Candy Land - Milton Bradley Board Games Reviews

• There are good reasons this is your kid's first board game

  
  By A2NJO6YE954DBH on 2002-10-27
  ...there are several good reasons why "Candy Land" is the first board game children learn to play:

  First, the game does not require children know how to read. They do not even need to know their numbers as they do in "Chutes and Ladders." Movement is based on a child being able to recognize colors and symbols. What could be easier than that?

  Second, the game is based on luck (or chance or divine intervention or however you want to characterize it), which means it is a great equalizer. This is a game where a kid has the same chance of winning as their parents, older siblings, grandparents, babysitters or whoever. Children are not going to be interested in playing a game they cannot win, which is why "Candy Land" is where they begin instead of "Monopoly" or "Trivial Pursuit."

  Third, the game teaches the basic skills of board games. The hardest lesson kid have to learn with this game is to...take turns. Yes, this might be one of the first times in their young lives when kids are confronted with the regiment of structure that will afflict them the rest of their lives. But from board games like "Candy Land" to sports like baseball, structure and rules are a basic consideration. Strategy and tactics come later, but learning to take turns comes first (and I could argue is a basic lesson in civil behavior).

  Therefore, I would respectfully submit that "Candy Land" remains the ideal choice for the first board game you play with your children. Just pick a card, move to the appropriate square, and proceed to have a great life.
  
  

• A classic kids game.

  
  By on 2000-01-07
  I remember playing Candyland as a child, so it is another game that has passed the test of time. It is simple, and it does not require reading skills, so very young children can play the game. It is good for practicing colors and for taking turns and following rules. I do feel that the game is a little long, especially for the 3-year old kids in the recommended age range. Some of the rules, like getting stuck until a certain card is drawn, makes the game rules a little more difficult to follow, so in that way I would recommend it more for a 4-6 age group. A 3-year old can play it with a lot of supervision, but some of the rules are hard to understand at that age - especially when they can draw a card but can't move their game piece! The game is very inexpensive, and therefore the quality of the actual game is not great. I agree with another reviewer that a "classic gold" edition with wooden pieces and a durable box would be a wonderful option for someone who would like the game to last. It would also be nice to have a nice spot to put all of the cards during the game and for storage. Despite the length of the game and the durability factor, I would still highly recommend this classic game to parents with small kids, especially those in the 4 - 6 age range.
  
  

• A Game That Transcends Generations

  
  By A2QMRHJOWJSDOQ on 2001-05-25
  I'm not sure how long "Candyland" has been on the market, but I played it when I was a kid and I'm pushing 44. My wife and I bought this game for our then-three-year-old son (he's now four), unsure if it would hold his Nintendo-infatuated attention. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on who is playing with him), it does, so much so that his record at one sitting is 17 straight games. Still a classic of its kind, "Candyland" is easy to learn and fun for kids and adults (sheesh, I'm beginning to sound like a commercial here). One minor complaint: the cards aren't very durable and perhaps need to be made of thicker material to facilitate multiple shuffling and to endure the often rough touch of little hands.
  
  

• Easy to make the game more challenging as kids get older

  
  By A1BCQD8OYJ79XX on 2005-01-15
  When my kids got this game at 3 and 4 it was a great first board game and they still enjoy playing over a year later (...).
  
  To make it a little more educational and challenging we made new cards recently with the names of the colors written on them. Both kids are just beginning to read so this has been a fun way to practice recognizing color words. We made cards for some of the special squares as well so the feel of the game stays the same. It's keeping the game interesting for all of us who get roped into playing.
  
  

• A Review From Three Generations

  
  By on 1999-07-13
  Over 30 years ago, when my parents and I played "Candy Land," I used to get so excited thinking about all the delicious sweets, candies, cakes, and ice creams that were on the cards and the boards. The colors were stimulating, and I spent many happy hours with my father and mother over this board game.

  Now that I have my own children, I have enjoyed watching them (ages 2 and 4) play "Candy Land" again with me. The game has not changed much, and it is still as colorful as I remember. I see that it makes them happy and I understand the educational value of this game better as a parent.

