inconsequential ruminations

I was asked for kids games recommendations for a four year old. I have played quite a few, mostly two player, games with my daughter, who is now 6 and a half. Most of the these are fine for the very youngest kids, especially if you adapt the rules:

• Viva Topo! – Clever little race game. Not as good as I thought it would be. Probably better with more.
• Snail’s Pace Race – Totally non-confrontational and very simple, which is very important for their first multiplayer games.
• Schildkrötenrennen – Good, Knizia racing game. You have to keep secret which is your racing tortoise, which is a struggle for very young kids.
• Rüsselbande – Alex Randolph. I prefer Schildkrötenrennen.
• Piratissimo – Nice components, but this race game takes too long and has almost zero skill. Nevertheless my kids often ask for it.
• Monkey Madness – Works for the youngest kids. Small and simple. Highly recommended.
• The Kids of Carcassonne – Quite good, but you might as well buy regular Carcassonne and play simplified rules.
• The Kids of Catan – Beautiful components and simple enough for the youngest kids, but large and pricey.
• Happy Families – My kids love playing with me and my wife. The oldest designs are usually famous for a reason.
• Gulo Gulo – Not quite as good as it’s rated. The core dexterity game is great, but the game surrounding it isn’t so good.
• Giro Galoppo – A great first racing game.
• Flinke Flitzer – Fine for the youngest kids.
• Enuk – Inelegant game design. Not recommended.
• Elefun – Lovely dexterity game. Excellent, but you’ll lose all the floating shapes.
• Click Clack – Excellent for very young children. Beautiful components. Vast, poorly made box. My kids love it – even though I’ve had enough.
• Chateau Roquefort – Another inelegant design. Probably better with more than two.
• Chicken Cha Cha Cha – Excellent memory game. I played this with a few friends and they want to buy it for the kids in their lives.
• Capt’n John – Not much of a game.
• Buckaroo – Old favourite. More of a toy.
• Barnyard Critters – Stressful speed game. My daughter suggests this, but she nearly blows her top when she’s playing.
• Au Backe! – OK memory game, with lovely art, but a bit clumsy. Chicken Cha Cha Cha is better.
• Let’s Catch the Lion! – Lovely introduction to Shogi/Chess. My girl likes it, but it’s a challenge.
• Loopin Louie – Excellent dexterity game, but we lost all the plastic coins within a month.
• Piccobello – Lovely little game for the youngest children. Highly recommended.
• Wooly Bully – Played this a couple of days ago with my daughter. Not bad but better with four.
• Villa Paletti – My kids enjoyed this very much. Jenga but more interesting.