Board games
EUR33,–
Libellud LIBD0018 - Mysterium Kids: Der Schatz von Kapitän Buh, ab 6 Jahren (DE-Ausgabe)
German
Game of the Year " Kids " 2023: a musical and cooperative treasure hunt
2/11/2023
Translation: machine translated
In "Mysterium Kids - the treasure of Captain Bouh", children set off in search of a fabulous treasure. To help them, a ghost playing a tambourine gives them clues. We tried out this really cool game.
"Mysterium Kids" has been named Game of the Year 2023 in the "Children" category. My verdict after many games: the designers (Antonin Boccara and Yves Hirschfeld) have created a cooperative game that richly deserves this award. Indeed, it is both entertaining and very funny.
To find the treasure, we communicate through sounds
"Mysterium Kids" is a treasure hunt in which a child plays the role of a friendly ghost called "Captain Bouh". He communicates with the players by playing a tambourine. The other children, whose job it is to find the treasure, have to interpret the sounds the ghost makes on the tambourine. This is how they get clues. This form of sound-based communication adds a special touch to the search. It guarantees a varied, playful and genuinely funny game experience.
A game that convinces with its simplicity
Players: 2 to 6;
age: from 6 years old;
length of game: 20 to 30 minutes per game
Source: Mery Ochoa/Digital Leben
The rules of the "Mysterium Kids" game are easy to understand, so children can quickly start playing. This simplicity also appeals to adults who hate reading endless pages of explanations (me, for example). This ease of access is appreciated when children are eager to play.
On each turn, one player becomes the ghost and has to guess the card from a randomly drawn location. The other players close their eyes and listen carefully to the sound made by the tambourine. Then, together, they must find the right card to win the treasure. This clear structure makes Mystery Kids an ideal family or group game. It's very easy to understand what to do.
**What I particularly like:**we all play together, not against each other. This cooperative approach makes this children's game very enjoyable and less irritating than others. Its undeniable advantage is that, in the end, everyone wins, no matter how many clues each player guesses. Even when no clues have been discovered, the result is "Not bad...".
The results:
From 0 to 3 points: not bad... But there's still a lot to explore in my manor...
From 4 to 6 points: a nice hoard! The manor still has some surprises in store for you. 7 or 8 points: wow, you were almost there!
9 points: congratulations, you haven't missed a thing!
Source: Mery Ochoa/Digital Leben
In the world of sound, creativity is essential
In "Mysterium Kids", you have to be able to imitate sounds and interpret them. This approach requires that you use the tambourine creatively and that others listen carefully. The aim is for players to improve their interpretation skills and share their ideas with the team. For example, have you ever tried to imitate the sound of a mosquito or fireworks on a tambourine? Have you? I haven't either. And it's awfully difficult! To make it easier to interpret the sounds and avoid nervous breakdowns, there are just five possible answers.
An inclusive and collaborative process
The genius of "Mysterium Kids" is that it demands a shared solution in order to move forward. The children work together to interpret the sounds correctly and obtain useful clues for their treasure hunt. This cooperative challenge encourages their group work. What's more, the interpretations and arguments are often very funny.
An aesthetic, tactile and varied game
The materials in the "Mystery Kids" game impress with their quality, detail and the care taken in their manufacture. From the Manor board to the various cards (including the Noise cards and Treasure tiles), every element has been lovingly created. Of course, the tambourine was a unanimous favourite in our tests. As for the illustrations by Olivier Danchin, they perfectly underline the mysterious atmosphere.
My conclusion: an ideal discovery game for children
"Mysterium Kids" clearly deserves its title of Game of the Year 2023 in the "Kids" category. It stimulates creativity and team spirit, and offers players the chance to solve puzzles cooperatively. Easy to understand and very reasonable in length, it's ideal for families or playgroups. Captain Bouh's mysterious messages invite juniors to embark on a treasure hunt full of sound and mystery.
Headline photo: Mery Ochoa/Vie numérique
Science editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always outside - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.
