Cranium Bumparena

by Cranium

Product Features

• High energy excitement of pinball with the strategic challenge ofa 3D maze
• Every Bumparena game is different, but each one is filled with surprise and unpredictability
• Bumparena takes 5 minutes to learn and 15 minutes to play
• Cranium Bumparena includes the Bumparena board, 10 small and 10 large bumpers, 8 character balls, 40 cards and a card dispenser
• Recommended for ages 7 and up

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 10.6 x 15.8 inches ; 2.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000930CSI
• Item model number: 103040000.100E
• Our recommended age: 7 - 12 years
• Manufacturer recommended age: 7 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,839 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Cranium Bumparena is the outrageous game that keeps everyone on the edge of their seats. Place the bumpers on the Bumparena board to guide the balls into your goal. No two games are the same, but each one is full of excitement and laughter. Bumparena is perfect for kids 7 and up, but everyone will enjoy its unpredictable fun.

Product Description

Cranium Bumparena is the outrageous game that keeps everyone on the edge of their seats. Place the bumpers on the Bumparena board to guide the balls into your goal. Think you've got, the perfect plan' One twist of a bumper can change the outcome in a flash. And once the balls start to fall, you never know which way they'll roll. The first player to score six goals is the winner. No two games are the same, but each one is full of excitement and laughter. Everyone will enjoy its unpredictable fun.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bumparena reviewed with other Cranium games, November 26, 2006

By 

David McCune "self-deprecating and proud of it" (Tacoma, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cranium Bumparena (Toy)

We have several Cranium games at our house, and have played various ones at various times, depending on the age and interest of our kids (currently ages 12, 9, and 6). This is a review of the ones we have used.

So, in no particular order:

Bumparena - In this game, players take turns adding bumpers and rubber balls to a sloped game board, base on easy-to-understand game cards (all pictures, no reading). When the balls are released, the bumpers divert the balls to one of three player goals. Collect 6 balls and win. This game sets up and moves quickly, you could probably complete one game within 15 minutes of opening the game box. It is simple to learn, and it probably could be played by most 6 year olds with minimal adult help. While the concept is easy to grasp, there is some strategy involved, as well as some appreciation of physics (angles, rebound, gravity, chance). This is another good game for getting young and old siblings to the same
table.

Zooreeka - This is the newest addition to our house and the current favorite with our youngest and middle child. In Zooreka, players roll a movement die to move around a game board in typical fashion. Spaces can bestow extra turns, allow players to draw cards, or allow trading of tokens. The tokens are the key. A second die allows players to collect "food", "animal", and "shelter" cards, ultimately turning a correct mix of them in for a "habitat". Four habitats make a "zoo". The first to make a zoo wins. It sounds pretty typical. The twists are that players essentially bet on the outcome of a die roll. Food is the most common outcome, followed by "animal" and "shelter". The odds are better for the food, but the other two are increasingly valuable. This is a great way to teach kids about probability. It also keeps players involved on every die roll, since a player can collect a card on any die roll. This focuses wandering attention spans. The cards are like the "chance" space in Monopoly; they can give or take away accumulated tokens. Finally, tokens can only be "redeemed" at a trading post space. This allows a trailing player a chance to catch up and tends to limit insurmountable leads. Games are of medium length (30 minutes or so).

Ziggity - Ziggity is a card game - think Uno with the added twist that, like other Cranium games, different parts of the brain are used. The cards have a number, a puzzle piece, a letter, and a shape, one in each corner. On each turn, the player is required to match shapes, add numbers, complete a puzzle or spell words in order to play the cards. There are also draw cards, skip cards, and wild cards. This is a fun game for kids old enough to spell and add, as well as for the rest of the family. The games are very quick, unlike the cranium board games. We will sometimes get in a quick few hands before bedtime when we want o play a family game but don't have much time. Finally, the plastic cards are very colorful and durable, a big plus when you have young `uns wanting to learn to shuffle.

Hullabloo - great, silly fun and very kinetic. It works best when a parent is willing to get down on the floor and be silly with their kids. It holds their interest for a relatively short time (10-20 minutes), but it does burn up the energy and generate the laughs.

Cadoo - a fun, quick board game that taps into different part of you brain - memory, analytical, creative, expressive, etc. - but keeps things fun and fast-paced. We found it more approachable for our younger kids than Cranium

Cranium - like Cadoo, it mixes in many different ways to use your brain, this time in a longer board game format. This one is a bit tougher on younger players. Also, both games do a fair job of letting younger players be competitive, but they are still games that can be a challenge to keep fair and interesting to all players if the age range between them is too great.

Cranium Family Fun Game - Teamwork is probably the best aspect of the Family Fun Game, and it's seems like such a novel idea that you are left wondering why more board games don't use this approach. Unless you have twins, then having multiple kids in your family means wide variations in ability. That is okay for games of chance, but for games that require dexterity or creativity, it's very hard to find a game that kids who are 13, 10, and 7 can enjoy together. This game solves the problem by dividing into two teams. Teams then alternate between completing certain tasks. Examples include "find three items that start the letter S", answer a true/false question, or "build a tower with blocks and then knock it over using the frogs" (they hop like tidily winks). Like other Cranium games, the tasks use your whole brain. Also, the team concept lets at least half of the players come away winners and teaches cooperation, both rare in board games. Another winner from Cranium.

Overall - great family games that stimulate parts of the brain often neglected by board games, yet keep it so fun that kids won't even realize that they are educational.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!, July 13, 2005

By 

Lila Hope "lilaetc" (Palo Alto, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Cranium Bumparena (Toy)

My 5.5 and 4 year-olds are serious Cranium fans. Bumparena has met every bit of their anticipation for a new Cranium adventure. (1) It's quick to set up (connecting two plastic pieces and sticking on 5 feet, and you are good to go) and easy to pack up. (2) It's easy to learn (I did a dry run by myself, and was able to explain the rules to the girls in 5 minutes). (3) It's a game the kids can play on their own (the game cards are self explanatory drawings easy to comprehend for non-readers). (4) The children may pick up some "strategic planning" by placing the bumpers in a way so that there is a higher probability that they will score. (5) In the meantime, the game has enough inherent unpredictability from game to game to keep the kids engaged. (6) It also helps teaching the kids how to accept "losing" in a graceful manner. The girls can't have enough of it, and they laugh so hard! They even invented new rules to make it more interesting. It's really a good addition to our collection of Cranium games.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great game from Cranium., October 12, 2005

By 

. - See all my reviews

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Cranium Bumparena (Toy)

This is a very fun game, for children and adults alike. You are given only a little time to place the bumpers on the board. So you have to think fast about how you want to place your pieces so that you will get the maximum points from the balls bouncing off of them.

This is a very exciting and fun game for a wide age range. If you would like to try out this game before buying it, you can play the online version of Bumparena at www.bumparena.com .