(Gifted) The  is is an interesting family game for people who like to have a laugh and enjoy games where you have to complete activities. Rather than requiring knowledge or speed this game favours those who have good hand to eye coordination and can concentrate. It is recommended for players age 7 and over although slightly younger children will probably want to give it a go too. If you would prefer games suitable for younger children check out these family games from Orchard Toys. 

A group size of 2 to 6 players is ideal for The #UpsideDown Challenge Game, but it suggests you can keep score on paper if you have more people who want to play. I received a copy from Wicked Uncle to review and one to giveaway (you can enter at the end of this post).

Playing The #UpsideDown Challenge Game received to review

The #UpsideDown Challenge Game Review

Playing The #UpsideDown Challenge Game

Starting with the youngest player you take a card from the pile and complete the challenge. The twist in this game is that when it is your turn you have to wear the special glasses which flip everything you see upside down and gives you a narrow field of vision. 

The challenges are either a drawing task or an action task. You get a 20 or 40 second time limit to complete each challenge, the length depends on the card drawn. The time passes surprisingly quickly. If the challenge is completed or won within the time limit the player gets a chip. The first player to 5 chips wins.

In the box you get a pair of upside down glasses, 32 cards (2 of which are super challenges), 1 symbol explanation card, an action cards explanation booklet, a 20 second sand timer, 32 cardboard blue chips, 4 yellow cardboard chips as well as the punch board they come in. To play the game though you will also need to gather a number of items from around your house including: 3 cardboard tubes (eg the middle of toilet rolls), a pen with a lid, plenty of paper, a teaspoon, 2 beakers/ cups, a bowl and some water. 

Each challenge card has two difficulty levels so younger children can do the easier ones (marked with a feather) and adults can do the ones marked with a dumbbell.

There are different types of challenge cards:

• Drawing cards - indicated by the pen symbol. The player chooses which of the 3 symbols they plan to draw and the other players have to guess. If someone guesses correctly both they and the person who did the drawing get a point (or chip).
• Action cards - indicated by numbers 1 - 15. Each action card is explained in the accompanying booklet. If the player completes the challenge they get a point (or chip).
• Super challenge cards - as the name suggests these are designed to be super challenging. I would suggest these are used in a tie break or if someone is finding the normal tasks really easy. I can’t see anything in the instructions about when to use them.

Results of a drawing round, some are easier than others

What We Thought of The #UpsideDown Challenge Game

Overall I think the #UpsideDown Challenge game is fun. The exercises are all challenging (although there are varying levels) and it encourages people to really focus to try to complete the challenges. There are only 32 games cards which gives you 90 possible drawings to draw and 34 action challenges of various levels. This isn’t many, but you can complete the same challenge multiple times and still find them difficult. 

There is naturally an amusing element to the game as people look funny in the glasses and can fail the challenges pretty impressively. This means I wouldn't recommend it if you can't laugh at yourself.  The instructions say you can’t wear normal glasses underneath the special glasses, and although I found I can just about wear mine, it’s not very comfortable, it further reduces your field of vision and there is a risk you could scratch your glasses. If you can't see short distances without your glasses this game isn't going to be for you. 

The concept of the game is easy: pick a card, put glasses on, complete the challenge, but it takes a bit of time to understand what some of the action challenges are and to set them up. The completing of the challenges is pretty difficult as you both have to re-orientate yourself to what you can see and do it against a time limit. That is the fun and challenge of the game though. 

I feel the game is made more complicated than it needs to be because the box is designed to be sold to 5 countries so everything is in German, English, French, Italian and Dutch. The biggest issue with this is that the action cards explanations are in a booklet where as if just in one language per box I’m sure they could have put them on the cards. The first few times you play you will need to refer to the booklet and the symbol explanation card every turn which is a bit of a faff. 

It would be frustrating if you sat down to play the game and you didn't realise you need quite a few additional props before you can play. They are all items that you can probably find around the home, but it’s still a bit annoying to have to find them each time (especially the 3 toilet roll tubes).  One of the challenges also requires water which will inevitably lead to some mess. Given the game cards and chips are cardboard introducing water into the mix just seems like an extra challenge that isn’t needed. 

While there is theoretically a learning element of this game where children can learn to appreciate the challenges that people with sight difficulties have this game is ultimately designed for amusement and entertainment value.

By the way: one of the few facts I remember from my Psychology degree is that if you wear glasses that invert your vision for long enough your brain will correct what you see to the normal way up. I am absolutely not suggesting you test this out though, especially as George M Stratton found it took about 4 days. The glasses that come with this game should only be worn for short periods and under adult supervision.  

Summing up I would say The #UpsideDown Challenge Game isn't for everyone and it isn't the easiest to get going with, but with the right players you can have a lot of laughs.

The #UpsideDown Challenge game is distributed by Ravensburger in the UK and is available to buy from Wicked Uncle (who gifted the game for review and giveaway) and other good toy shops.

What you get in the box

Giveaway to win a copy of The #UpsideDown Challenge Game

If you would like to win a copy of this game in time for Christmas (various strikes and delivery companies dependent) then enter via the Rafflecopter widget before midnight on Sunday 20th November 2023. UK entry and over 18s only, all other T&Cs in the widget.

Good luck and as always any sharing of this giveaway is much appreciated.