39 Clues Search for the Keys Game By University Games

by University Games

Product Features

• Our Newest Game Based On The New Best-Selling Series Of Books
• Pits Teams Of Players Against Each Other In A Race Throughout The World
• To Win A Team Must Visit Four Mysterious Locations And Gather Enough Clues To Unlock The Secret Chamber
• Books 1-3 Are All At The Top Of The New York Times Bestseller List For Juvenile Books
• Scholastic And University Games Have Teamed Up With A Series Of 10 Books And 10 Games A New Book Every 3 Months Through 2010

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 2.2 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001SOQG8M
• Item model number: 03901
• Our recommended age: 6 years and up
• Manufacturer recommended age: 6 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,279 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 1.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Bob Moog and Cris Lehman founded University Games in 1985. The company has added many divisions and broadened our scope a lot since then, but the University Games' products remain true to the standards set more than 24 years ago. Our games are easy to learn. Start playing in five minutes. Our games keep all players involved, even when it's not their turn. Our games are different every time you play. Our games combine luck and skill, so every player has a chance to win. Our games make learning fun. Creative gameplay and quality components are our standard, but that's not all we offer. From prestigious educational licenses like Brain Quest and Eric Carle to exciting entertainment licenses with Big Brain Academy Nintendo Software, LEGO construction toys, the Worst-Case Scenario book series and Anti-Monopoly, we've got original ways to have fun. So spend time with us and you can have a great time with the family, get to know the neighbors or even learn how to read. Our newest game, based on the new best-selling series of books, pits teams of players against each other in a race throughout the world. To win, a team must visit four mysterious locations and gather enough clues to unlock the secret chamber. Books 1-3 are all at the top of the New York Times bestseller list for juvenile books. Scholastic and University Games have teamed up with a series of 10 books and 10 games. A new book every 3 months through 2010. Both Scholastic and University Games will be actively promoting to consumers in 2009.

Product Description

In The 39 Clues Search for the Keys board game, players race around the world gathering keys by solving clues, decoding messages and tripping up the competition. The first player to collect 4 keys wins. Sound easy? Well think again. Be ready to match wits with other players as an international journey of discovery and chicanery is revealed. Let's begin the adventure; the hunt is on! Also includes Clue Card #420.For 2 - 4 players, ages 8 and up.Contents: 1 game board, 1 clue card (#420), 4 moving pieces, 12 tokens and 24 chips, 1 die, 198 cards and instructions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a game for children, and not fun to play at all, December 25, 2009

By 

Rebecca L. Manning (Pittsburgh PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: 39 Clues Search for the Keys Game By University Games (Toy)

We got this game for our 8 year old son for Christmas. He loves the 39 clues books. He is also a very smart, gifted student. We thought this game would be more like the 39 Clues books, but it is not at all.

This game is IMPOSSIBLE for anyone without a PHD in geography to play. The game consists of clue cards and the player has to guess the city based on the clue. It would be one thing if the cities were ones known to 8 year old children, such as New York, Los Angeles, Paris, etc. But this game has them guessing cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Nom Pen, Jakarta, Angkor, Accra, Libson, etc. The game is poorly put together (the "Keys" you earn are actually boats) and the colors of the "keys" are different than what is stated in the directions. The game takes forever to play, and has no discernable end. After an hour and a half of my 8 year old and 11 year old playing the game with me and me having to give them every answer (often I had to look up the answers myself) we quit playing. The game is NOT fun to play at all, and feels more like an geography exam. We are going to purchase a more appropriate game for him tomorrow as a replacement. I would not recommend this game at all. Total waste of money.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A real disappointment, December 27, 2009

By 

J. Garbers "jgarbers" (Roswell, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: 39 Clues Search for the Keys Game By University Games (Toy)

Our kids (8, 10, and 12) were excited to receive several "39 Clues" presents for Christmas this year. As a family who plays a lot of challenging board games, we were eager to play this game and find out more about the "39 Clues" world.

Unfortunately, the game mechanic -- identifying world cities from clues on cards -- is neither fun nor engaging, and has limited educational value as well. If your 10-year-old has been studying the topic recently, she might know the "largest port on the west side of North America," but clues like "Famous food is lumpia" and "Most populated city in its country, but not the capital" will elicit frustrated shrugs from kids as well as parents. On the other hand, you may draw an "Adventure" card that tells you what a kite is.

Although the game equipment is well-constructed and attractive, it's odd that the pieces are of a strange boat-like shape instead of the planes described in the rules. The only fun we had with this game was trying to figure out what those were supposed to be.

If the game play was fun -- or at least interesting -- you might excuse the lack of "39 Clues" elements (characters? plots?). However, this just feels like it was thrown out to take advantage of the popularity of the franchise. That's a common problem, but we expected more from Scholastic and University Games, both brands we've trusted in the past. We certainly wish Rebecca Manning's spot-on review had been available well in advance of the Christmas season.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great fun for geography buffs!, May 30, 2010

By 

CAMom (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: 39 Clues Search for the Keys Game By University Games (Toy)

I have no idea why people have rated this game so poorly! Our family, including our 7 year old son, have thoroughly enjoyed it! There are enough hints to make the tougher questions easier to figure out and the luck of the draw extends game play to give kids a chance to beat adults. One reviewer was totally wrong- the answers are on the box, no need for Google.... read the directions.