Set: The Family Game of Visual Perception is a unique card game. Set has won awards from MENSA, Dr. Toy, Parent’s Choice, and Games Magazine. It retails for under ten dollars. The rules say that the game is for ages six to adult, but younger children are able to play. They may get frustrated, though, at the lack of turns. That’s right. No turns. Everyone goes at once. If that’s the case, they may enjoy playing a solitaire version of the game.
The object of the game is to match a set of three cards. The cards have squiggles, ovals, or diamond shapes on them. The shapes are colored purple, red, or green. They may be outlined, striped, or completed filled in with the color. And you may have one, two, or three of that colored shape on a card.
To play, twelve cards are dealt face up on the table. The players rush to match a set of cards with each of the features either the same, or different. Yes, as an added twist a set can also be three cards that aren’t related at all. It’s not nearly as complicated as it sounds. Any player can yell out “Set” and pick up three cards. With younger children you could play by matching just one or two things – either shape, shading, color or number – it’s a good challenge for their visual spatial skills. You’ll be surprised though, how quickly children pick up the game. In fact, they seem to catch on quicker than adults.
The game only takes a few minutes to learn, which is always a plus for me. But it can be played a lot of different ways. The game is also used by mathematicians for teaching probability, set theory, and the magic square. I don’t understand any of those math theories. But the kids and I really like the game.
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