ThinkFun Rush Hour Reviews

• Truly Taxing Traffic Teasers

  
  By A313ELY3IJ51B0 on 2001-07-10
  The concept is so simple it's ingenious. Drive your car in a straight line. But if you've ever been in NY during rush hour, you know that's not always easy. I am of course referring to gridlock, that bane of city traffic, when no cars can move. Well in Rush Hour, you get to move around all the cars and trucks to clear a path for yourself. The game comes with a set of cards (easily stored in the plastic tray) that show where to set up the cars. That takes a minute, but some of the puzzles take a long time to solve. They range from very easy to very hard. And Binary Arts sells extra card sets so the fun never ends! This game is sure to make a lot of kids into civil engineers. As for durability, you could probably throw this game out the window while driving on the highway, and it would be ok. Just better hope it's not rush hour!
  
  

• A great game and a great time!

  
  By on 1999-12-18
  Ever stuck in gridlock? Think you know the easiest way out? Then you are ready to take the challenge of Binary Arts' Rush Hour Game. Beware escaping gridlock is not as easy at it seems.

  The directions are simple; setup the game board using the forty game cards, arranged from beginners' skill level to the expert. Move the cars and trucks out of the way and get you red car off the board.

  The game is made to have you thinking, and planning strategy is a key to winning. I found myself playing for hours and the more I played the more fun I had. Also since storage is easy this game travels well.

  For those rainy days, those family night outings or when friends drop over, you can't go wrong with this game. About the only thing Binary Arts needs now is a thinking game involving aircraft.
  
  

• Challenging but simple game!

  
  By on 1999-12-05
  My two children ages 8 and 7 love this, as do my husband and I. It's great in building thinking skills. The challenging cards are enough to stump the adults, yet the beginner cards are a great starting point for the kids. A great game to take places where you have to sit and wait for awhile. I highly recommend it!
  
  

• Absolutely the most fun educational toy I have ever seen!

  
  By on 1999-11-19
  Every child who comes to our house & plays this game is hooked and asks to play next time. I am a teacher by profession and this is a very unintimidating logic & reasoning game (for all ages)- I would highly recommend! I have just ordered 5 more to give as x-mas gifts this year.
  
  

• A great logic and reasoning game

  
  By on 1999-11-28
  My family loves this game. It teaches logic and reasoning skills in a non-intimidating way. The game offers different skill levels. Players can choose more challenging levels as they get more experience.
  
  
• BUY IT NOW!
  By on 2000-05-26
  I am a homeschool mom. I am fussy about what my kids spend time on. Railroad Rush Hour is FUN and it makes the mind think sequentially, logically, spacially, creatively and more. I have four kids. My only warning is that one of these games in the household is not enough. I paid twice this price in a retail shop. Now I can order another from Amazon. By the way, I have to disagree with the age recommendation. My 3 and 5 year olds did all ten "Junior Traffic Jams" in one day! They are up to the #12 card now. Meanwhile, my 9 and 10 years olds are still challenged on the upper cards and I enjoy the 30's. It's for all ages. Never under estimate what small children can do. Their brains are actually superior in their ability to learn than the rest of us over age 7. BUY THIS GAME NOW!
  
  
• A great problem-solving challenge
  By on 2000-01-17
  Many of the reviews posted so far say, in one way or another, "I bought this for a kid, but I love it, too." I'm not ashamed to say that I'm neither a parent nor a teacher and that I bought this for myself. (I did buy another set for my sister's kids when I saw how great it was.) I've always liked Binary Arts products, and this did not disappoint. What I especially like, and why I think it's valuable educationally, is that it forces you to identify the root causes of the problem and to map out intermediate goals on your way to a solution. If you like this kind of thinking, you'll enjoy this game.

  As others have noted, the packaging is not great because it makes it a little too easy to lose pieces. That accounts for my 4 stars for "durability."
  
  

• Well worth a buy!
  By AT80A8TNKKL04 on 2000-10-14
  This is an excellent game. It certainly kept our children busy for many hours on a wet camping holiday in France. The only arguments were over who would have it next, as it is very much a one player game. The little plastic pieces are fairly durable, though they may get lost. The idea is quite simple - get the red car out of the traffic jam by maneouvering all the pieces along and up and down. It is very surprising how tricky some of the puzzles (you have a pack of cards with the starting positions) can be. The idea behingd this puzzle will not be new to people who are familiar with 'sliding block' puzzles. There is a version of this game on the web so you can 'try before you buy'!
  
