Holiday Gift Guide: Games for Ages 8 and Up

Spy Code Hackathon

Yulu’s Spy Code game series is fantastic if you’re looking for something that’s active and encourages problem solving, so we’re always excited when they come out with something new.  In Hackathon, Mission #4 in the line, you and your Spy Code squad are trying to hack into a top secret government hard drive.  One player acts as the operator, and his job is to operate the console.  His team of experts must guide him through eight different modules by deciphering information found in the instruction manuals.  The catch is that only the operator can see the console and only the experts can see the instructions, so teamwork is super important here.  The squad will have to talk this one out, and they’ll have to do it quickly or they’ll run out of time!  (Ages 8+.  2-9 players.)
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The Oregon Trail:  Hunt for Food Card Game

If you were a fan of The Oregon Trail computer game, then you’re going to want to give this card game a try.  In The Oregon Trail: Hunt for Food, you must work together with your fellow travelers to collect 600 pounds of meat. During your quest, you’re likely to encounter some dangerous threats.  Depending on your luck, you might get bitten by a snake, break your leg, or get trapped by obstacles and never make it back to the trail.  In fact, the Hunt for Food features 5 brand new ways to die!  It’s not easy to successfully gather all the food you need before everyone in your group dies, but Pressman was kind enough to create an instructional video to help you on your trek.  Play this as an expansion to the original Oregon Trail card game or on its own.  (Ages 12+. 2-6 players.)
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Word Slam Family

Word Slam Family has all the fast-paced fun wordplay of the original hit game, but in a streamlined, compact format. This version includes 100 story word cards and 100 answer cards, with a total of 600 answer terms in four difficulty levels. It includes easier, family-friendly answer words suitable for families and groups with kids ages 10 and up. In this version, the die and timer is replaced by an app. Instead of using card holders, the two box halves are used as screens between the teams and the answer cards are played behind the screens. This game can be played both as an expansion to the base game and as a stand-alone game.  (Ages 10+. 3+ players.)
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Cut the Wire

In Cut the Wire from Yulu, the goal is to defuse a ticking bomb as quickly as you can.  Each turn begins with the roll of a die to determine what action you must take.  You’ll either have to cut a wire, get a clue, get a clue AND cut a wire, or get a clue and force an opponent to cut a wire of your choosing.  When you put the included wire cutter to work, three things can happen.  You might get a dud, and then it’s the next person’s turn; you might cut the danger wire, causing the bomb to explode and you to lose; or you could be lucky and choose the defuse wire, which would make you the big winner.  The clues you get during play will help you discover which wires are dangerous and which are safe, but it’s all very suspenseful and exciting while you’re figuring it out.  Think you’re a master bomb diffuser?  Turn on the game, and hit the red button two times to switch from classic mode to time mode, and then you’ll only have 15 seconds to take your turn before the bomb explodes.  Cut the Wire is simple to play, but it’s fast-paced fun that tests your memory and your luck!  (Ages 8+. 1-10 players.)
Yulu Toys