Life has been crazier than usual lately, since I started working full time as a teacher! I still try to make time to play games with my kids though a few times a week. We play a card game like Rummy or Trash almost every evening before bed and we play a board game once or twice a week. Lately we’ve been playing Splendor, which my kids got for Christmas and we’ve played at least 4 times over the past few months. We’re liking it! However, when I suggested yesterday that we play it again, so I could think about what to say in a review for this site, my oldest was like, “Can’t we play something else?” I said, “Like what?” and he said, “How about Skyjo?”
Skyjo Details
Product: Skyjo
Company: Magilano
Website: https://magilano.com/en
Recommended Age Range: Box says 8 and up, but younger kids can enjoy it as well. Being able to recognize numbers and count to 12 is helpful.
Price Range: ~$17
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)
Review
We got this game back during the 2020 lockdowns and we used to play it ALL. THE. TIME. I was actually shocked when I checked the website and saw that I had never added it. It was definitely a family favorite for an extended period of time. However, it’s probably been over a year since the last time we played, so I was surprised when my 15 year old suggested it. As soon as I started setting it up, my 10 year old walked into the room and exclaimed, “I LOVE this game!”
There is a LOT to recommend about this game. One of the aspects I love most is that literally anyone who can count to 12 can play. My 10 year old was 5 or 6 back when we used to play this all the time, and was just as into it as the rest of us. It appeals to a wide age range. Grandparents seem to enjoy it too.
Second, up to 8 people can play. It’s hard to find a game like that for under $20 that is ACTUALLY fun. With a family of 6, it’s disappointing that so many of the most fun games are limited to 4 or 5 people. We usually make up house rules so everyone can play, or buy expansion packs or a second box so we have extra pieces, but the fact that this one works flawlessly, as is, for up to 8 people is a huge plus in my book.
Third, it is actually a math game and no one seems to mind. Kids have to add numbers between -2 and 12 at the end of the game to get their scores. You can help kids who are too young to do this, obviously, but I find that my own kids are impatient and don’t want to wait for me to get around to helping them to find out if they won. It provides a lot of adding practice. Also, the fact that it includes cards for negative numbers is a huge benefit. I know many high schoolers who struggle with negatives, but this game helps even the youngest kids gain an intuitive understanding of what they mean.
Fourth, the game does not actually take that long, so it’s an easy one to just squeeze into an afternoon with making a huge commitment. The box says 30 minutes, but I would say 20 minutes tops, even with 6 people. Or maybe we’re just having so much fun, that I don’t notice how much time is passing.
Lastly, I don’t know if this is an advantage or not to most people, but I would say this game is based more on luck than skill. There is SOME strategy involved, unlike the similar card game, Trash, which my family also likes to play, but I would say that luck is the bigger factor. Especially if you are playing with many different ages of kids, I think this is an advantage. No one gets discouraged by always losing, because honestly, if you play long enough, everyone will win at some point.
Michelle has a PhD in Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor's Degree from the California Institute of Technology. 
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