Building Modern Marble Runs with GraviTrax + Giveaway

Marble runs and rolling ball sculptures have always fascinated me.  I’ve been known to spend an embarrassing amount of time standing in front of one of those sculptures, watching the balls make their way around the roller coaster-like tracks and tackling various obstacles.  Over and over and over again.  It’s mesmerizing.  And marble runs?  I spent a good portion of my childhood trying to build my own out of household items.  It’s no big surprise that both of my kids have the same fascination, but they’ve got a toy that’s way cooler than anything I had growing up.  Of all the toys I saw this year, and I’ve seen a lot, this one might be my favorite:  GraviTrax by Ravensburger.

GraviTrax is an interactive track system that allows you to create your own modernized marble run.  Designed to encourage kids to experiment with gravity, magnetism, and kinetics, it’s also happens to be a fantastic STEM toy.  Everything you need to become an expert marble run engineer comes in the 122-piece GraviTrax Starter Set.

It’s really quite easy to do, and the included instruction booklet will guide you through the process of building tracks of varying difficulty levels.  Start by placing the sturdy cardboard base plates on a flat surface, and then use the provided height tiles, tracks, and other tools to construct your masterpiece.  In no time at all, you’ll be watching your marbles take on curves, maneuver through junctions, and be launched by cannons.  As you experiment with different configurations, you’ll learn how physics influences the marbles’ journey to the finish line.

Once you’ve gotten the hang of how the GraviTrax components work together, please do put that direction book away and create a course straight out of your imagination.  Try out different heights, incorporate multiple marbles, and maybe add in a freefall.  Customizing your own track is the best way to learn and have fun!

As amazing as all of that sounds, it can actually get bigger and better.  Ravensburger offers accessories and expansion sets that provide even more design possibilities, more action, and more speed.  The expansion sets are what you need for maximum build size, but there’s a lot of excitement to be had in the accessories too.  If your design needs a little extra momentum, add in a Hammer.   When it’s triggered, it will swing down and give the marble a nice whack that should get it where it needs to go.  Throw in a loop and find out how much speed is required to make the marble go all the way around it.  Or add the loop simply because loops are fun.  It’s your world; let your imagination run wild!

Recommended for ages 8-99, GraviTrax is most definitely a fun, hands-on activity that the entire family can enjoy together.  It encourages logical thinking and problem solving, but it’s so exciting that you won’t even notice you’re engaging in quality exercise for your brain!

Learn more at the Ravensburger web site.  You can find GraviTrax for purchase at Amazon.

Our friends at Ravensburger are offering Game On Mom readers a chance to win a GraviTrax Starter Set!  Giveaway is open to US residents who are 18 and older.  Ends 12/20/18 at 11:59 PM ET.  Good luck!