  It teaches taking turns, color recognition, counting, matching, hand-eye coordination, along with providing a chance for quality time with parents. I wouldn't reccommend leaving young children alone with the game. It is best to play it with at least one adult (even a grandparent!), for supervision and guidance.
  
  

• Best. First. Game... Ever.
  By A2LEVKA3U6CXX7 on 2006-10-25
  We have enthusiastically played Candy Land with each of our three kids. It is easily the best starting point for introducing a child to board games. Players take turns drawing from a deck and moving their pieces around the board. The cards have one or two squares of a particular color (such as red, green, yellow, etc.) and players move pieces ahead on the path to the next matching spot of the same color. No counting or reading is required. There are also special cards that can move a player ahead or behind, and they are indicated by picture of the spot on the board to which the player should move their piece. Play continues until one player reaches the end.
  
  Some of my observations:
  
  1) Most kids can probably start playing and enjoying this game before the recommended 36 months of age. If you have a child with the attention span and the desire to sit down for a 10-15 minute game, I'm pretty confident they could enjoy it.
  
  2) Among the lessons our kids learned from CandyLand: taking turns, recognizing colors, and dealing with disappointment. Luckily, the games are quick enough that it is usually possible to play multiple games in one seting. This makes it possible to keep playing until each child has had at least one win. (Very helpful for managing little egos)
  
  3) For such a simple game, it manages to perfectly balance the possibility of changes in fortune without seeming arbitrary. The game is literally in doubt until the last card is played (one of the "special" cards might send a player back to near the start). This is great for teaching that most valuable of lessons: "NEVER give up".
  
  4) With most simple games, it is almost impossible to get older kids to play after they reach a certin age. We have not found that to be as true with Candy Land. We've had games with an adult and kids ages 3, 6, and 9 playing together and having fun. If you have more than one kid, you know how hard this can be.
  
  As a parent of three, I give this game my highest recommendation.
  
  
• The same old Candyland, but from a different perspective.
  By A2LW9E5PPXWOHN on 2001-03-12
  I loved this game as a child, and I love it now as a mommy. I have six kids, and I've noticed that my girls generally like this game better than my boys.

  It is very colorful, and the movements across the board are based on the color of the card one chooses from the deck. If you pick a blue card, you move to the next blue square.

  The game is spiced up by the addition of "special" squares and "special" cards... you might get one of these cards that moves you to the beginning of the game!! Or it might move you from near the beginning to the end!

  It is a bit more unpredictable than Chutes and Ladders because of these cards.

  It's a great tool when the kids are learning their colors, and also just for teaching the idea of taking turns and as an introduction to board games.

  We keep it fun, and if the 3 year old really insists on going to a green square when he has a yellow card, well, we let him.

  I recommend this one for preschoolers and the mommies who love them.
  
  

• Terrific game for beginners
  By on 1999-07-09
  When your child wants to learn to play games like a big kid, but hasn't yet developed many game-playing skills, this is the answer. Most children know colors first, and that's all they need to play this game. Draw a card, and move your person to the next square of that color. The first one to the end wins. It isn't loads of fun for older children (or adults), but does give you a way to introduce the younger ones to game-playing concepts like taking turns and being a good sport. Still one of the best simple games around.
  
  
• Don't be seduced by the bright colors!!!
  By A3QF1QF9DFLNQ5 on 2002-04-20
  Candy Land promises a world of bright colors, joyous fun, and sweet delights. But what is this cotton candy fantasy world really teaching your children?

  From the moment the deck is shuffled, the winners and losers of Candy Land are pre-ordained. Lulled by the empty promises of sugary rewards, children across the world learn to mindlessly accept their fate and happily play out the cards that they are delt. Moving from color to color, the populous of Candy Land are completely subjegated to their inevitable journey. No amount of desire, planning, or work, can alter the game's outcome. The lack of dice or a spinner guarantees that luck doesn't even come into play in the saccharine world of Candy Land.

