Cranium Super Showdown

by Lauri Griffin | More from this Blogger

27 Jan 2008 04:57 PM

Here's another game that brings a lots of laughs to our house. Cranium Super Showdown is similar to Apples to Apples in that the players take turns being the judge.

On each turn the judge picks a "Contest Card". These cards say things like "climb to the top of Mt. Everest the fastest, or "kick a winning goal", or "make someone laugh until milk shoots out of their nose". Each player picks from his or her hand of challengers. The "Challenger Cards" have characters like Pinocchio, Barbie, Willy Wonka, a nurse, a librarian, or a frog prince. The players each pick a challenger card and put them in magnetically sealing Secret Keeper folders. The folders are passed to the judge.

At this point the judge doesn't look at the cards, but shuffles the folders and hands them back to the players. It's okay if the players get their own Challenger cards back. Sometimes you do, and sometimes you get other peoples card that you have to work with. Now the players have to add a "Twist" card. These cards say things like "with a lightsaber", "wearing a wig", "with the ability to read minds", and "with a robot arm". Each player picks one Twist card to go with the Challenger card they received. They put both cards in the Secret Keepers and hand them back to the judges.

Now the judge opens the folders and determines which pair of cards can best accomplish the challenge. Who could best win a slam dunk contest - a Viking with a robot arm, or Homer Simpson with a ladder, or Nancy Drew with a jet pack? The judge awards two trophy coins to the player who chose the winning challenger, and two coins to the winning twist. The judge gets one trophy coin for judging and passes on judge duties to the next player.

The game doesn't move as quickly as Apples to Apples, but it's really fun. I like having to put a twist on other people's challenger cards. I like that the game encourages logical and creative though processes, and that we laugh on just about every turn.

Cranium Super Showdown is recommended for ages eight and up.

For More Family Games Also See:

Apples to Apples

Whoonu - Game Review

Cranium Calendar

Zooreka - Game Review

Learn more about Lauri Griffin

Lauri lives in Colorado with her husband and three sons. Amidst all the laundry and packing of lunches, she tries to keep parenting fun.

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