Thomas Great Race is a fun game for small kids, especially those who love Thomas. The directions are very easy and involve moving Thomas characters up a hill based on correct answers to very simple questions.
Because the questions have to be read, this is a game that requires close involvement with an adult or with an older child.
Happily for bored parents, games are mercifully short because of the construction of the game. You push the trains up based on the numbers written on the cards drawn by players. Since just two or three correct answers send the trains down the hill, the game ends quickly
As with a lot of games like this, adults have to quickly make peace with the fact this is not a game developed for them. Our kids, too, were only willing to play the game a few times “by the rules,” and then went on to moving the pieces around under the direction of my four year old boy. The game would be stronger if there were ideas for multiple things that could be played with the game and different rules for new games.
MSRP: $22.95
Pros
1. Good introduction to how to play a game with specific rules.
2. Popular Thomas characters excite little kids.
Cons
1. No other variations on the game so may have limited lifespan.
2. Game is artificially short due to construction.
