Children are like little sponges, they are constantly soaking up information. Whether that is the right information or not is a different matter, so structed education is a must. Everybody is not a teacher, so one of the best ways to help with their education is through play, having fun while learning. Educational games are a fantastic way to combine learning with playtime and fun activities. These type of games help to engage players in a fun way, and are often quick and simple to play. This makes the learning process effective as well as being enjoyable, even helping families spend some quality time together. These types of games can help to improve critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and teamwork as well as reinforcing skills such as maths, reading and spelling. And the best part is that the kids don’t even know that they are learning. By integrating educational games into your game nights and family fun time, you can have fun while helping to foster a love for learning and reinforcing necessary skills, creating memorable experiences with family and friends. There are plenty of educational games and we have been trying out the Numba Card Game, a very simple and fun game to play that helps with basic maths skills (addition).
The Numba Card Game is a game for 2-5 players, age 4+, with a playing time of around 15 minutes. It is a delightful and engaging number game designed for kids and families, but just as much fun for adults. A maths matching game similar in ways to Snap but with more observational skill and basic addition needed to make a match, and lots more fun.
In the box:
- 6x Number Cards (1 to 6)
- 72x Fruit Picture Cards (Apple, Banana, Orange and Strawberry)
Numba is a fast-paced and exciting card game that tests your observation, speed and reactions. A very simple to learn and quick to play game, making it perfect for players of all ages. It is basically a matching game based on maths skills. Players must match cards and collect them all to be the winner. Unlike Snap, players are not matching a picture card to a picture card, that would be far too easy. Players need to match fruit cards to the number that is the middle of the table – that could be matching one card with the correct number of fruit or a series of cards from other players that add up to that number (of the same fruit).
To play, the 6 cards with numbers on them are removed from the deck (they have black lettering on the back, the fruit cards have yellow lettering). Shuffle the cards and flip one over into the centre of the table for all to see (this is the Numba card for that game). Shuffle the fruit cards and deal the entire pack out to the players face down (they can not pick them up to look at). Each player then takes one of the remaining number cards and the player with the highest number goes first with play going clockwise.
The starting player flips over a card from their deck, lifting the edge furthest away from them (so they can’t have a quick peek first), and creates their own deck of face up cards. If the number of fruits on that card doesn’t match the Numba card, play moves clockwise to the next player.
For example, the number in the centre of the table is 4. Players take it in turns flipping over the top card from their own deck for everybody to see, if it happens to be 4 bananas (or 4 of any fruit) the first person to shout Numba wins all the face up cards on the table. If there is no match the next player turns over a card. Now, if player 1 laid down 3 apples and player 2 laid down 1 apple, the first person to shout Numba and say that there is 4 apples (matching the number in the centre of the table), that player wins all the face up cards. Play continues until one player has all the cards.
If a player shouts “Numba” and there is no match then that player must give each of the other players one of the cards from their face down deck. But if two or more players shout “Numba” at the same time, they must pick a number card and the player with the highest number wins that round. If a players runs out of cards in their face down deck they are out of the game.
Overall, Numba is a simple and fun game to learn and play; it’s also educational. It is great fun for players of all ages, putting observation skills to the test and is excellent at helping younger players improve their counting skills, number recognition, and quick thinking. The game encourages players to stay focused and engaged, making it an excellent tool for cognitive development. It’s a great way to introduce and develop basic addition while keeping them entertained, as well as helping with focus and attention.
The cards are good quality, featuring vibrant illustrations of apples, bananas, oranges, and strawberries. The high-quality cards are durable and easy to handle, ensuring that the game can withstand regular play. We love that the cards come in a plastic box rather than carboard as it makes it a more durable travel game that you can take anywhere and play.
The Numba Card Game is a fantastic addition to any game collection, offering a perfect blend of fun and education. It has a fast playing time of around 15 minutes and there are no complicated rules.
While there are playing instructions in the pack there is also a How To Play video on the Numba website.
Numba is a fun, education and competitive game to play. Perfect for youngsters and families, and well as friendly competition for adults. I used to volunteer in Year One and I think that this game would have make an excellent addition to our game sessions.
I think Numba is a fun and educational pick up and play game. And with half term coming up it makes a quick and fun game to play while helping the younger ones practice their basic maths skills while not in school putting them to use.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £9.99
For more information, visit numbagame.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
