Frog Juice. Sounds gross, which I think is part of the appeal to my sons. It’s not really yucky though, it’s actually a very clever and unique card game.
The Frog Juice game from GameWright has won a recommendation from the National Association for Gifted Children. The game box bills it as “A Clever Card Game of Spells and Concoctions for Ages 8 and Up”. Frog Juice is for two to four players. The game takes a few minutes to learn, and about 25 minutes to play. It’s part chemistry, part magic, part math, part strategy, and all fun. All for about eight dollars.
The cards are nicely illustrated with monkeys, unicorns, cats, witches, toads, toadstools, bats, star and moon dust, and of course – a frog with his arm around a bottle of frog juice. Each player gets four cards, and four cards are laid face up on the table. During your turn you can capture cards from the center by making a direct match or by adding up the numerical value. An eleven point card can capture a seven, a three and a one point card. See the math and strategy?
You can also get all the cards by sweeping with a Witch Card, or play a spell. To play a spell you collect the two or more ingredient cards listed. Power cards add interesting twists. A Black Cat Card means you can steal another players power cards. A Witch Wash card can melt another players Witch card, so you can save those cards in the center for yourself. During your turn you can also ask other players for cards, much like Go Fish. It all sounds complicated, but it’s actually easy once you get started.
The game is a nice balance of luck and skill. Strategy counts, but winning also depends on getting good cards. That combination of strategy and luck can balance the playing field between older and younger children and adults, which makes it more fun for everyone to play.