Game review 52: Curling Game
The Olympic sport without the housework element in this tabletop game version
Curling: the oddity of the Winter Olympics. Akin to tagging on lawn bowls to the X Games, it’s still a fascinating enough distraction in the early hours of a February morning every four years.
And to keep our spirits up until then, here’s this tabletop version. Without the mops.
Yes, yes, you’re right; it is really just shuffleboard with a different end zone. But come back! It’s still good...
Before we begin, I train the sprog in the art and rules of real curling. Well, I show her the GB women’s team’s gold-winning shot at the 2002 Games.
And then we’re off.
While the game isn’t pricey, the components are pretty nice. The stones are chunky, and do indeed curl. And, while I feared the mat would be a letdown, it’s weighed down with magnets and stays flat.
The mat is also long enough to make things a challenge and it’s pretty satisfying getting a scoring shot.
While neither of us reach Olympic standard, we do both play a few entertaining rounds. And we do get a little better.
E’s review
What do you like best about the game?
“We get to do it with our hands and we don’t even need a dice”
Is it tricky?
“It’s really not difficult for me”
Marks out of 10
“150/10”
My review
Advised age range
6+
Set-up time
A couple of minutes
Cost
This version cost about £15. But prices and quality vary
Practicality
Great: the mat rolls up and takes up barely any shelf space. But you will need a sizeable table or floor space.
Fun for parents
Yes. And there’s not even any housework involved in this version.