A simple, easy-to-learn game that offers kids an opportunity to practice strategy and bluffing, Ribbit is a great game for kids age 4 and up. I’ve played Ribbit with C. several times, and even left it out on the table for him to play with babysitters — which they gladly took him up on. Cute wooden frogs contribute to the enjoyment of the game.

Ribbit (cornily sub-titled “The Toad-ly Fun Game”) is so easy to learn that you and your family can be up and running in less than 10 minutes. One game lasts about 15 minutes, and the game accommodates 2-5 players.

Ribbit’s components consist of a gameboard with only 9 spaces, five wooden frogs in different colors (red, yellow, green, blue, purple), five square frog tiles (each corresponding to a colored frog), and 52 frog-movement cards.

Before the game begins, the square frog tiles are shuffled face-down and each player picks one randomly and looks at it, but keeps it hidden from all other players. Whatever frog tile you pick tells you the color frog that you must try to make win the race to the finish line. For example, if you pick the blue frog tile, you’ll do everything you can to make the blue frog beat all the other frogs across the board.

All five wooden frogs are lined up at the start line, and the movement cards are now shuffled. Five cards are dealt to each player and the rest of the cards are placed face-down as a draw pile. The youngest player goes first and play will continue clockwise around the table.

On your turn, choose one card from your hand, play it to the discard pile, and move the frog indicated by that card. Then draw a card from the draw pile to bring your hand back to five cards.

Each card has two parts to it: 1) A colored frog, that tells you which frog to move (or a rainbow-colored frog, which lets you move the frog of your choice); and 2) A symbol in the corner which tells you how to move that frog. The symbol might tell you to move the frog forward one space, forward two spaces, or backward one space. There are also special cards that have you move the frog that’s currently in last place forward by one or two spaces.

Here’s where things get interesting. If a frog moves onto a space that’s already occupied by another frog, it is put on top of that frog. For example, if you move the red frog forward two spaces, and the yellow frog is already sitting on that space, just put the red frog on top of the yellow frog. Now, if someone moves the yellow frog, the red frog moves right along with it. It’s possible to end up with all the frogs in one big pile on a space, and any time someone moves a frog, all frogs that are sitting on top of it go along for the ride.

Now remember, the cards in your hand will allow you to move various frogs, but you’re trying to get one particular frog to the other side of the board first. (Remember that tile you picked before the game began? You want that frog to win.) However, if you make it too obvious which frog you’re trying to get to the finish line, other players will start using their “move backward cards” to send that frog in the opposite direction. You have to be tricky and subtle, working to get “your” frog to the finish line without letting on which one that is, until the very end. You can take advantage of stacked frogs to move yours forward without making it obvious. You can bluff by moving your frog backwards once or twice. But in the end, whichever player gets the frog of his or her color (from the tile) across the board to the finish line wins the game.

C. enjoys the sneaky aspect of this game, and I think it has enough strategy to be enjoyable by people of all ages. Because it plays quickly, you can play one quick round just about any time. There’s also a variation for younger children that eliminates the bluffing aspect: players pick the colored frog of their choice, and it’s a straight-out race for the finish line.

[Safety note: The original wooden frogs from this game were recalled for unacceptable lead levels -- just like everything else we've been hearing about! -- but the Simply Fun company got right on it, so if you were to order it now, you can be assured that all has been remedied.]

In summary:

Ribbit

Number of Players: 2-5
Time required: 15 minutes
Ages: 4 and up
Where to buy: Ribbit is only available from SimplyFun. However, this game is a remake of the German game, Schildkroetenrennen (and don’t ask me to pronounce that), which uses cute turtles instead of frogs and is currently available at Fair Play Games.

Callapidder recommends it: For any family with kids where a bit of trickery is appreciated.

Read more of Callapidder’s Game Reviews by clicking HERE.

NOTE: I’ll be participating in Shannon’s Fall Y’all Bloggy Giveaway carnival on Monday, October 29th… AND, I have a game- and toy- related prize. So be sure to stop by here Monday for a chance to win!