•  
The family game pits two teams against each other in tests of both mental and physical skills. Perfect for groups with varying skill levels and talents!
<p><strong>Toy Description</strong></p> <p>Game includes 200 Cranium cards, 10-sided die, tub of clay, 1-Minute timer, 2 pawn movers, notepad, gameboard, and instructions.</p> <p><strong>Play</strong></p> <p>Break into two teams, then take turns completing the challenges as shown on the Cranium cards. Some involve building objects out of clay, some involve drawing pictures with closed eyes, some are riddles and word puzzles, while some are physical challenges. All in all, every player gets a chance to put their personal skill set to use to help out their team.</p> <p>After a challenge is successfully completed, roll the die to see how many squares that team gets to advance. The first team to reach the end, wins!</p> <p><strong>Observations</strong></p> <p>The praise we keep hearing over and over again is how well this game gets everyone into the mix. With challenges that range from physical, to spatial, to artistic, to linguistic, to trivia, all ages and skill levels are able to play.</p> <p>Users report this game quickly becoming a favorite for family night, often being played multiple times a week. Games typically take less than an hour to finish, and sometimes as little as 30 minutes if players are super quick about their challenges, so this is a good game for when hours and hours can&rsquo;t be invested.</p> <p>Challenges vary from an assortment of tasks. Some are word puzzles and riddles, while some ask players to mold a shape out of clay that represents a word or phrase that their teammates must guess. Some challenges included charades, while some are factoid type trivia cards. Some may involve doing a stunt, or doing an impression of a famous character, or whistling a tune. Everyone will find challenges they excel at, just as everybody will find challenges that they didn&rsquo;t even know they were unable to perform. It&rsquo;s a rather humbling experience.</p> <p>Meant for multiple players, we found that it may not work well for only 2 people. Some of the challenges require having a teammate, such as the one that asks a player to draw a picture with their eyes closed while their teammate guesses what it is. This is hard to do with only one person on a team. A minimum of 4 players is needed.</p> <p>This review is for the newer version of the game, called Cranium Family Edition. We want to point out that this new version does NOT included the flipper frogs. The older version, called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cranium-The-Family-Fun-Game/dp/B00206EAJY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1469209714&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=cranium+family+fun&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=toti08-20&amp;linkId=a38cb51e21e9d8d858dc5a01f9814357" linktype="3" target="_blank">Cranium Family Fun</a> does have them.</p> <p><strong>Care</strong></p> <ul> <li>Get a plastic bag or other sealable container for the clay to keep it from drying out</li> <li>Everything fits back into the box for easy storage</li> </ul> <p><strong>Parts and Pieces</strong></p> <p>Everything needed to complete the challenges is in the box, including the modeling clay and notepad.</p> <p>Other additions of the game are available, such as the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-16577-NEW-Cranium/dp/B0036RNWOA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1469220577&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=cranium&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=toti08-20&amp;linkId=f9553fab72f936e55c89f0b4d217e723" linktype="3" target="_blank">regular Cranium</a>, and the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cranium-The-Family-Fun-Game/dp/B00206EAJY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1469209714&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=cranium+family+fun&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=toti08-20&amp;linkId=a38cb51e21e9d8d858dc5a01f9814357" linktype="3" target="_blank">earlier version that includes the flipper frogs</a>.</p> <p><strong>Concerns</strong></p> <p>We have noticed that in a few instances, a user purchasing the newer version of the game from Amazon may end up with what seems to be a repackaged box, wherein the clay is dried out. It only happen to a small number or users. This is not a flaw with the game itself, and we encourage users to always inspect products upon arrival.&nbsp;</p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p>
Cranium Family Edition
Date published: 2016-07-22
8.50 / 10 stars

Cranium Family Edition

by Hasbro
current stage2016-07-22

Games that promote teamwork are hard enough to come by, let alone games that promote teamwork between players of varying ages and skill levels. Using word puzzles, charades, modeling clay, and drawing challenges, Cranium’s Family Edition pulls in everyone from young children to grandparents. Split into two teams, families and friends can face off in these rather unexpected tests of mental, and sometimes physical, flexibility.

