ZooRegatta
$19.99
ZooRegatta at a Glance
| Game Type Educational Animal Theme Light Strategy | Play Time 20 - 30 mins | Skill/Complexity (1 - 5) Non Complex Light Strategy |
| Age 4+ | Publisher(s) Peaceable Kingdom | Published 2013 |
| Categories Educational - Kids Kids Game Family | Players 2 - 4 | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 8.5/10 | Cost $19.99 + |
Helping to acquaint players with the geography and exotic animals of the world we live in, children will not only love the gameplay but also the preparation beforehand where they’ll need to assemble 4 miniature ships with ZooRegatta. Launched in 2013, it’s ideal for kids aged 4 and over.
About – Description
In this colorful, exciting set of games, the board is a map of the world, complete with continents, which each brave captain must navigate.
Beautifully illustrated currents and whirlpools will help (or hinder) you along the way but it’s important you get to the finish as quickly as possible. Resourcefulness, accurate calculations and a big helping of luck all come together to help players emerge victorious.
Ideal for honing your child’s skills in planning and strategy, ZooRegatta will hold the attention of younger children and first graders in particular.
Best Suited For Children Ages 4+
ZooRegatta is a game designed to be played by 2 to 4 players making it ideal for siblings and friends to enjoy together. It is also a great game for a parent to play alongside their child.
Skill – Complexity
This game has a fairly simple concept and it’s quite easy to learn once you’ve played it a few times. Although there are 3 games in 1 to choose from, none of them are very complex so will suit children as young as 4.
Set Up – Playing Rules & Instructions
Setting up
Inside the box you’ll find:
- Two-sided game board
- 4 plastic ships
- 4 ship data cards
- 24 pieces of animals
- 8 shots tokens
- A dice
- Rules of the game
Setting up this game (whichever game you choose) is very simple. Take the game board out of the box and place it open on a flat surface. Players must then gather around it and each person should take a roll of the dice to see who gets to start. The player who rolls the highest number will take their turn first and play goes in a clockwise direction.
Object of the game
The object of each of the 3 games is to be the first player to cross the finish line – they are then the winner!
Playing Instructions
As ZooRegatta is 3 games in 1 box, there’s no risk of anyone getting bored!
The first game is called “Dangerous Race” where each player has to avoid danger and overcome a variety of obstacles. The first player to get to the finish line wins!
The next game is “ZooRegata” itself. An exciting journey around the world, the idea of the game involves players trying to safely deliver the animals from different continents to the port. Currents and whirlpools make for a fun, dynamic adventure and there are even guns involved too! As the game does not give a specific route to follow, players themselves much choose the path of their ships which adds to the sense of needing to strategize.
Then there’s the third game, “Catch the Pirate!” where dangerous pirates are on the loose around the planet and they’re busy abducting animals from each country! Only a fearless Marine Patrol is able to stand up for these poor animals and it’s up to you to save them. It’s a battle between good and evil but who will prevail?
Versions – Editions
Following the game’s initial release, another edition of ZooRegatta was launched in 2015.
Likes & Dislikes
ZooRegatta is a wonderful family game that’s educational too. Even though there are 3 games in 1, the rules for each game are not overly complicated and are very easy to pick up.
The quality of the board and all the accessories is also very good, and it has a colorful, attractive aesthetic.
One small issue however is that the directions are a little hard to understand in terms of sentence structure. This is due to the fact that the game is not manufactured in the US so they have been translated although not always very accurately.
Final Thoughts
ZooRegatta is a simple, fun and highly entertaining set of games that will appeal to children of a broad range of ages and abilities. With the board itself being a map of the world complete with all its continents, it’s sure to provoke all sorts of interesting discussions that will aid their learning further.
With its beautiful graphics, sea-faring theme and a notable element of strategy required, it’s sure to capture the attention of even the choosiest of little players!
