. Imagine my THRILL when @leisurelearning sent me this “Jump In - Limited Edition” from @smartgamesau . Seriously, this game is incredibly CLEVER!

Why I love ❤️ this game: (1) “Jump In” is a sequential movement puzzle about helping some rabbits to escape from crafty foxes, and jump into burrows for safety. SmartGames is an expert in incorporating FUN storyline into their ingenious brain-teasers. First, set up the game board as indicated in the challenge; the object of the game is to hop the rabbit over one or more obstacles (mushrooms, another rabbit, or a moving fox that can slide forward and backward) so that all the rabbits are safe in the brown holes. This Limited Edition shares the same rules, mechanics, and size as the original version; it includes 1 game board, 4 rabbits, 2 foxes, 3 mushrooms, booklet with 100 challenges and solutions. There is a new black rabbit added to this edition (compared to the original 3 rabbits), and the number of challenges increases from 60 to exciting 100!

(2) I love that the game encourages pre-planning and “forward-thinking”. To successfully solve the challenges, we need to avoid focusing on just “short-term” gain of moving the bunnies into the holes whenever opportunity arises. As a bunny can only “hop over” to another space when there is at least one or more objects/animals right next to it, we need to strategise and use the bunnies wisely to help another bunny to move, before allowing them to jump into their ultimate “destined” burrows. The challenges are grouped in progressive difficulty levels, from “Stater” to “Wizard”. The first few challenges are relatively easy to give us a “taste” of the game; but they do get ridiculously difficult towards the Wizard stage (quite a few challenges require at least 80 or more minimum steps to complete!)

(3) The game pieces are well-made and beautifully-designed. I love how adorable the components look, especially how the rabbits can be “hidden” perfectly within the brown holes, but with two long ears sticking out so we can pull them out with ease.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Recommended age: 7 year-old ++