  
• Fun with Logic Puzzles
  By AFXDJ6WCFYK9D on 2004-12-24
  This 'game' will most likely be a winner with anyone 5 or beyond who likes solving puzzles. I originally purchased Rush Hour as a gift for my 5 year old son who loves puzzles. However, it was so much fun that I found myself pulling the game out while my son was asleep and driving solo. Since that time several of my relatives have joined in on the fun during family visits. So this Christmas we purchased additional copies of the game to give as gifts to family members who asked for it. While the packaging is poor, the game surely soars.
  
  
• Gives kids with math problems good workout on logic!
  By on 2000-06-13
  My daughter has ADD and language issues and is often frustrated in her math work. It is usually difficult for me to get her to engage in activities that would help improve her thinking skills. This toy is an absolute WONDER, and I can't get her to STOP!

  It is so satisfying to see a child with ADD increase her ability to both sustain her attention and control her frustration for increasing amounts of time. Despite her unwillingness to learn in a more formal setting, she watched me play this a few times and then looked really forward to trying it herself. When she discovered that she needed to go slowly and work step by step, she was as mellow as could be--instead of having a temper tantrum--and now she likes to get everyone in the family to play.

  I can already see an improvement in her ability to reason step by step after just a few games. I can't say enough about how positive the feedback of getting the red car out is for her--especially when she sees that it takes just as long for me to do the game and I am usually pretty good at math.

  This type of exercise gives kids a chance to use what they don't realize they already know, and to push the boundaries of their logic and reasoning skills. It does so in a way that is lots of fun, and VERY portable, and washable. There really is no age limit to the game, and I like to use it while I am on the telephone.

  Beats the heck out of television for spending a family evening together as well. After we spend time together doing these puzzles, I feel like she's really enriched her thinking skills, and I've warded off mental deterioration!
  
  

• When a traffic jam on the expressway isn't enough...
  By A2BM9G3GS7RV8N on 2001-08-07
  This is a fun game for all ages. The early levels are simple enough for even younger children to play and win. The later levels can be quite a challenge for adults! The object of the game is to get the red car out of traffic and into the clear. Each scenario is different and there are additional packs of cards available from the manufacturer (when you finish the expert level). For those of us who get frustrated easily, the answer key is on the back of each card. This is a game that can be played alone or in a group (try using a timer to see who finishes a card first). It helps to teach how to think in a logical fashion.
  
  
• Great toy for kids of all ages!
  By on 1999-11-15
  We got this game for our son, who was four at the time, and even though it is recommended for ages eight and up, he has been able to do the beginning and intermediate levels. It's wonderful to find a toy they can spend hours playing, without them realizing how much they are learning. My husband and I have also enjoyed having a game to play with him that we don't tire of like so many games designed for this age.
  
  
• Hours of Fun Fun Fun
  By on 2000-08-25
  This is a great puzzle. Since it is a game only one can play at a time, my nieces, ages 6 and 8 and my nephew age 11 took turns getting the red car out of the traffic jams. They even enjoyed watching each other find the solution to each "jam". Incidently the 6 year old is almost through solving the "Advanced" puzzles and I am about to buy both additional card packs. Kids and adults will love this game.
  
  
• I love this game!
  By A18RN9K6JLDFT7 on 2000-10-30
  I am an Occupational Therapist, and Mom of 3, and find this to be a wonderful activity. Younger children (age 5) can play this game by simply setting the cars up to match all the card pictures. They do not have to solve the gridlock. Older children enjoy the challenge. This is an A+ for Visual Perceptual skills and Motor Planning.
  
  
• What a find this was!
  By on 1999-11-27
  Rush Hour is fun for the whole family. Cards that come with the puzzle are graded in difficulty from beginner to advanced. It's a great rainy day/sick day game for one child or two (if they are willing to let one make the actual moves and the other can kibbitz). We have purchased the extra card sets and The Train version. Our eight and nine year olds are thrilled.
  
  
• Great "toy"
  By A28LZFH5DC9N3X on 2004-07-16
  Add us to the host of folks who love this puzzle toy. I generally consult Amazon ratings before purchasing new items and any item that has this many positive ratings always catches my attention. And it lives up to the promise. My almost 7 year-old son is ADHD and I was AMAZED at the way this toy captured his attention. I expected him to become quickly frustrated and give up. But after a few successes, he was hooked. I coached him a little bit at first (and then I was hooked too!) and before I knew it, he was solving puzzles by himself and doing a better job than me! He did the first 20 in one sitting. I was amazed as I watched him begin understanding which cars had to be where in order for him to get the red car out, then he started working out his plan to get there. You have to think ahead to be successful and he was doing it!

