NOTE: THIS GAME HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BUT SEE OUR OTHER FAMILY FRIENDLY FAVORITE TILE-BASED GAMES HERE!
My oldest son spied the strategy board game, Mine Shift by Mindware, in the local toy store and decided then and there that he was going to save up his money to buy it.
When I realized yesterday I still hadn't posted a game of the month for March (yes, I'm on top of things over here), I knew immediately that this should be the choice. I'm not exactly sure why he was drawn to it in the store. The colored marbles? The shifting tiles? In any case, Mine Shift now has an honored position on the "favorite games shelf" in the closet. He and I have been playing it together for several months now, but it was only just recently that his 5 year old brother began successfully playing it, too.
The overarching premise of Mine Shift is simple. Players must transfer their four gemstones from starting base to home base. They do so by performing three moves per turn, including turning and sliding tiles and moving the gemstones. Players must maneuver around impenetrable rock walls and obstacles that lie in their path.
Thoughts on playing Mine Shift with Kids:
- Game play is relatively quick; each game takes about 15 minutes. Sometimes the kids play "2 out of 3" games.
- Mine Shift is a good introduction to strategy games.
- The recommended age is 8 and up, but I think that is too high. My 5 year old figured out very quickly how to play on his own after his first game as part of a team with mom.
- Each path to home base will be different every time you play, so the game continues to provide variety.
- Game play builds strategic thinking, spatial awareness skills, and encourages kids to learn how to adapt to an ever-changing field.
Have you ever played Mine Shift with your kids? How do they like it? Are your kids fans of strategy games?
Want more game recommendations: see all of games of the month.
Even in Australia says
Do you enjoy it as much as the kids? I will only play games that don't bore me to tears. Luckily, I like games in general.
Erica MomandKiddo says
I do actually like it. It's not the most exciting game in the world, but it's also not a very long game so I don't mind playing a couple of games in a row. It ranks way above "Candy Land", for example!
Jeanette Nyberg says
Ooh, it looks fun. And it must be, if it got onto the coveted "favorites" shelf.
John Forte says
As the inventor of the game, it's always nice to read good comments about your work...glad it is being enjoyed!
Erica says
We still enjoy it very much!