  A recent study conducted on Gamblers Anonymous members by the Developmental Psychology department at a leading Nevada Universtiy indicates that the favorite childhood game of lifelong gambling addicts was Candy Land. Is this really the message you want to give to your children?

  Allow your children to choose their own fate!!! Resist the sweet temptations of Candy Land!!!
  
  

• My 4-year-old's favorite game
  By AU1X4RAH66U7B on 2007-10-10
  Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R140VRJ98DUX7I
  
  
• A great classic never dies (unless it gets torn up)
  By A27N39GEZJ8WW0 on 2004-09-23
  This classic game was played by myself and my brothers as our first experience with board game playing and it is also my son's first experience with playing board games as well. We began playing Candyland when he was 2 years old and knew his colors well enough. It teaches colors and matching, obviously, but it allows for the parent to teach valuable concepts like taking turns, not being a sore loser, playing by the rules, and other good social skills involved in game play with others. That said, I was so disappointed with the quality of the game itself. The board is OK (although I wish the spaces were large enough to accomadate the gingerbread men pawns that are supposed to fit on the spaces). But the cards are very flimsy. All of our cards are bent up and some are torn. All are dirty. I realize that the price of this game is quite inexpensive and is still a good value for the price. But I wish they had an alternative Candyland game that cost more and was more durable to withstand play for all my child's toddler and preschool years. An ideal game would have a larger board with larger spaces and sturdy (maybe chipboard) cards that are laminated. A plastic "draw-discard" container would also be nice to contain all of the cards during play to get children use to that concept of card play. I would gladly pay more for a more durable version of this wonderful game
  
  
• Old version was better
  By on 1999-07-26
  I loved this game as a child, and it was with great delight that I purchased a copy for my son. However, I was disappointed with the artwork on the new board. The characters look too cartoonish and the board has lost some of the childlike beauty it once had. I tossed out the new one and went to a second hand store and purchased an older copy.
  
  
• GREAT FOR 4-7 YR OLDS: FUN WITH A LITTLE COMPETITION
  By on 1999-08-26
  Candyland is one of my kids all-time favorite games, and today's 4 - 6-yr olds are tough customers! They can play without adults, it requires no reading skills, but the older child can now read the different places on the picture cards, and all kids like the competition. I really liked the game when I was a kid (I still like to play with the kids!), and it seems incredible the exact game was around that long ago. It really doesn't go out of style over the years. Families usually have to buy a new one becaue the board and cards are so worn out!
  
  
• No mess, easy for kids to set up, keeps them entertained
  By A2RMYHZSH5ZM77 on 2005-11-19
  Ok 1st THERE IS NO MESS in this game. The mats are rubber, not paint, so they dont mess up furniture. We have a dog, and 2 kids, and nice furniture, and there is no mess from the game, and the game doesnt teach kids to JUMP on furniture, everything revolves around the mats. The mats have pictures, the GRAPHICS are great, how are they hideous on DVD?
  The game is great for social skills ( Mr Mint says, kind of like Simon says), Gramma nutts musical moves is kind of like musical chairs, but instead of chairs, its mats, and its not elimintaing whoever doesnt get a mat, its "whoever is standing on the mr mint mat gets 1 gingerbread cookies". My kids love candyland board game, but my 2 1/2 year old cant do that game yet, but he can do the DVD game. This game is awesome!
  
  
  
  
• why so girly?
  By on 2003-12-03
  It drives me nuts when manufacturers try to "girl-ify" or "boy-ify" classic toys--heaven help us if a toy appeals to both genders instead of being sugary pink or aggressive black and purple (I see they have a Spiderman version of Candyland now *sigh*). Candyland originally had bright, primary colors and SIMPLE, appealing graphics that emphasized the candy--the "ice cream float" card had an ice cream bar, and the graphic on the board was of ice cream "floating" in water. Oh, the fun of landing on a candy space and pretending to gobble up the candy canes or peanut brittle!
  This version has some ridiculous "princess" theme going on and lots of pastel colors to appeal to girls (as if girls need more "princess" toys in their lives). and the nice simple graphics and concepts have given way to cluttered graphics and all this "king of whatever" and "prince of whatever" stuff. You can't even neatly fit the stack of cards on the mulberry bush anymore.
  
