I absolutely love discovering new games to play with the children. I appreciate the educational aspects that games provide. Plus, it’s such a great way to have some quality time during our busy week.  With this new game that we were given for review, I was able to have one-on-one time with not just the older girls, but our younger children as well. The Crozzit game is designed to be played by two players, ages eight and up, or ages 8-88 as it states on the box and their website. However, it didn’t take long for my seven-year-old, and even my five year old to grasp the concept of the game so they could take their turns.

We received the Crozzit game which includes a plastic game board, a set of 32 yellow tiles, a set of 32 blue tiles, and a sheet containing the game rules.

The plastic game board is a little over ten inches in length on all sides. The 9 ½ inch by 9 ½ inch playing area of the game board is gray with an 18 by 18 grid whose squares match the width of the playing tiles. These squares are half an inch on each side with raised bumps on each corner to help contain the tiles. The outer edges of the game board are blue and yellow, to match the colors of the tiles. One player has the blue tiles and needs to make a path from the one blue side to the opposite blue side, while the player with the yellow tiles needs to do the same for the yellow.

There are three lengths of tiles. Each tile is ½ inch wide. The 30 small tiles are the length of three squares, the one large tile is the length of four squares, and the one extra-large tile is the length of five squares.

The instructions are quite simple to grasp, and there are only three rules in the game. What makes this game challenging is trying to outsmart your opponent, and use strategy to get your tiles to connect your sides while at the same time blocking your opponent from connecting his/her sides. While placing tiles you can’t put your tile on a part of the other players tiles, but you can cross your own tiles. In order to make a path, tiles must touch at least one side, not just the corners. And the final rule is that a tile can’t be placed where it will overlap the edge of the board. You have to win by connecting the side of the tile to the side of the game board.

The children had a lot of fun playing the Crozzit game.  They each took turns playing against me in the beginning and eventually, we moved on to where the winner of a game would move on to play the next person as part of a tournament of sorts. 

For such a simple game, there is a lot of strategy involved. You don’t have to start on the edge of the board with your first tile placement, so figuring out a good place to start comes into play.  Also, deciding when to use your large and extra-large tiles is important. Then you have to figure out exactly how to place your tiles within the rules to block your opponent and, at the same time, press on towards your own goal. There were times we were sure one player was going to win, and then out of nowhere (or at least it appeared) the other player suddenly claimed the victory.

While the younger children are able to play, they don’t quite have the strategic skills necessary, but they do understand enough to enjoy playing.

We really enjoy playing Crozzit and think it is a wonderful game for our family time. I like that I can have one-on-one time with each child, but we can all play in one sitting as the game doesn’t take that long to finish. I also love that the children are developing their strategic skills, and are giving me a run for my money.

This is definitely a game I can recommend.

On the Identity Games website, you can find a list of stores where Crozzit can be purchased. Though there are links to Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us, I was unable to find the game on those sites. However, it is available for $19.99 on Amazon.

- Product review by Karen Waide, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, October, 2017

Another Reviewer’s Perspective:

Crozzit Game

The Game You Always Almost Win!

Identity Games

http://www.identitygames.com

Crozzit is a game for two players. Rated for ages 8-88, it’s a simple game for two players and taking just 20 minutes to play. The game includes a plastic game board and 32 yellow and 32 blue tiles. In Tetris fashion, each player must make a path with their tiles across the board, but they cannot cross the other player’s tile. It’s just 18 steps across the board – but your opponent’s goal is to get there first and prevent you from completing your path. Crozzit retails for $19.99.

I handed this game over to my kids and told them to have fun. I have four kids old enough to play, and a few younger ones that I tried, somewhat frustratingly, to teach to play. The age suggestion is definitely accurate, and my older kids were far more skilled than the younger ones. We had a great time though – enough that when I got the game out again tonight all the kids cheered because they thought we were going to play again. When I said that I couldn’t, my six-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter started playing each other. That’s a painful process to watch, but I do think it still builds good skill even if they are too young to play well, and the game goal is simple enough for them to try. It does teach problem solving and planning ahead.

Crozzit received high ratings from my kids! It was a quick and fun game for me to sit down one on one with a child, and my older kids enjoyed playing Crozzit with one another. It isn’t going to make a family game night favorite because two player games don’t quite make the cut around here, but for a rainy afternoon or when I’m working to develop problem solving skills in a child and taking a break from math, Crozzit is perfect.

-Product review by Adrienne Falkena, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, October, 2017