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Smart Strategy Games

Games that make you think - these are games that gifted kids (and adults) love to play, game after game.  Some old games, some new, and all great.  Play them all!

Offering many terrific toys our kids love, Toys at Amazon.com,  MindWareOnline, Discovery Store, Zome!, and many more - links to your left - are all Hoagies' Gifted Education Page associates.  For each purchase from Hoagies' Page links, these stores give a small percentage of your purchase price to Hoagies' Gifted Education Page, at no cost to you -- Thanks!

Abalone

Learn in a minute, but may take a lifetime to master. Loosely based on sumo wrestling, the point of Abalone is to push just 6 of your opponents 14 marbles off of the playing surface, but there is a catch. It takes two marbles to move one, and three to move two... Also Travel Abalone

 

Babylon by Fox Mind Games

Quick to learn, quick to play, but lots of room for strategy and challenge!  Stack the stones following simple rules, and force your opponent to run out of moves.  Even comes in it's own small carrying pouch - great to carry for travel and waiting rooms   
 

Backgammon

Classic strategy game...
 

Batik (or from MindWare UK)

New classic wooden strategy game... For the younger set, try Batik Kid - fun fish shapes

 

Battleship

Classic strategy game, as young as they can understand rows and columns in a grid...

 

Blokus   (or from Amazon or MindWare UK)

Take turns placing as many of their 21 geometric shapes on board as they can, but only the corners of their own pieces may touch. The real challenge comes toward the end of the game...  Or take a new twist, with Blokus Trigon.  Also Travel Blokus
 

Carcassonne (10 to adult) Rio Grande Games

A clever tile laying game. The southern French city of Carcassonne is famous for its unique Roman and Medieval fortifications. The players develop the area around Carcassonne and deploy their followers on the roads, in the cities, in the cloisters, and in the fields. The skill of the players to develop the area will determine who is victorious.  Game expansions, and other editions...

Carcassonne Inns & Cathedrals Expansion

Carcassonne: Princess & Dragon Expansion

Carcassonne: The Castle

Carcassonne Traders and Builders

Carcassonne Hunters and Gatherers
 

Caylus by Rio Grande Games

Complex strategy game, to gather wealth and build castles...
 

Cathedral by Gigamic

Battle to gain the most land space by strategically repositioning your building pieces... Also Cathedral Travel
 

Championship Chess More than just a game...

All the tools you'll need to introduce chess to beginners or guide the experienced player to more competitive play.  Workbooks (or classroom copies, with reproducibles) with coordinated video tapes, and even a CD for the really little ones

 

Chaos

Take turns stacking discs on the 10"-square wooden board; any stack with four discs is redistributed in all four directions around it—often resulting in chaos!

 

Codebreaker (2-4 players, ages 7-adult)

A new twist on the old game of "memory." Use a dry erase marker to write or draw a secret code on the back of a card to trigger your memory so you know its location and can make a match. A hilarious look into other people's minds as you try to crack their codes and take over their cards...
 

Corintho by Gigamic

Two ancient Greek architects attempt to form a line of 3 constructions which are topped by the same type of playing piece...
 

DaVinci's Challange The ancient game of secret symbols (or from Amazon or MindWare UK)

Create patterns nad score based on the pattern's complexity.  Great for visual/spatial learners

 

Druidawn

In the Beginning...  A Crucial Message from the Sleeping Guardian:
I beseech you, do not read any further into this visionary document before you have first heard my tale. For I hold the secret to the creation of Druidawn, and in fact, the knowledge to all realms of human myth. It was my people who brought the gift of magic to Earth thousands of years ago, before there were castles and knights, before the construction of the Grecian temples, when the great Egyptian pyramids were nothing but sketches in the sand...  Also visit Legends of Druidawn Writing Game

Exago (2 to 6 players, ages 7 and up)

A version of Go for multiple players, Exago is easy to learn, but the changing strategies make it challenging every time...
 

Gemlok by Pywacket LLC

The dice determines your moves, but your strategy determines your fate. You finally land on a diamond and a ruby and two emeralds. But can you keep them from being taken by the other players?  This game plays better than it sounds - and it's a visual/spatial playground!  Strategy different than any other game...

