Voice Originals: When In Rome is a board game you play with your ALEXA SPEAKER! Yep, you heard me right. It’s a whole new way to play with and interact with Alexa. This game is so much fun and great for the whole family. My kids loved listening to Alexa ask the questions, and I’m not gonna lie, it got a little competitive in my house very quickly last night!
Let’s get to the important stuff, When In Rome is the first in a series of social board games that are powered by smart speakers. The first of its kind in the world, actually. In the game, you split into two teams and fly around a board game travel map to 20 different cities. When you visit a new city, Alexa will introduce you to a real recorded local who asks a question about food, culture, customs, etc. You get points for correct answers and can earn fancy souvenir items from new friends, which help you advance in the game.
When In Rome is a really cool way for the whole family to learn about all different parts of the world, and even about our hometown New York. That’s right – there are some tricky questions to this game that! And after 5 plays with the family, we still haven’t hit any repeats, which is a refreshing for a trivia game.
While my kids are a bit on the younger side – the suggested age is 13 – my wife and I were able to help them out. It also helps that the whole game is run by Alexa! That’s right! There’s no rulebook, no need to keep track of the score and no reading question cards. With When In Rome, Alexa tells you how to play, asks the questions and keeps track of the score. While I was a bit skeptical in the beginning, it was enjoyable to have Alexa guide gameplay and not have to reference a rulebook or score card.
Here’s the best part, since the technology is already being used in tens of millions of homes, When In Rome retails for just $30! Great value. If you want to pick up your own copy of Voice Originals: When In Rome, you can go to Amazon or www.VoiceOriginals.com. Dont forget you need to own an Amazon Dot (but for a few extra dollars you might go with the Dot kids edition) or Echo to play.
Do you have a family game night? Do you kick the kids off minecraft when its time for a playdate? Are you just looking for something really entertaining for the kids to play with that arent electronic? If you answered yes to any of these questions then I’ve got something to talk to you about… way back at Toy Fair I saw this new company YULU they were putting out a few new games and I was really excited about a couple that I saw….
Safe Breaker [Target] is a new electronic game that combines spy skill, memory and a little bit of luck, challenging players to crack the code and break into the safe. This game does requires two or more players.
To start the mission, players pick a card and turn the safe combination to the corresponding number shown. Next, use the fingerprint scanner to test the number. If the light is green, the safe will release some coins. If the light is red, connect the spy listening gear to the safe to hear a top- secret clue to deduce the correct combination code. Clues include mathematical chances and luck elements, allowing for a new experience each round.
BEWARE! Players who release police coins will alert the police and must return all their coins to the safe. The spy who collects the five golden coins or two diamond coins first, wins the game.
The other game was Break Free [Target] which requires two or more players is a new, challenging action skill game full of urgency, suspense and tons of fun. The objective: players must race to pick the lock on their handcuff as quickly as possible and before everyone else!
First, players handcuff themselves together and insert a maze into each handcuff. The game includes three maze colors. Each color represents a different level of difficulty, making each round unpredictable. Using the lock pick, players must try to pick the lock on their handcuff as quickly as possible. The fastest to break free from their handcuff receives a token that corresponds with the maze color. There are points on the back of each token, the player with the most points after playing all three rounds, wins the game.
Now the great thing about both of these games are they’re fun for the kids to play and gets them off of screen time and breaks the typical board game dynamic. Also the kids can become an official YULU Spy Code Spy? The Spy Code Academy encourages kids to become Spy Masters through the Spy Code episodes featured on spycode.toys. Record and complete the mission at the end of each episode and upload your video using upload it using #YULUTOYS. You may have a chance to be featured on spycode.toys and get exclusive rewards from YULU Toys.
Since both games are rated for ages 6 and up they are the perfect birthday present to give a child.
Now both games are listed on amazon but at double the price of that of Target (which is why I choose to link there)… I was provided product samples but all thoughts are my own.
I love the holiday season… but over the last few years – its been very digital I’ve picked out some of the best board games from ThinkFun that I think your family would like as I know my family certainly has…
Compose Yourself – The Lego of music, Compose Yourself uses a set of musical “building bricks” that encourages anyone with or without musical ability to “play with” music just as they would with a construction kit. The digital music game also includes access to an exclusive website to compose, share with friends and family, or download/print your own custom sheet music – featuring more than a billion melody combinations. (Ages 6+) Find it on Amazon.
Code Master– A puzzle boardgame that takes kids on the ultimate coding adventure, Code Master provides the structured thinking discipline and teaches key logic skills rooted in computer programming principles without a computer…and by making it fun. (Ages 8+) Find it on Amazon.
Laser Maze Jr. – Your mission: Expertly transport the laser beam to the rockets so that it can safely return to earth! Younger players can now experience the fun of the award-winning gameLaser Maze with an age-appropriate design and challenge for grade school children with real lasers. (Ages 6+) Find it on Amazon.
Rush Hour Shift – The best-selling sliding block logic game is now available for two players! Every move counts in this race as you strategically plot to move your car and cross grid-lock traffic before your opponent. The potential moves are endless and the shifting Traffic Grid and Instruction Cards add a whole new dimension to play. (Ages 8+) Find it on Amazon.
Voice Originals: When In Rome is a board game you play with your ALEXA SPEAKER! Yep, you heard me right. It’s a whole new way to play with and interact with Alexa. This game is so much fun and great for the whole family. My kids loved listening to Alexa ask the questions, and I’m not gonna lie, it got a little competitive in my house very quickly last night!