  His persistence and concentration surprised me, so if your child is having any problems sitting and concentrating on a task, don't be afraid of this toy! But, alas, as with many ADHD kids, he's also been tested as gifted, so he's already run through the first 3 levels and is now nearly done with the expert level - solving puzzles that I can't do! I have to wait until he goes to bed to even get a chance to play! There's 40 cards in the first pack. The beginning levels are pretty easy to remember the solutions, but as you go higher in difficulty, you could probably do the puzzles more than once and still be challenged. But do be prepared to buy the 2, 3, and 4 Gift Pack (a great deal for $12 on Amazon)

  I LOVE the fact that you store the cards right in the bottom of the tray. However,I wish that they would put a more permanent kind of cover on the tray. Also, you cannot replace the cover when you are in the middle of a puzzle, the cars have to be in the tray in a certain way in order for the cover to fit properly. But those are extremely minor drawbacks considering the hours of entertainment my son and I have gotten.
  
  

• The Best Game Ever!
  By on 2002-10-29
  I have to say that this is definately the best game I have ever purchased for my son. He will sit for hours playing with this game and I'll admit it...his dad and I enjoy it as much as he does! It's a game that keeps your mind going. I have bought this several times as birthday gifts. Go out and get this game! It's good for ages 8 and above.
  
  
• Excellent education in logic - not that your kids will care
  By ABBIURWJFRZKJ on 2003-12-26
  Be sure, though, that your kid is beyond the ultra-short attention span stage and ready for sustained, multi-level thinking. When I got this for my (brighter than average, of course) 5 year-old, he got interested but then quickly stomped on it and kicked it into the corner in frustration.

  Fast forward two years, and I thought to bring it out again: "Not THAT game - it's stupid and annoying!" But he and I were up almost to midnight that night. He allowed me to coach him just a little, and I suggested he look for a game piece (usually a big truck) that absolutely needs to be HERE, then look for a piece that therefore absolutely needs to be THERE, and then a piece...

  By the end of the night, he had beaten his way through the first twenty traffic jams, really revelling in his new-found powers of deduction. Now he wants to design his own jams and challenge me with them - I'm not particularly looking forward to that.

  Warning: with your children also (of course) being brighter than average, you might find yourself embarrassed rather quickly. After they go to bed, you might also find it difficult to put the game away. There are lots of traffic-jam scenarios, at four supposedly-different levels of difficulty, with plenty more available from the authors, so it is not a toy that will get old quickly.

  Durability: The board and game pieces are strong enough to survive light-duty stomping. The scenario cards are rather flimsy, non-waterproof cardboard that can be easily be bent, spindled, or mutilated.

  Usability: Very good, though it doesn't strike me as a travel-ready game, because the game pieces are held in place only by small depressions for their tyres, and are easily nudged. One good pothole could easily ruin ten good minutes of productive concentration. I thought my child might have trouble setting up each traffic jam correctly, but he's a lot faster than me and just as accurate.

  There is really no downside to this game, unless you mind being humbled a little by your heirs.
  
  

• Addictive Little Game
  By A2Z60PVKWFO3SW on 2005-12-22
  I was never interested in this game and passed it by for years, as it reminded me of those sliding number puzzles I had decades ago where you mix up the numbers and try to get them back in order.
  
  I finally broke down and purchased it at Barnes and Noble when I had a gift card burning a hole in my pocket, and realized what an interesting game it really is. It's great for visual and strategic thinking, and it comes with a number of cards, each providing a different challenge. And, for whatever reason, it is really quite fun to slide the plastic cars around on the board.
  
  My kids (6 and 8) love it too.
  
  
  
  
• Fantastic fun!
  By on 1998-12-28
  I'm a Traffic Engineer by profession, and my mother bought the gift for me at Christmas almost as a lark. The problem is that neither I, nor anyone I have shown the game to, can put it down. It certainly seemed easy enough, having done a few of the "beginner" level setups, that I jumped ahead to the "expert" ones. After about a half hour I had to drop back and work my way up through the easier ones. It's great fun for anyone who enjoys a challenge, likes to use their brain, and doesn't mind getting a little frustrated sometimes. At least it's not as bad as getting stuck in a real "rushhour" traffic jam! END
  
  
• Never Gone Wrong Giving This as a Gift
  By A20FK68BUB1IVA on 2004-09-14
  I have given the "Rush Hour" game, and its affiliated versions, "Rush Hour Junior" and "Safari Rush Hour" to several kids for birthdays etc. It has always been a huge hit. Give one set to your own kid, because you will have fun playing it yourself. Fun, but uses the little gray cells. What more could you want?
  