  That said, it's a great game for teaching turn-taking, colors, distinguishing between "one" and "two" spaces, and rules of a game (move forward, slide along a shortcut, stop here until you draw a particular card). My son learned this game in stages starting around age three, and the simpler candy graphics on the vintage version kept him interested enough to finally master all the rules. He is far less interested in this version, which his female cousins have.
  
  
• A two year old can benefit from this game
  By on 2004-01-23
  I bought this for my 25 month old niece. She could count to 10 already and knows her colors, I thought she may be able to play Candyland.

  I did not bother with teaching her about losing turns at this point, I will teach her that when she can comprehend it. She picks her own cards and knows how to move. At first we did not take turns. I taught her how to play a one player game, then we moved into taking turns. She can now play by herself and loves to get the candy cards as much as any other child. Instead of being stick in the mollasses swamp, she gets tickled...makes the game much more fun at this point.
  
  

• easy to cheat at!
  By on 2000-06-24
  I love playing this game with my 5 year old because I can easily palm the good cards and quickly jump ahead and win the game. This comes in handy when you are asked to play it a million times a day and you just want to get it over with. The downside is that the kids get mad that they never win and they ended up ripping the board in half - so it's not very durable. Don't say I didn't warn you!
  
  
• best for littler ones
  By on 2000-11-28
  Candyland is a great "first game"--my son enjoyed it when he was 3, maybe 4..but I'm surprised the manufacturer reccommends it up to age 6. For a 5 or 6-year old I might suggest either "Dog Dice" or the "Where the Wild Things Are Puzzle Maze" games...these are two that have gotten a lot of use in our house.
  
  
• Always A Winner For Fun!
  By A1XJOSJN6FHFO0 on 2004-10-12
  As I sat to write this review, I wondered within myself if there was anyone who didn't know about this ageless game.
  I can remember playing it with my children so long ago and now I have purchased it for my grandchildren.
  Still bright and colorful, one has to smile as you look upon the rainbow gameboard and hold in your hand your little gingerbread men. Oh the joy of being a child.
  No reading is required to play this game, just matching of colors will do for the fun to begin. Easy instructions for the little ones make for a perfect beginning game. Colorful and exciting this game will give them hours of entertainment with a slice of learning, sharing, winning and losing. All a part of life. The only downside are the cards, which I feel should be made a little more durable. All in all a really fun treat to share with that little one in your life and a memory that will last forever.
  Shirley Johnson
  
  
• Candyland is a classic game for all kids
  By on 2005-08-18
  I knew about this game as early as the 80's and about 11 years ago I saw it at the local toy store and decided to buy it with my allowance though I was about 11 cause I was curious about this game I'd been hearing about and because I wanted to buy something for my baby sister who was 3 at the time. It was such a fun game that helped her with counting and colours though the main focus is getting to the king at the end and visiting different sections of candyland and sometimes being paused at a certain coloured square until a certain time. The game has gone missing but I bought the computer game of candyland on CD rom and my little cousins and baby sitting charges can't get enough of it, all those yummy treats and trying to save the king, it's just a simple classic game, especially for very young children it would make a good first game. Also recommended for the 3-6 age group are snakes & ladders, monopoly junior and junior scrabble which all are fun but also teach a lesson relating to numbers and counting, life skills and reading/comprehension, but in a fun way.
  
  
• My Nephew loves Candyland!
  By A2KJP4S6X11AJM on 2005-10-26
  Candyland is my nephews favorite game. He has just turned three and can easily play this game as it doesn't require any reading. Candyland helped him learn his colors (the playing cards are color coded) and helped him with his counting (when he'd count to move his player along the board).
  
  I give Candyland 5 stars for educational value: counting and colors learning. 5 stars for fun. 4 for durability: pieces are easily lost, cards are bent easily. Over all Candyland is 5 stars.
  