With great feedback from users, Cranium has been a Game Night staple for almost 20 years. So long as players go into the game willing to encourage their teammates and not take themselves too seriously, then everyone should end up laughing. Intended for children 8 and up, groups without any small children may prefer the regular Cranium

  • Cranium Family Edition
Cranium Family Edition
Overall8.50
This measure how often, for how long, and how many different ages will play with this toy. A great toy will be loved for years, and is still wanted as the child grows.
Replay
  • 9.00
 
This measures the quality of the materials and production processes used.
Quality
  • 8.50
 
This scores how well a toy encourages critical thinking, pattern recognition, and memory improvement.
Cognitive
  • 9.00
 
Including both gross and fine motor skills, this measure how much this toy engages and challenges physical mobility, body awareness, and coordination.
Motor
  • 8.50
 
This measures how likely a toy is to spark social play between children or how well it teaches socially healthy behavior.
Social
  • 9.00
 

Product Specs

Age 8+
Made in China
Recalls No
Batteries None
Materials Cards, Plastic
Choking Hazard Not if used appropriately
Date Reviewed 07/22/2016

Where to Buy

Amazon $9.38
Pros
  • Suitable for players of all ages and skill levels
  • Games can usually be completed in under an hour
  • Encourages teamwork and cooperation
Cons
  • Really needs at least 4 players
  • Newer version does not included flipper frogs
Detailed Review

Toy Description

Game includes 200 Cranium cards, 10-sided die, tub of clay, 1-Minute timer, 2 pawn movers, notepad, gameboard, and instructions.

Play

Break into two teams, then take turns completing the challenges as shown on the Cranium cards. Some involve building objects out of clay, some involve drawing pictures with closed eyes, some are riddles and word puzzles, while some are physical challenges. All in all, every player gets a chance to put their personal skill set to use to help out their team.

After a challenge is successfully completed, roll the die to see how many squares that team gets to advance. The first team to reach the end, wins!

Observations

The praise we keep hearing over and over again is how well this game gets everyone into the mix. With challenges that range from physical, to spatial, to artistic, to linguistic, to trivia, all ages and skill levels are able to play.

Users report this game quickly becoming a favorite for family night, often being played multiple times a week. Games typically take less than an hour to finish, and sometimes as little as 30 minutes if players are super quick about their challenges, so this is a good game for when hours and hours can’t be invested.

Challenges vary from an assortment of tasks. Some are word puzzles and riddles, while some ask players to mold a shape out of clay that represents a word or phrase that their teammates must guess. Some challenges included charades, while some are factoid type trivia cards. Some may involve doing a stunt, or doing an impression of a famous character, or whistling a tune. Everyone will find challenges they excel at, just as everybody will find challenges that they didn’t even know they were unable to perform. It’s a rather humbling experience.

Meant for multiple players, we found that it may not work well for only 2 people. Some of the challenges require having a teammate, such as the one that asks a player to draw a picture with their eyes closed while their teammate guesses what it is. This is hard to do with only one person on a team. A minimum of 4 players is needed.

This review is for the newer version of the game, called Cranium Family Edition. We want to point out that this new version does NOT included the flipper frogs. The older version, called Cranium Family Fun does have them.

Care

  • Get a plastic bag or other sealable container for the clay to keep it from drying out
  • Everything fits back into the box for easy storage

Parts and Pieces

Everything needed to complete the challenges is in the box, including the modeling clay and notepad.

Other additions of the game are available, such as the regular Cranium, and the earlier version that includes the flipper frogs.

Concerns

We have noticed that in a few instances, a user purchasing the newer version of the game from Amazon may end up with what seems to be a repackaged box, wherein the clay is dried out. It only happen to a small number or users. This is not a flaw with the game itself, and we encourage users to always inspect products upon arrival. 






 







 







 







 







 

Manufacturer's Description

This game includes 400 of the best mind (and body!) bending challenges from the Cranium game over the years. Take on another team head-to-head for faster gameplay. Spell, puzzle, act, hum, or just guess your way to victory within 4 categories! It's outrageous fun for everyone! Simply cruise around the gameboard completing color-coded activities within the 1-minute time limit. The first team to reach the Cranium Central space and complete one last challenge wins! The Cranium game lets you show off your individual talents. Do you feel the urge to put yourself center stage? Then act, hum, and unleash your inner impersonator in the Star Performer category. Or sketch, sculpt, and draw stick-figure masterpieces if you think the Creative Cat category is your strength! If you have all sorts of facts stored deep in your brain, then Data Head is the category for you. And if you're a wordsmith, then you should solve the puzzles, define the words, and even spell them backward with the Word Worm questions! Pick your category, complete your challenge, and win!

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