Can you get the little bear to his mom, the girl to her tent, or the rabbit to the other rabbit? What about a combination of multiple figures needing to be moved to the right spot? Grizzly Gears has a challenge for everyone!
What is Grizzly Gears?
The game includes a small game board that holds multiple tree pieces, has several figures (bear, tent, wood pile, etc) in fixed positions on the board, and six loose pieces that coordinate with the ones in fixed positions.
For example, Mama Bear is in a fixed position on the board, and there is a baby bear piece; the tent is in a fixed position, and there is a little girl piece that coordinates with it.
The set also includes a puzzle book with instructions, 80 different challenges, and an answer key.
The goal of the game is to get the pieces that are at play in each puzzle challenge to the right spots.
How Do You Play Grizzly Gears?
To begin playing, you open the book and choose which puzzle challenge you would like to complete. There are different levels, and I suggest starting out with the starter level, at least until you get a feel for how the game works.
Levels:
- Starter
- Junior
- Expert
- Master
Next, you set up the board based on the challenge that you chose. Each challenge includes a picture showing which trees go in which positions and which loose pieces are included. Then you have to get the loose pieces to their correct spots.
To get them to the correct spots, you have to twist the trees, which work like gears and move the other trees and the loose pieces. You have to find the right combination of moves to get all the pieces where they need to be.
In the easier challenges, you are only moving one loose piece, but later challenges include more pieces.
There is an answer key in the back of the challenge book in case you get stuck; it shows how to solve the problem in the fewest moves.
Our Experience with Grizzly Gears
We broke out this game for the first time during a game night where my husband and I helped our three youngest boys (ages 12, 8, and 2) play different independent games.
My eight-year-old was the first one to try it out, and once he got the hang of it, he loved it. I highly recommend having an adult help explain the game and set it up the first time, as it can be a little confusing at first. However, once you get a feel for how it works, students can do it independently.
My son worked with his dad on several of the challenges, and it was a great way for them to spend quality time together and for his dad to help him work through the problem-solving aspects. He even got to enjoy a cupcake while he worked, so it was a fun and memorable time.
Once he got the hang of a few of the easier levels, he was excited to move up to the next level and try moving more than one piece.
My twelve-year-old also took a turn and found it fun. While the two-year-old did not understand the game (understandably), he had a lot of fun turning the gears and helping out his eight-year-old brother one evening while I was cooking dinner.
The game helps develop problem-solving, visual skills, and logic. My children didn’t see it as an educational game, but it was great brain work. We plan to add it to our Friday game time rotations.
Who Would Enjoy Grizzly Gears?
This is a game many ages can enjoy, especially with the different-level puzzles. It is recommended for ages 7+, and I think that is fairly accurate. A younger child could certainly try and might be able to do the easier challenges, but some of them are quite difficult.
It is a quiet and quick game, great for giving children something to do independently for a few minutes. With all the different tasks, you could spend as few as five minutes playing or spend an hour or more doing multiple tasks.
Add it to your game night rotation, use it as a quiet activity between school subjects, use it as an independent activity while you cook dinner, or use it any time you want a fun, brain-stimulating activity.
Overall Thoughts
Grizzly Gears from Timberdoodle is a fun, easy game for building visual skills, strategy, and logic without it feeling like work. It is a quick, low-stress, low-prep game that people of all ages can play and enjoy. The various levels allow students to be challenged without it being too hard or frustrating. You can find out more and get your game at Timberdoodle.
FAQs
What ages is this game for?
The company recommends ages 7+, and I would say any age from elementary school through adulthood.
How Many Players?
This is a single-player game, though you can take turns if multiple people want to play.
Does the game require reading?
Other than someone reading the instructions, this game does not require reading.
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