  
• A sweet way to learn the bitter realities of life.
  By A11ED8O95W2103 on 2007-05-10
  I remember playing this game as a child, and now I've used it to teach my older autistic son and his younger brother how to play board games. They don't play it much anymore, but I'm sure that their mastery of this game paved the way for them to play the games they enjoy now.
  
  At a most basic level, this game introduces the young mind to the concept of "games". "Games" have "rules" and "winners". This is quite a hurdle to jump for a young child (especially an autistic child), yet it is essetial that they jump it. And, thankfully my kids did!
  
  This attractive game teaches linear progress (there is one correct direction to go, and there is a goal); thinking (what to do if you get two colored squares on your card instead of one); the impact of luck (good and bad fortune happens to eveyone); how to win, and how to lose. All while thinking about ice cream, candy canes, and other yummy treats.
  
  And, if you lose, you can always play again!
  
  In fact, I think this game might just be one of the fundamental cornerstones of civilization.
  
  
• Great Game- Bad Package
  By on 1999-12-14
  I loved playing this game as a kid, and I love that my kids love it. BUT I would gladly pay THREE OR FOUR times the price for a game that was not so flimsy. The box falls apart in what seems like seconds and the cardboard pieces aren't much better. We are already on our third Candyland game. I beg the manufacturer to consider a "gold classic" version with wooden pieces and a sturdy box.
  
  
• You don't really HAVE to HAVE Candy Land.
  By A1N5M0G8QPR3QA on 2003-02-14
  Of course, everyone had Candy Land, but when our just turned 3 yr old
  daughter wanted to play, we wanted to run the other way...
  Boring...., and it is for her now, when after 2 weeks we purchased
  much more challanging and interesting games. Also, it isn't made well. The game board is
  not the same size as it was when we were kids, so the playing pieces are too big and overlap the spaces. The cards are not
  laminated. And, after all the years this game has been around, why are there no children of color on the box/board? I hope they're not counting the brown lump of molasses.
  
  
• Introduce your little one to board games with this classic!
  By AHPBS2J6I8RD9 on 2004-03-13
  This is a great "first board game" for kids, who will probably enjoy it from ages 3-5 or so. Extremely simple to play, players take turns drawing cards and moving their pieces to the colored square indicated by the card. Rather predictable, though with a few twists and turns thrown in, it is simple enough to keep the attention of the very young. I award it 5 stars for educational value because it teaches color recognition, taking turns, and fair play (when these are reinforced by an adult playing along).
  
  
• Helps with Colors
  By AH3RQXZF5BSCY on 2004-10-28
  my 2 1/2 year old was having a real problem with colors. A couple of trips around the candy land board and she has shown major improvement.
  
  
• Enjoyable for all
  By AJ238R16AKLK9 on 2004-11-09
  Every home w/younger children must have this game! Daughter began playing at age 3, learned colors, counting, patience (which they have little of), & matching items on cards. Have to admit we, the parents, enjoyed it as well.
  
  
• Empty calories
  By A3B5ICCQHELN7K on 2005-10-29
  The new graphics are absolutely hideous. The game now has none of the magic of the version I played with in the '70s. The only positive thing, I suppose, is that the new characters are so grotesque they might put kids off candy. I wish manufacturers would remember the old saw, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
  
  
• Boring
  By A8KYC9YS4F8BC on 2006-04-24
  I was expecting much more fun game. My daughters are almost 4 and they get bored after 10 minutes :( It's so slow going and boring. I wouldn't recommend this game to anyone.
  
  
• Candy Land is a simple introduction to the Quest.
  By on 1999-12-08
  I rated Candyland a low score for durability, since as a game it only maintains a child's interest for a year or two. The concepts of eluding danger, seeking a goal, making a journey and arriving safely however stick with us forever. I played Candyland as a child more than 30 years ago and can still remember being afraid of the forest, and glad my Mom was playing the game with me. A great game for any young child!
  
  

• Chutes and Ladders
• Monopoly Here & Now Limited Edition
• Hi Ho Cherry-O
• Trouble Board Game
• Scrabble: Junior Edition