Gipf Project series of 6 terrific strategy games for the gifted child or adult!  Rio Grande Games

Gipf An abstract strategy game for two players based on a classic concept:... more about Gipf

Tamsk Earth. The second game of Project GIPF, played under permanent time pressure... more about Tamsk

Zertz Water. A fast, dynamic game for 2 players... more about Zertz

Dvonn Fire. A stacking game, played on an elongated hexagonal board... more about Dvonn

Yinsh Air. Players each start with 5 rings on the board. Every time a ring is moved, it leaves a marker behind... (or from Amazon) more about Yinsh
Pünct The fifth element.  A connection game: the goal is to link two opposite sites... more about Pünct

 

Go

Classic strategy game.  Also Folding Go or Travel Go. Learn more from Wikapedia Go Game

 

Gobblet (also available from MindWare Online, or MindWare UK)

A fun strategy game, as easy to learn as tic-tac-toe, challenging for chess players, fun for the whole family... Also available in 3x3 colored version, Gobblet Jr. (or from Amazon)

 

Hexago Continuo by U.S. Games Systems

There's only one rule: match color, number or both.  Simple for all ages, but with strategic possibilities that make it tons of fun for all...
 

Hey! That's My Fish! by Mayfair Games

Shuffle fish tiles into a square array, and play your penguins to catch the most fish.  But don't be fooled by the fun theme - this is a tricky strategy game!
 

IDO (12 to adult) Rio Grande Games

Both a work of art and a game. Players move colorful blocks on the abstract board trying to get four of their blocks from one side to the other. Players may also move the board to change the board's geometric pattern and move their pieces closer to their goal. The first player to move of his pieces across the board is the winner! In this game everything moves...
 

Infinifield

Neat new strategy game - creating the game board for each round is 1/2 the fun! This game is a gifted family project, and your family will enjoy it, too...

 

Ingenious board game, also available in a software version Ingenious

Carefully place rows of colors - with every move, you create new possibilities. The more colored pieces are placed next to each other, the more points you can gain. The color that you need the most points in is the most important -- in the end, it will decide who wins or loses.  In the software version, practice in a single player game or against the computer's AI and hone your technique, then surprise other players online with your skill.  Simple rules, quick playing time, and a clever system makes Ingenious... ingenious!

 

Jungle Smart by Fox Mind Games

Use the set of commands (smaller set for more advanced play) to rearrange the animals from the start to end position, drawn from cards.  Can you figure out the series of commands in your head, before your opponent?  Or play solitaire...
 

Khet the Laser game by Deflexion

Take turns moving Egyptian-themed pieces having two, one or no mirrored surfaces. Pieces (pharaoh, obelisk, pyramid and djed column) can either move one square forward, back, left, right, or diagonal, or can stay in the same square and rotate by a quarter twist. Each turn ends by firing one of the lasers built into the board. The laser beam bounces from mirror to mirror; if the beam strikes a non-mirrored surface on any piece, it is immediately removed from play. Illuminate your opponent's pharaoh, while shielding yours from harm!

 

Kippit by Fox Mind Games

Two players compete to get rid of their cubes by balancing them on a seesaw.. but don't let it tip! 
 

Noble Celts by Dream Green

Circular chess, the old fashioned way!

No Stress Chess

A way to learn chess without stress! The secret is an innovative deck of action cards, each depicting a chess piece and how it moves. Once you become comfortable with the moves and powers of each chess piece, you can flip the two-sided board over and play standard chess. Includes rules for two variations of playing using the action cards, and all the necessary rules for standard chess...

Oshi The Game of Influence, by Wizkids Games

An elegant dance of power, as players vie to push each other right off the board.  Oshi encourages you to exert your will...

Puerto Rico (12 to adult) Rio Grande Games  (or from FunAgain Games)

In 1493 Christopher Columbus discovered the eastern-most island of the Great Antilles. About 50 years later, Puerto Rico began to really blossom--through you! Prospector, captain, mayor, trader, settler, craftsman, or builder? Which roles will you play in the new world? Will you own the most prosperous plantations? Will you build the most valuable buildings? You have but one goal: achieve the greatest prosperity and highest respect!
 

Quarto by Gigamic

The goal is to establish a line of four pieces, with at least one common characteristic.  You decide your opponent’s next move. Not as easy as it sounds... my 13-year-old strategy expert says, "I've played a bunch of times, and haven't figured out all the strategy yet - that's saying something!"

 

Quits by Gigamic (or from Amazon)

Offense and defense at it's best.  New classic wooden strategy game...

