Software : Zoombinis Maths Journey

Rating: - superb - really is hours of fun
My parents bought this for my younger brothers when i was a teenager (about 15) and it had the whole family totally engrosed for hours and hours. Even I had to finish all the levels and beleive me it gets devilishly hard as you progress to the higher levels. But isn't too chalanging at the start.

Now i'm a mum too, and bought this for my son as soon as he could use a computer - a bit optamistic since it was a bit advanced for him, but by the age of 5 1/2 he loves it, and is completly addicted.

Addressing some of the critisism other users had made:
One user complained that the game did not really use any maths - which i completly disagree with, granted there's no maths in the traditional sense but the logic skills you employ in order to progress through the game are the same skills you use to solve mathmatical problems - developing a much deeper understanding of mathmatical concepts and a love for solving math problems.

The issue of difficulty level - it's always very difficult to guage difficulty level with games like these since different children develop at different rates and so i would say a guide age of 7 is about appropriate - depending on the child a child who's much more interested in puzzles would probably be able to play the game sooner but I would disagree that its boring for older children, I played it well into my late teens and still love to play it with my children.

I really can't recommend this game highly enough - i recommend it to all my friends for their children.

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Rating: - A fun game which really develops logic and maths skills
This clever little game presents children (and adults) with a series of puzzles which the likeable and beautifully characterised Zoombinis must solve to make their way to the promised land. Not only is this immense fun, but it really does, as it says on the package, develop your logical, maths and science skills (NB: this is the same game as "The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis"). It's the only computer game I've come across which children really enjoy, and which contributes directly to building up educational skills. Great stuff.

One downside: this is an antique game, and looks a bit old-fashioned. But that shouldn't deter anyone under 10, or over 35.

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Rating: - Still fun at 16
I'm nearly 17, and this CD rom is still fun for me. I was quite glad to find out that it's not just me who still enjoys this game, but several people at my college (some of whom take A level maths) also love the Zoombinis. Parents, don't be surprised if you find some of the puzzles tricky yourself. This definitely isn't 2 + 1 = 3 maths, it explores the fundamental techniques behind complicated maths without using numbers at all. The little Zoombinis are oddly cute and most children would have fun making them. It's a pity you can't name them.

Some of the puzzles are very fun - there's one where you splat mud of varying colours at the right bricks in a wall, so the Zoombinis can be catapulted over it. The puzzles get gradually harder each time the player repeats a certain path, but there is the option to practice them on any level so children can acquaint themselves with them before attempting to play. This is also useful for parents who might want to attempt the puzzles themselves before their child plays, so they can offer help if necessary.

The game guide is very helpful for parents - it outlines which puzzles are connected to which area of maths, and even offers a comparison with the national curriculum so you can see exactly which puzzles teach your child what.

The game does crash sometimes on my XP, but that's to be expected with older games. The graphics can also fail mid-game but the game is very playable, aslong as you remember to save it regularly.

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Rating: - Zoombinis are the best!
Zoombinis are so addictive and educational.
Every PC/Mac should have one.
Kids learn without even knowing!

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Rating: - Fun, but may be unstable under XP
We used the game under Windows XP, which it claims to be compatible with. It crashes repeatedly, which can mean losing the last few stages of the game as you are only allowed to save at certain stages. We have had to restart the PC a few times, and once it left the desktop corrupted even after a reboot.

The game consists of a series of logic puzzles, some very easy and some quite tricky for younger children. To lead the Zoombinis to their destination, it is necessary to complete all the puzzles along a road, and this can be frustrating for a younger child stumped on one of the harder games (especially when the game hangs at a vital moment). Having said that, the games are generally fun for a child who enjoys logic puzzles, and it is a little different each time it is played.