  
• Excellent intelligent game for all ages !!
  By A2A4OC6VGP7JSC on 2005-02-15
  Games has a simple objective -- get the Red car out of traffice. And boy! it is difficult and changelling at higher level. Set up the *cars* as described in cards and figure out a way to get the Red Car out.The best thing is complexity raange from very easy to very hard. So it captures kids interests and provides the extra incentive to move to the next level !!
  
  Simple rules -- once you have placed the cars on the Grid, you can only move them forward or backward.
  
  A great addition to this game is "Rush Hour 2, 3 and 4 Gift Pack" for less than $12/-. Each set has 40 cards or in total 120 different levels. The highest level is really really difficult. Meant for the "Pros" only !!!
  
  
• really cool game
  By on 2000-07-09
  Binary Arts is great company with many new challenging games. My Rush Hour is played by 7 year olds to 70 year olds! Everyone is hooked the moment their first car escapes the "traffic". If you pass all the levels in the card set #1, you can then further your skills with card sets #2 and #3. Pefect for those long drives for those who aren't behind the wheel.
  
  
• This is a great game because you can play alone.
  By on 1999-10-29
  I love this game. It is educational and you have to use your mind to plan a strategy. It is a great gift for someone who is in the hospital or recovering because you can play it alone. So many games need a partner. I love the challenge as the cards get harder. It is a great game to have during our long winters. I'd like to get the railroad because it is a different layout and looks to be a good challenge.
  
  
• Great for many
  By AVWGXRKU12P4C on 2005-11-26
  My 9-year old daughter and her two boy cousins who are 8 and 10 loved this game - and their grandfather loved it too. It was recommended by my daughter's vision therapist, to help integrate visual images with problem solving. Everyone who has played it enjoys it. You can choose the level of challenge you want, so it works well for a broad range of ages. I recommend it for kids and their parents and grandparents.
  
  
• Challenging, single-person game
  By on 2000-01-05
  I bought this gift as a game, thinking it was a multi-person game that a whole family could play. When I learned it was a single person game, I was prepared to exchange it, but several individuals in the family said they loved it and wanted to keep it. A school teacher said she wanted to use it with her middle-school children to enhance their sequential thinking skills. A sure success for a variety of thinking individuals.
  
  
• ABSOULUTLY INCAPTIVATED
  By AHW0KDUNUDX88 on 2002-01-18
  This has got to be the most interesting puzzle if have ever laid hands apon in my life. My cousin had brought it for her children for christmas, and I just happened to have a go. I was immeadiatly fixicated and had to get myself one. Being a 15 year old teenager, not many puzzles still amaze me but this pulled it of. I am now going to go and by one that is similar to "rush hour" called "Stormy Seas". It is very chalanging and cool. I sugest it to any one you enjoys puzzles and greatly presented games (its full of vibrantly coloured cars and full colour cards).
  
  
• My son's favorite toy
  By on 2003-07-09
  My 6 year old son got a lot of "cool" birthday gifts from his friends, but I won the prize for the best gift when I picked this game. I just thought it looked fun in the store--he and I are both into puzzles so I knew he would enjoy it. Little did I expect that it would keep him occupied for the whole drive to my inlaws' house for Thanksgiving (a 10 hour ride, each way). He has brought it everywhere and it keeps him busy when we have had to wait in restaurants, at the pool, at my daughter's dance and gymnastics classes. The neat thing is how many times other kids and parents have become interested in the game as he plays it. I have had several parents ask me where they can get it.
  
  The only complaint I have with the game is the storage problem: where can you put these cars when you are not using them? We lost one car, but my son compensates by using one of the cars from the 2nd or 3rd set of cards. Then a friend of mine, seeing my son dragging this game around with him, made him a fabric bag with a drawstring that he can pack it all up in. But it is frustrating that the game's packaging was not better thought out.
  
  
• Kids Love It!
  By on 2000-03-25
  This is my fourth purchase of this game! My students have the option of playing with a math game when they have completed their work... Rush Hour (aka "the car game") is always the first choice. It helps develop visual perception and strategy. There are two additional sets of cards available for the game, and different levels of difficulty in each.
  
  
• Rush Hour
  By AZCR1S1E0LXWK on 2004-11-13
  Unfriendly site. It was not possible to see how to play this game. An image appeared that didn't give information about the game. Nothing to help a purchaser to make a decision. I wanted to choose toys for my two grandsons, but gave up.
  
  

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