 

Quixo

Twenty-five wooden cubes are shifted up and down and side-to-side as players try to line up five--diagonally, vertically, or horizontally--with their own symbol, X or O. Think carefully--every move brings the possibility of inadvertently helping your opponent win

 

Quoridor Classic by Gigamic (or from Amazon or MindWare UK)

Get your pawn across to the opposite side of the board. But first decide: move your pawn, or put up a fence to slow your opponent? The choices don’t come easily in this carefully crafted game of mazes and madness for 2 to 4 players
Also Quoridor Kid

Ringgz (or from MindWare or MindWare UK)

No single move can be made without careful thought, because just one ring can make or break the game. Players take control of a territory on the board by putting down the most rings in their color...

 

Risk

The game of world conquest--features a tri-fold game board that is a map of six continents divided into 42 territories. It's a game of strategy as you battle to win by launching daring attacks, defending your territory, and moving across continents with your cunning plan! Or try the futuristic Risk 2210 A.D. or Risk Godstorm - a time of myths and legends!  Also Risk Star Wars: The Clone Wars or Risk 2003 Edition

 

Rumis ancient architecture meets modern strategy (or from Amazon)

Build a solid structure on one of four game boards inspired by Incan architecture.  Increases spatial awareness and critical thinking, as players try to have the most stones visible from above...

 

Rummikub fast moving rummy tile game

Fun and challenging for both kids and adults. The object is similar to rummy card games: combine your tiles in runs (consecutive numbers in the same color) or sets (groups of the same number), with wild-card joker tiles adding a bit of luck to the strategy...  Also Deluxe Edition Rummikub and bonus, the tile racks fit together to form a carrying case, Travel Rummikub, and Attaché Rummikub

Senat (or from Amazon)

Players race to move their pieces around and off the board, using strategic offense and defense as they go.  Virtually identical to the version played circa 2620 b.c.e., made of beautifully finished wood with a storage drawer underneath the playing board

 

Settlers of Catan

Catan is an imaginary unexplored island, and players are explorers and settlers. The playing surface is made of hexagonal tiles that, depending on their placement, create a different environment each time the game is played. Settlers must use their resources to develop their island home, building roads and houses to create new towns. But watch out! There's a robber on the island...  Expansion sets include Settlers 5-6 Player Expansion, Seafarers of Catan, Cities & Knights of Catan, Starfarers of Catan, Settlers of the Stone Age, Settlers of Catan Travel Edition
 

Shuttles

be the first to move your 5 pieces through the maze. But look out! Your opponent might change the maze entirely by moving one of their shuttles...

Tantrix (or from MindWare)

Solitaire puzzles, or a game for 2-4 players, Tantrix is a strategy game full of lines, loops and forms...

 

Ticket to Ride by Days of Wonder (visit Ticket to Ride)

Cross-country train adventure where players collect cards of various types of train cars that enable them to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America...  Also USA 1910 Expansion Pack and Ticket to Ride Europe

Tic Tac Chec  (or from Amazon)

Part chess, part tic-tac-toe - a quick, fun game, also provides amazing challenge, and teaches some chess rules

Toss Up! (ages 8+)

Pocket- or purse-size game of chance in it's own case, great for those unexpected delays... toss the dice, try to get as many greens as you can... but don't get stopped by a red!
 

Trapture (or from Amazon or MindWare UK)

Zigzag around the board, placing your Squiggle pieces strategically to form a path. Capture the purple pegs while preventing your opponent from doing the same. Surround a peg on at least four sides and it’s yours! But think ahead and choose carefully, or you'll end up with Squiggle pieces that are too long or short

 

Traverse

Easier to learn and play than chess; and it’s more fun and challenging than checkers

Treehouse by Looney Labs (or from FunAgain Games)

Logic-based pyramid game, lasts only 5-10 minutes, but you'll want to play again and again each time someone wins. Each player rolls the custom die to determine if they will TIP, SWAP, DIG, AIM, or HOP their Tree of three pyramids while they try to make them match the configuration of the shared goal called The House. Roll a WILD and you can change your own Tree or The House!
 

Tsuro The Game of Influence, by Wizkids Games

Build your own path, without your opponents steering you in the wrong direction - or off the board!

WFF 'n Proof learning games and puzzles

focus on developing fundamental reasoning skills and higher-order problem-solving abilities in logic, mathematics, social studies, scientific reasoning and experiment, and the logical structure of English language...
 

Zoo Logic (ages 4-adult) by Fox Mind Games

An animal gridlock of cats, dogs, mice and their favorite foods: fish, bones and cheese lies before you. Can you arrange them while keeping each animal away from its rival and away from its favorite food? If that was too easy, hungry ants, angry bulls and fierce dogs are also introduced as the puzzle difficulty gradually progresses in this captivating and amusing logic puzzle. ZooLogic allows children from 4 to adult challenge their logical thinking skills!