educational

Kaboom! Hiss! A colourful cloud of smoke billows out of the magic cauldron. It's a hot day in the old magic kitchen where the little magician's apprentices are learning the art of brewing magic potions. They need to put plenty of ingredients in the cauldron for this, then it will be time to make a fire. But will it be that easy? Leg of toad and stumbling curse – which of you will be the first?

Magician's Kitchen is played on a square board with five objects placed on it: a cauldron in each corner, and a fireplace in the middle. Each player has four magic ingredients (marbles) which have to be delivered to each of the cauldrons. On his turn, a player takes his apprentice – a big wooden pawn with a bowl on top for holding "ingredients" – and places it on his starting location on the board. He puts one of his ingredients in the bowl (or two, if another player has already delivered all his ingredients). Then he uses his magic wand to push his apprentice toward a cauldron in order to deliver his ingredient. If the apprentice falls, his turn ends, and he has to try again on his next turn.

A player who has already delivered all of his ingredients must try to light the fire by moving the fireball (another marble) to the fireplace. If he succeeds, he wins.

Magician's Kitchen uses magnets and metal balls hidden under the playing surface (at random locations) to create "stumbling" points which make delivering the marbles more difficult. Watch your step!

Infunitum is a hot new party game that was debuted at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair during November 2009 and it won the award for 'Best In Show - Game'. Not suprising with an overwhelmingly favorable rating from people that have played. The object of the game is to get to the center of the board. Players get to the center by earning points for unique answers to topics listed on game cards.

One player selects a card, chooses one of the three topics listed on the card and then reads the topic aloud to the other players. The one-minute sand timer starts and players write down as many answers as they can that relate to the chosen topic. Each unique answer earns one point. Each point represents a space on the game board.

On the way to the center of the board, there are some positive and some negative places to land. A player may land on +3 and move three spaces ahead. Conversely, a player may land on -3 and move three spaces back. There is also a sad-faced character for players that land on this space, go back to start.

The dynamics of the game always change depending on who plays. Topics are unique and sometimes have double, triple or more meanings, so creativity really helps. Infunitum is a fun party game, is excellent as an ice-breaker, and helps people get to know more about other players.