SmartGamesIQ Blox: Brain Teasing Family Fun, 120 Challenges, Ages 6+

IQ Blox is a fun portable game to take with you while you're traveling. We have been taking time to drive to our local beaches, ski resorts, and forests to get some government approved outdoor exercise, and while we're on our drives, I wanted simple activities for the kids to do that don't involve screens. IQ Blox is a simple and fun game that is essentially a puzzle version of Tetris. The object of the game is to start off with a few blocks put into place as instructed in the booklet, then fit in the remaining pieces with none left over. The puzzles range from incredibly easy and start to get more and more difficult to complete as you go along. All the pieces fit into the small hinged plastic box along with the booklet, and is securely closed enough to toss into your backpack. The pieces are large enough so they likely won't get lost, and each piece is brightly colored and smooth on the edges. It's a great one player game, although I've found our can kids work together to try to solve the more difficult puzzles. With 120 puzzles in total, your family will have many hours to get all those pieces to fit perfectly in the box.

Computer work? I bought this gem (fits easily in my backpack) to give my eyes & brain a break when I can’t step away for a walk. Deceptively easy in the beginning, like Rush Hour, the challenges progress but rather than purchasing add’l cards + a car, the puzzles start using three of the four wall pieces. Using all of the color pieces, your goal is to cover the open dots inside and around the walls. Moving the walls, changing the locations and directions of the openings, and using all of the wall pieces create 120 puzzles. There are 24 puzzle combinations in the booklet, from Starter, Junior, Expert, Master, and Wizard. Solution pages follow the Wizard section. All pieces plus challenge booklet (slick, decent-weight booklet) fit in the box AS THE COVER PHOTO DEPICTS. The box snaps shut, securing all pieces & booklet.The box rattled slightly and bumble fingers can occasionally drop or make a bit of noise as pieces are flipped, turned, or removed during play, but nothing that might annoy someone (unless you shake the kit like a maraca).The photo is of one of the Junior level challenges, using all of the pieces. These pieces shouldn’t be used around anyone who puts things in his/her mouth (not always an age).I hadn’t finished the first three Starter challenges when I stopped to add IQ Focus and IQ Twist to our Amazon cart.I still grab my portable Rush Hour, extra cars and challenge decks, but this little gem has my full attention. I know when I decide to open Focus and Twist (different shapes, same premise), I won’t be “that kid” in her 50s bugging my spouse, “ Are we there yet?”. My Kindle and Smart Game tuck into my purse. Slap a beverage in the cup holder? Happy girl!I still love you, Think Smart; Smart Games feed the hunger left when you’ve all but memorized Rush Hour.Drive on! - Prairie Girl

My boys and I have pretty much every IQ game now, and I'm trying to review each one. I think this one is actually quite unique in that it has the 4 little white pieces that block off certain options when you're trying to solve a puzzle. It brings an interesting element that challenges a different part of my brain when trying to make everything fit - that something a little "extra" to make your brain hurt. Can't tell you how many time my boys (or myself) have said "if that white piece were here instead of here I'd have the answer!" That addition is genius!The colored pieces are well made and quite solid - there's a little more to them than the "balled" pieces on some of the other IQ games (though I'm not exactly worried about the quality of those either). The white pieces are well made too, just lighter than the colored pieces. They don't really flex or bend, so no issues there.If I had to think of a negative, it would be that with the lightness of the white pieces and the nature of their non-permanence, they do tend to get themselves loose every once in awhile. I find myself having to place one back in position about 2 or 3 times while trying to solve a puzzle. Not a huge deal for me though and not enough for me to mark a star off though. Maybe if you did this puzzle on a table you would have as much of an issue with that. Or I guess just never put a piece in the wrong place then realize it later and have to remove 4 pieces to backtrack...

This was perfect for my great grandson who is slightly autistic and needs hands on games.

For some reason I was under the impression this would be adequate for a toddler. Haha. I enjoyed playing it, was really addicting. I havent finished all the rounds yet but I leave it in my car as a bordem buster waiting to pick up kiddos. Nice break from scrolling social media.