Two-player logic games are FANTASTIC to have in a homeschool family’s game closet. Sometimes two is just the right number and can help siblings practice math-brain reasoning skills during a part of the school day when they need to be more self-directed. That’s one of the ways we use them, anyway! They’ve also been making very frequent appearances on our gaming table all summer long for homeschool summer school, which admittedly, looks a lot like party-city with all the games we’re playing!
Gigamic has a whole series of beautiful, unique, brain-bending, strategy-building two-player logic games. And they’re all made from WOOD, a dream come true! Wooden games are always more appealing to me and many other homeschool families because of the rich texture, wholesome feel, and natural elements. They’re gorgeous games that can last many lifetimes and teach countless lessons and provide innumerable minutes of joy together.
Here are some we own and have the pleasure of playing often:
PYLOS
PYLOS Game Objective: Place the last sphere at the top of the pyramid.
Rules: Place one sphere each turn. Creating a square of four spheres allows that player to remove 1-2 spheres back to their reserve. Spheres can be played from a lower level to a higher one.
QUORIDOR
Quoridor Game Objective: To be the first player to reach one of the 9 squares on the opposite baseline.
Rules: Fences begin the game in the storage area and pawns start in the center of their baseline. Each turn, players can move a pawn or put up a fence to either protect their pawn or block their opponent. Pawns are moved one square at a time and fences must be placed between two sets of squares. A pawn can jump over another pawn if they are next to each other on the board.
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Logic games are a big part of our math “curriculum” because they help kids learn to problem solve independently, be persistent about finding solutions, and provide a no-risk scenario in which to make mistakes and learn from failures. Failure is a huge part of any learning process, and I have watched my kids play these games especially and test out many different failing strategies, always adjusting and coming back with better ideas for the next game. Logic games should be part of every family’s homeschool math program.
Check out the other Gigamic Wooden games and give one a try. I promise it will turn your child into a more capable problem solver! Thanks to Gigamic for sharing with us!
