I love the new trend towards “full-sized games” coming in small packages. As my kids are getting older we are constantly on the go, but usually one of them gets bored. Tapple 10 is my new go-to-game for stashing in my purse. Just this week, we played at a cross country meet, a restaurant, and a friend’s house. If you have played the original Tapple game you know it’s educational (shhhh…don’t tell my kids) and great for the whole family. For those that haven’t played, it’s a self-contained game in an interactive wheel. The first player reveals a category, then each player has 10-seconds to come up with a word relating to the category and press one of the twenty letters on the wheel that corresponds to the first letter of the word. Since each letter can only be used once per round, it gets more exciting the longer you play. When the original designers of Tapple proposed an alternate way to play with a deck of cards, we were intrigued to hear more. After playing, we were certain that we needed to bring what was then referred to as “Tapple Cards” to gamers everywhere. By the time I got involved, the final card design was in place, but the game still needed a name and rules for the new ways to play. In the end, we came up with ten fun and unique ways to play. I repeat — “Ten Ways to Play” — all in a package that fits in the palm of your hand! We settled on the name Tapple 10 to reflect the ten ways to play. This version of the game comes with a sand timer and a deck of 80 double-sided cards. The cards have four color-coded categories on one side, and a color-coded letter on the other. Whenever I introduce someone new to the game, I always start with the first game included in the rules, Tapple 10 Alpha. Here are the rules in a nutshell. Stack the cards category side up. Then flip a card to the letter side and look at the color of the letter. Read the correlating category on the top card of the stack, and shout out an answer that starts with the revealed letter. The first person to do so claims the card. The simultaneous shouting of answers draws people into the game. Recently, I played with three girls. By the time we finished playing we had over ten kids and adults joining in on the fun! What makes Tapple 10 Alpha a fun game:
Another favorite Tapple 10 game is Scramble. If you already have a large number of players and don’t want to split the group, this is a perfect choice. Instead of one winner each round, this game gives everyone a chance to claim cards. What makes Scramble a fun game:
Some of the Tapple 10 games have time constraints. Included in the package is a 15-second sand timer, but there is also a free timer app you can download and use as well. The app allows you to customize the time to fit your group. Want a greater challenge? Try spitting out words in 10-seconds. Or ease the tension by extending the time to 20-seconds — especially useful with younger players. Four in a Row is another of my favorites. In this game each player competes against the 15-second timer, trying to claim each of the four cards lined up in front of them. Although it’s still tense, there’s a slight mental break for the players not actively trying to guess. What makes Four in a Row a fun game:
For me, Tapple 10 is a must have game in my collection. It’s a perfect gateway or filler game at game night. It travels well, and if you have kids like I do, it’s perfect for sneaking in a little bit of educational fun during family game night. Give it a try! •••
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