Lucky Ducks Game Review

The Basics:

• For ages 2 and up (publisher suggests 3+)
• For 2 to 4 players
• Approximately 5 minutes to complete

Geek Skills:

• Hand/Eye Coordination & Dexterity
• Memorization & Pattern/Color Matching

Learning Curve:

• Child – Easy
• Adult – Easy

Theme & Narrative:

• Bringing baby ducks back to the correct nest

Endorsements:

• Gamer Geek rejected!
• Parent Geek approved!
• Child Geek approved!

Overview

Lucky Ducks is a simple game for your younger little geeks that’s comprised of a motorized platform that moves 12 plastic ducks around in a wavy circle.  There’s a large plastic button in the middle that turns the motor on and off, and the track is designed well enough that the ducks do not get jammed up or tip over very much. On the bottom of each duck is one of four colored shapes. The player’s goal is to pluck a duck out of the pond and match the colored symbol under the duck to his “nest”. The “nest” shows the color and shape needed.  The first player to get all three matching ducks wins the game.  If the duck you have plucked does not have your symbol, then it is placed back on the moving pond.  It is sometimes necessary to stop the motor for the more dexterous challenged toddlers.

Final Word

I believe this to be an excellent game for what it’s trying to be.  It’s one of the very few games I can play with my two-year old son because it’s simple to grasp and often ends in five minutes or less.  It’s also appealing to his older brother, making it one of only a handful of games I own that I can bring out for both of them to enjoy simultaneously.

The game has several redeeming age-appropriate teaching qualities. The simple act of watching the moving ducks to pluck one off without upsetting the rest is a good dexterity challenge for a two-year old. It can be a bit challenging to put the duck back while the pond is still moving, too.

Furthermore, it does a good job of incorporating pattern matching in the form of shapes and colors.  A two-year old can figure out shapes for sure and the more abstract concept of colors is the next step up. On top of the color matching, there is an element of memorization.  It is very short-term memorization, admittedly, as you are only watching the duck that was just put back on, but it’s surprisingly challenging to keep your “eye on the prize” while it’s moving.

There is no advanced strategy to teach here, but it’s a colorful game with moving parts and quacking sounds.  It will keep the attention of very young little geeks and for that reason it has been a success at our gaming table. I somehow doubt it will continue to capture the interest of a three-year old or older because the game is very simplistic, but it’s serving our needs in my household for now.