Holiday Gift Guide ~ Cupcake Race Board Game Review

My two oldest children are at the age where they are learning to play board games. Often, I find that most games are way over their heads and too complicated. At 4 and 2, they need easy and simple to understand games that are right on their level. Hubby and I thought Candy Land would be a fantastic game for them but it has proven to be a bit too difficult for them to comprehend. We have put that one away for future enjoyment. :) Recently, I attended the Chicago Toy & Game fair and had a BLAST. If you saw my post on that trip then you know what we did and how much fun we had there. Well, I visited the Endless Games booth there and was sooo excited to find that they make a game that is perfect for little ones! I was thrilled to be able to receive one of their children's games to include in my Holiday Gift Guide. It is not always easy to find good game gifts for children but this one is simply amazing!

Cupcake Race is a board game that is geared towards children ages 4 and up. My daughter just turned 4 in August so I knew she would enjoy this game. The object is to visit all four corners of the game board and collect all the pieces needed to make a yummy cupcake! Before I continue on with this review, here is a bit more about Endless Games which not only makes games, but also puzzles! 

Founded by industry veterans Mike Gasser, Kevin McNulty and game inventor Brian Turtle (all pictured above...aren't they a hoot? LOL!), Endless Games specializes in games that offer classic entertainment and hours of fun at affordable prices. 

The three have an uncanny ability for discovering and developing hit games, having been a part in past successes Trivial Pursuit™, Pictionary® and Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon™. 

The general principle of Endless Games is to produce high quality entertainment in board games and puzzles that are quick and easy to learn, but offer “Endless” play value. This theme runs through the line of classic games like Kismet, Spill & Spell, and the Tickle Bee as well as home versions of iconic TV game shows like Password, The Family Feud, and the Newlywed Game. Newer, cutting edge games like X-ceter-O, and Dueling Dice, and party games Name 5, and Flippin’ Out! also maintain this model for instantly addictive fun! 

From ages 3 to 103, Endless Games offers card games, dice games, party games, word games, strategy games, trivia games, survey games, and pop culture games for everyone. 

Sounds like a fun company, doesn't it? I love the idea that they have games and puzzles for not only adults, but also children! Their games are also super affordable and will fit anyone's budget. :)

So, for this review I received the Cupcake Race game. I was really excited to play this with my children and see how well they did. Here is how it works!

First, set up your board and separate all the pieces that will go in each corner. As you can see, we have cupcake papers in one corner, the "cakes" in another corner, the frosting in another corner, the sprinkles in another corner and the cherries in the center. 

It's my understanding that Brian Turtle came up with this game as a fun idea for his little girls. They wanted a game with lots of pink and purple and that is exactly what Brian did! My daughter was more excited about this game than anyone else in my family because of all the pretty colors. :)

Then, read the directions. Yes, this is important because...ummmm...you won't know how to play otherwise! :) My sister stopped by for a visit so she plopped down and helped us figure out how to play. What you do is place all your pieces on the "start" square. Then, starting with the youngest player, spin the spinner and move your piece that many spaces. If you land on a "+2" or "+1" square, you get to pick out a sprinkle! The color sprinkle you get is whatever color the spinner stopped on. Some of the squares are blank and when you land on these, you do nothing. 

As you proceed around the board you have to stop at each corner and collect all the parts to "bake" your cupcake. I was doing really well until I hit a "-1" square or a "-2" square and I had to return my sprinkles. NOT cool! So, mommy's cupcake was pretty bare when the game ended. LOL! The first player to reach the center of the board gets to put a cherry on the top of their cupcake! Can you guess who won this game?

MY 2 YEAR OLD. Yep, he played along with us and had a blast doing so. Although, I think we sort of bent the rules for him. When he spun the spinner, he would flick it numerous times just because he thought it was fun so he was actually sort of cheating. :) But, he had fun. He also had the most sprinkles on his cupcake!

My daughter had so much fun playing this game too. When we finished, she just sat there and decorated and re-decorated her cupcake for fun. Not only did she have fun playing the game, she also had fun playing with all the pieces afterwards. Just be sure to keep track of those sprinkles...they are tiny and if you have a crawling baby in the house like me, you are going to want to make sure they are all put away.

Cupcake Race retails for $19.99 and is probably my favorite game right now. It is simple to play and does not take a long time to complete. For the child who is learning to count, it is also perfect because the spinner only goes up to 6 and my daughter is learning how to count in Pre-K. She is able to easily count the spaces and place her piece on the right square. 

So, in my opinion...Cupcake Race is super cute and provides loads of fun for my children! The concept is simple and easy enough for even my 2 year old! I would definitely recommend this game to any one who is looking for a perfect Christmas gift for a child! I can't think of any child who would not want to receive this game...it's wonderful! :)

Endless Games has offered to giveaway a Cupcake Race Game to one of my readers!! WOO HOO! Here are your easy entry options...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this post. However, I received a free Cupcake Race Game in exchange for this post. All quotes and stock photos are from the Endless Games website and email. Prize is provided  and shipped by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.