I’m thrilled to write another board game review; this time on Catch the Moon by Kosmos games. This game is truly brilliant and I couldn’t be more excited to announce that it will be available to try out at this years Southern Maryland Board Game Convention. The Playful Parent will be hosting a family game room at the convention. The convention is set for fall 2023 at the College of Southern Maryland.  I will have more details about this opportunity as the event date approaches.

ABOUT THE GAME

Catch the moon is a simple but fun one handed dexterity game for up to six players. In this game, participants can compete or cooperate to connect ladders in a whimsical way to reach the sky. This games is special in that it offers a great balance between fine motor skills and problem solving techniques. I’m sure you are wondering what is so special about a combination of dexterity and problem solving game? Well, they are great for children because these type of games help develop control of the small muscles in fingers, hands, and wrists, while also helping to develop hand-eye coordination. Problem solving games are a great way to teach children how to think critically and creatively. Having a game that combines these two skills is some what rare. One of my homeschooling secrets is to play this game to warm up in morning before diving into school work. It helps get the hand muscles ready and the brain thinking. It’s also a great game to play just for fun on family game nights!

HOW TO PLAY

Start the game off by placing the cloud shaped base in the center of the table. Next, insert two straight ladders in the base in any configuration you want to start the game off. Place the remaining ladders in the lid of the box to be randomly drawn from during the game.

Select a player to go first. A turn starts with the player rolling the die in the box; than takes a ladder at random from the box lid. Using only one hand, the player must place the ladder on the structure, according to the die result:

  • One ladder – Place the ladder so that it is touching only one other ladder.
  • Two ladders- Place the ladder so that it is touching exactly two other ladders.
  • Moon symbol- Place the ladder so that its tip becomes the highest point of the structure. The new ladder must be touching at least one other existing ladder, but no more than two.

Once the ladder has been placed, the next player takes his turn.  As the player places their ladder, the other ladders in the structure may move. As long as no ladder touches the table or the base, and as long as the player does not let go of his ladder, they can move it to try out different placements. Keep in mind however, that once you lets go of it, the ladder can no longer be moved.

Here’s where we get into how to win! Included in the game are seven blue tear drops. These are the seven tears of the moon. The moon is saddened by clumsiness of the dreamers, and sheds a tear for each mistake. The game ends as soon as a player places the last ladder or collects the last tear. In a two-player game, the first player to collect three tears is eliminated; the other player wins. In a 3- 6 player game, who ever collects the last tear is eliminated and the player with the least tears wins. A player must collect a tear if:

  • They fail to place a ladder according to the die result;
  • One or several ladders fall or touch the table or the base. As soon as this happens, these ladders are removed from the game if at all possible (they will not be used for the rest of the game).The player’s turn ends immediately. If the player had not yet placed his ladder, it is also removed from the game. The straight ladders used during setup are never removed.

As you can see game play is quite simple, yet very fun. I love how creative and whimsical the game is, it’s like creating a work of art.

GAME DETAILS

Name: Catch the Moon

By: Kosmos

Game Type: Dexterity Stacking Game

Play Time: 10-20 Minutes

Age Recommendation: The company lists age 8+; however, I think young children could definitely enjoy this and find it fun. You know your kid best. My kids would play this around age 4-5 years old.

Purchase: You can buy the game directly from Kosmos – link.

**** A big thank you to Kosmos for sending a copy of this game. The Playful Parent is a official 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates learning through play and promotes family bonding. TPP is not paid to promote products, only shares them to connect parents to resources. All photos and content are property of The Playful Parent and must be given permission to use.***