Candyland is a board game which will appeal to parents of young children

Game:
Candyland
Board game manufacturer:
Hasbro
Number of players:
2-4

QUICK VERDICT

The Candyland board game is a fun, simple game for young children. It's something of an American classic, billed as "The first board game your child will play." Its simple design and easy learning curve will make it a perfect way to introduce game playing to your growing family.

The Candy Land Game is a simple game of colour recognition that will introduce gently to kids the concept of an organised boardgame.

The game and gameplay

Players take turns to pick up a card. Each card has a colour marked on it. The player advances their token to the next square of that colour.

Some cards send you directly to a special location or character square. These have fun, candy-themed names, like Mr. Mint, Mama Ginger Tree, Lolly and Lord Licorice, or Candy Cane Forest and Gum Drop Mountain.

The game lasts longer if you allow players to be sent backwards to these squares (though the rules suggest that this is not allowed).

If the card drawn has two colour marks instead of one, the player can move ahead two squares of that colour. If a player lands on a square with a dot, they are stuck until they draw another card of that colour.

The winner is the first player to land on the rainbow at the end of the track of squares.

Pros and cons

Candyland the board game is very visually appealing and hits the sweet spot for its target audience.

Simple to learn and play, it will allow for interaction between young children and their parents or carers.

Its obvious weakness it its simplicity, which like many games for very young children, is also its strength. It has little appeal as a family experience (assuming there are children of mixed ages playing), as older players will tire of the concept.

The verdict

Colourful and fun, your kids will enjoy this simple introduction to organised board games. Not even requiring your children to count, The Candyland board game is the simplest of concepts. May pall quickly if played too often.