Cheeky Monkeys review: a fun board game for younger children

Price on writing: £12 | Buy now from Amazon

Overall rating: 4.5/5

What we like 

• Lovely 3D board

• Great for non-readers

• Simple gameplay

What we don't like

• Not as much replayability for older children

• A lot of pieces which could potentially get lost

• Potential for tantrums over banana steals!

Key specs

Price on writing: £12 | No. of players: 2-4 | Ages: 4-8  | Difficulty: Easy | Game duration: 5-10 minutes | Set-up time: Under 5 minutes

Our verdict

We’ve always been big fans of Orchard Toys in this house and Cheeky Monkeys is perhaps one of the best games in our collection.

Not only is Cheeky Monkeys one of the best family board games on a budget, but it also boosts decision-making, maths and fine motor skills. The aim of the game is to collect the most bananas, but beware of the cheeky monkeys who have their eyes on your stash.

The gameplay is straightforward and the rules are easy to understand, even for younger children who are not yet able to read. However there isn’t much replayability for older children. That said, my four and six-year-old love it and Cheeky Monkeys is a great game to play as a family on a rainy afternoon.

Read next: If you're on the hunt for fun geared more towards younger children, don't miss our guides to the best toys for five-year-olds and best toy cars.

Is the Cheeky Monkeys game easy to set up?

It takes just a few minutes to set Cheeky Monkeys up ready to play. All you need to do is attach the spinner arrow to the spinner board and slot together the 3D tree by matching the coloured stripes at the bottom to create four different coloured sections. Spread the 32 monkey cards on the table and put the spinner and pool board within reach of all players. 

How do you play Cheeky Monkeys?

The aim of the game is to accumulate as many bananas as possible. Each monkey card features a monkey clutching on to one, two, three or six bananas - or none, if you are unlucky.

The youngest player starts by spinning the spinner and if the arrow lands on a banana section, the player can pick a monkey card and turn it over. They then have the choice of keeping the monkey and hooking him onto their tree or spinning again. If the spinner stops on the banana section, the player can pick another blind card, but if it stops on the cheeky monkey, the player can help themselves to the chimp of their choice from another player’s tree - which may include the monkey with the game-changing six bananas.

If the spinner lands on the pool monkey, all the monkeys collected during the turn should be placed on the pool board. A player can win any monkeys on the pool board by getting the spinner to point at the question mark section. The game ends when no monkey cards are left on the table. The player with the most bananas at the end is the winner.

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Is Cheeky Monkeys a good family game?

Cheeky Monkeys is aimed at younger children (aged 4-8), so although it can be played as a family game, older children may find it a bit slow and unexciting. 

For younger players, the 3D tree adds an extra dimension of fun, while reinforcing all-important hand-eye coordination. My six-year-old loved the opportunity to show off her counting skills. But be aware that there is the potential for bickering and tantrums from younger players when they find their prized primates prised from their tree!

Overall, I feel the game is suitable for its target audience. Although it is easy to play, it also encourages strategic thinking, with Orchard Toys once again striking the perfect balance between education and fun. 

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About the author

Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on child’s play, outdoor play and toddler play content.

Laura started writing Swears By articles for Mumsnet in 2021, writing buyers guides and product reviews to help Mumsnetters make informed choices when it comes to parting with their pennies.

Laura is also a freelance journalist and has written articles for publications including the Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful magazine.

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