Candyland has got to be the worst board game ever. EVER! (With Chutes and Ladders a close second for sure.) And anyone who says that they love that game and that it was their favorite as a child obviously hasn't played it anytime as an adult and has replaced all actual childhood experiences with heavy doses of nostalgia.
First, it's mind-numbingly boring. Second, it's mind-numbingly boring. Third, unless you want an emotional disaster, there is no possible way to play with children without having to completely rig the deck. Really, have you ever played this game without every single child participating having to get the Queen Frostine card or else they will completely melt down? In fact, have you ever played without there being a melt down at any point in which someone actually has to go backwards in their progress? So, in order to keep the peace it's only me who keeps getting that darn Chocolate Monster card.....over and over and over.
My kids wanted to play this game the other day and when they asked if I would play with them, I said "yes" and that I'd be green, but that I would need Max to move my player for me and just let me know what was happening because I had to finish up something "important" on the computer first. He bought it. Of course, they couldn't start until after Olivia and Isabel finished crying over who got to be the Red player. But once they got started, because I wasn't directly involved and there wasn't any deck-stacking, there was soon plenty of crying to go around. I should clarify: the players under age 6 were crying at which cards they received and where that put them on the board, where the one who is over 6 who and gets the game, and is ok with taking what comes next in the deck, was yelling his insistence about how it's supposed to be played. Such a pleasant experience for everyone.
I should have put this game in the garbage years ago.
11 comments:
I TOTALLY hear you. I used to love this game too, likely because of all the pink, but it is completely AWFUL to me as an adult.... Of course, I hate Risk, too, which makes me an intellectual loser according to my brothers...
Amen and amen.
The one we had as a kid had different graphics and in my memory they were much better, but it's probably just the nostalgia.
I'm amazed at how even with me rigging the deck, the dang game STILL takes at least 40 minutes to play.
Maren, I hate Risk too. Anything that up a whole room and a whole day or more is hardly a "game," it's more like an alternate lifestyle. (Fortunately the men in my life have moved past Risk on to computer games/alternate lifestyles . . . wait, did I say "fortunately?")
heehee
I totally agree.
My kids play Sorry and that also causes tears. Kids under the age of 8 probably shouldn't play these games until they can handle that sort of disappointment without a melt down.
I am with you(all). Candyland stinks, and Rob and I hate the new version -- we did a snarky feminist critique of it when we first got it. The only thing I hate more is Monopoly because that game takes 2 days to finish and I have children who cry because it's 'real money'. Our current fave rave is Rat-a-Tat Cat, which is easy enough for a 3 year old and short. Sebi skunks me regularly even when I play all out. Hullaballoo has been tear-free for us, gets energy out, and is nice after FHE. Kids of Catan is also good and short. At this point, I keep slogging along hoping that my kids will someday want to compete in anything (spelling bee, geography bee, soccer game . . .) but it seems totally absent in them.
I am laughing so hard I may snort.
I HATE candyland. I hate it. Plus the candy is gross. I mean lollipops and frosting and gum drops ick.
I think it must be a universal fight starter. Oh man how I hate candyland.
A fun game...Wig Out on one of the end aisles at Target. Fun for the whole fam.
That is so funny! I do remember playing as a child and loving that game. I have since played as an adult and completely agree that it is 100% mind numbingly boring!
Amen x 6!!! My kids won't have many memories of Candyland because I DID throw it away after the first few tear-filled experiences playing. They will probably need therapy someday... I think it's like those kids who don't learn to crawl first before they walk and it messes up their brains...
Anyway, our classic board games sit in the closet collecting dust as we are all about short, fast-paced games these days. Our current favorites are: Rat-a-tat-cat (and I know we're in good company if the McFarlands play it), Rumis, and "Hey, That's My Fish"
LOL. How many times have I rigged the deck so no one would have to go back to the fat purple guy at the beginning - just so the game wouldn't take 2 freakin hours to play! I swear!
We just got Old Maid. I want to laminate the cards or something since it has the same illustrations from twenty years ago. It was really fun for everyone, even Clara.
My favorite little kids game is Snail's Pace Race. No one has a piece to call their own, you just roll the colored dice and try to guess which color snail will win the (short) race.
I remember agonizing games of CandyLand and Chutes and Ladders usually with Jo Vaeiland. And the first time I tried to play it with my kids.....oh the flash backs! Why do we continue to buy this game! It should be burned!
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