A grander version of tic-tac-toe, this game often delights children, though we did notice the production quality is less than it was several years ago.

<p><strong>Toy Description</strong></p> <p>Blue plastic grid snaps together by connecting the legs and slider to the main body. Players take turns dropping their red or yellow plastic disks into the grid. Winner is whoever connects 4 in a row, first.</p> <p>Set includes the grid&rsquo;s main body, legs, slider, 21 red disks, 21 yellow disks, and instructions.</p> <p><strong>Play</strong></p> <p>After the quick and simple set-up, players take turns placing their disks into the grid. Similar to a game of tic-tac-toe, the first player to connect four of their disks in a row, wins. Players can use their disks to interrupt the progress of their opponent. Push the slider over to release the disks at the end of the game.</p> <p><strong>Observations</strong></p> <p>Overall, users report being happy with this toy. An easy game to learn and play, this game is great to have at home, in classrooms, or daycares. Users report this game being great for kids with disabilities, as well as helping recover hand-eye-coordination after a stroke.</p> <p>A few users reported their slider was too short to adequately keep the disks from falling out during play. We did not find this to be an issue, and we did not find this complaint to be a terribly common one. With that said, we recommend opening the game shortly after purchase and making sure all the parts function properly. Some retailers will not accept a return past a certain amount of time, even if it is clearly a manufacturer&rsquo;s defect.</p> <p>Additionally, a few users report opening the package to find disks missing, or no disks at all. Again, we encourage inspecting toys to make sure all parts and pieces are accounted for and in good working order before giving to a child.</p> <p>The manufacturer recommends this toy for ages 6 and up, but we found that children as young as 4 years old could enjoy this game. Younger children may not fully understand the strategy involved, and older players may need to help point out when a winning connection is made diagonally. Overall, we find this game to be suitable for children who are old enough to not put the disks into their mouths, as this presents a choking hazard.</p> <p>Strategic thinking is encouraged with this game, though not required. Children can take turns placing their disks willy-nilly until there is a winner, or they can try to think ahead. Children will learn different strategies as they play the game. &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Care</strong></p> <ul> <li>Wipe down toy with a damp cloth</li> <li>Wash in warm water with a mild soap</li> </ul> <p>For more in-depth information on how to clean this type of toy, please see our blog, <a href="/Blogs1/The-Cleaning-Guide-for-Toys.htm" linktype="8" target="_self">The Cleaning Guide for Toys</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Parts and Pieces</strong></p> <p>Hasbro sells replacement disks, <a href="http://www.hasbro.com/en-us/product/connect-4-checkers-refill:B3549556-5056-9047-F5A7-69E2B41985CE" linktype="3" target="_blank">here</a>. These are labeled as &quot;checkers,&quot; but they are red and yellow and compatible with this game.</p> <p><strong>Concerns</strong></p> <p>Because a few users report purchasing this game and finding it missing pieces, we encourage opening and taking an inventory of all pieces just to make sure everything is present. We encourage doing this for all purchases.&nbsp;</p>

Written by: The Guide For Toys

Date published: 2016-02-05

7.50 / 10 stars