SmartGamesDrop Zone Marble Run Logic Game with 80 Challenges for Ages 8 - Adult

Saw this on a recent FB video and knew o had to find it for myself. It has been tons of fun for my kids and does have not only a great educational value but keeps their interest. Value and quality are also very high here too .

Juego retador, requiere una forma de analizar diferente a los otros juegos de esta empresa.

My family is a fan of both marble races and logic puzzles, so this was a no brainer for us! We have no problems with the pieces fitting together well (though it can definitely be fiddly to get them together when you're building a many-piece solution). The puzzles seem pretty appropriate. Similar to other SmartGames puzzles in the same vein, the "master" level maxes out at a level appropriate for a clever 10-12 year old or so. Most weren't particularly challenging for the adults or older teens--just tedious to solve rather than difficult. The instructions on HOW to play were not great and are the main reason this loses a star. The instructions were basically a single unformatted paragraph that didn't define the terms it was using very well. A short bulleted list would have gotten us started in ten seconds instead of puzzling over a block of text for longer than we puzzled over most of the game's levels. Another, smaller negative point is the storage, or rather lack there of. We've been spoiled with other SmartGames titles that fit snugly back in the box and have a simple but clever cardboard spacer to ensure nothing shifts around. For this game, you're left to just chuck everything back in the box and hope--and there are some VERY small, easy to lose pieces. So grab some ziplock bags!

This is an amazing logic game. The combination is both pattern matching and being aware of where everything is in 3 detentions. That makes it a very challenging game that requires thought and is a great way to literally practice thinking. The game is basic plastic and works very well, like what you would expect from a game. I would recommend this for anyone.

I was surprised at how challenging this can be! The game is definitely a one person game. It comes with a booklet of puzzles to solve. Solving the puzzle involves building a conduit for the marbles to reach a specified destination. If you choose a beginner puzzle you can possibly finish in a short amount of time and then watch or wait while another person does another easy one – especially if you are helping a child learn how the game works. However, the more difficult puzzles may take a while. I spent ½ hour on one and finally had to look at the solution (found at the end of the book) to get a hint. So if you are doing a more difficult puzzle, no one is going to be hanging around for half an hour waiting for you to finish so they can take a turn. The last one I did, I was going to walk away to clear my mind and try again after awhile. There are a total of 80 challenges, and I think eventually you learn the tips and tricks, so the difficult ones become easier. So at some point (in the distant future), the game may become stale, as there is no element of chance to make it different the next time you play. The pieces you use to build the bridges for the marbles to cross can be difficult to work with – if they are not placed just right, they don’t stay put and your bridge will fall apart. I found it very irritating when I suddenly had an “a-ha” moment and knew what I needed to do, but the pieces wouldn’t stay put and by the time I got them to stay, I lost my momentum. That is the only con – you should get lots of play out of this game, and 8 and up is a good starting point for the easy ones. It’s more of a solitary strategizing game than a fun group game. Highly recommend for some.

This is big with lots of parts and definitely not a travel game. The directions were not clear making it boring and no fun to play. The plastic parts also do not fit together well. Poor quality game and very boring.

First off - I love SmartGames' logic games. I got my first one about seven years ago. I tried a similar product from another brand, but wasn't as impressed with it. All of the SmartGames products I've tried are sturdy, have great textures, and provide a challenge for all levels and this one is no exception. The instruction booklet is of good quality and offers simple instructions.This is not one of the travel, pocket games. The pieces all fit nicely into the storage box that's of good cardboard quality. The box is about 10x10 inches. The first time I tried this puzzle I really glossed over the instructions, something that came back to bite me when I tried some of the more difficult runs. Read the instructions people - be smarter than me.I like that this game challenges on a three-dimensional level and is in the physical realm. My nine-year-old nephew also enjoyed the challenge so it's a game for the young and old alike.

My 8 year old found this to be a little frustrating. The pieces don't fit tightly and need to be aligned perfectly but even then it's flimsy and it's easy to knock it over. Additionally, we felt that the set could use a little more pieces. There is only 2 of the smaller ones. that raise the platform. You can try to mimic the build that's on the box cover but takes some time. The presentation in the box is cool but the set could be a lot better at the price point.