Customer Reviews
Modern classic
There are thousands of new games every year. Most of them disappear without a trace. Some acquire a devoted but small following. Just a few become classics. Rummikub is one these.
Invented in Romania in 1940, Rummikub is essentially a tile version of the traditional card game Rummy. It didn't really make it internationally until the 1970s, but by 1980 it had won a string of awards and established itself as a great family game.
Basically, it's about creating sets of three or more in a row of tiles either in runs of the same colour (1-2-3-4 etc), or the same number but in different colours. The winner is the person who gets rid of all their tiles first. The clever bit is that you can rearrange the tiles already on the board in order to place your own tiles, and the final score is the total of everyone else's leftover tiles after you've finished.
You might be wondering either i) what's all the fuss about or ii) why not just get a pack of playing cards and play regular Gin-Rummy?
First off, this is a genuinely addictive game which relies more on observation and logic than on chance, which you can learn in minutes but takes months (or more) to master. Quite small children can play it, but it's also a very challenging game for competitive adults. It's completely international, and can be played without having a single word in common with the other players.
Second, the design of the tiles makes this a much more satisfying game than Gin-Rummy. Cards are always a bit fiddly for complicated rearranging games, and this is especially the case for a game aimed at different ages. If you're a real games fanatic, you may find Mah-Jongg a better choice, but Mah-Jongg is too complicated to explain to most young children, and takes too long to quickly introduce to visiting friends.
Rummikub is one of a very few games that holds its interest for years and years.
Strongly recommended, and also highly educational.
alternative to computer games...
I just bought this for 11 year old twin boys who would normally always prefer the computer or video games ...but they think this is really good and are even willing to get ready for bed early so they can play. What more could you ask for?
An excellent family game
Rummikub is a great family game, and although there are numbers on the tiles it's not about sums, it's about making and manipulating number sequences. You are trying to get rid of your tiles, but you can only lay them on the table in certain combinations. The twist is that you can borrow tiles from sequences that are already on the table so as the game progresses the possibilities get more and more complicated. The rules are simple but kids under 10 might need a grown-up to help them spot some of the more tricky manipulations - watch out though because once your kids have got the hang of it, they will beat you!! A highly absorbing game for all ages.
Product Description
The Numbers Strategy Game that's never the same! The fast-paced game of tile manipulation that challenges each player's wit against the other. The object of the game is to be the first player to go Rummikub by using all tiles in Runs or Groups and accumulating the highest score. One of the world's most compulsive family games, like all the best it's easy to learn and a challenge to master! An opportunity for parents and older children to bond and improve co-ordination and mathematics skills. You can't beat this game for playability and value for money. I thoroughly recommend it - Managing Director
