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Original poster

Best and worst Orchard Toys games?

58 replies

LittleRedYoshi · 10/08/2022 14:34

Usually get the kids an Orchard Toys game each for Christmas. For the most part, we really like them but there has been the odd dud (e.g. Rainbow Unicorns). Suggestions on what to go for or avoid, please? Kids are 5 and 3, but happy to take suggestions for when they're older too.

Games that we already have and like:

  • Shopping List
  • Cheeky Monkeys
  • Magic Maths
  • Pizza Pizza
OP posts:
PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 10/08/2022 16:13

We play penguin pairs more than is strictly necessary!

and pigs in pants here too.

FamilyGredunza · 10/08/2022 16:14

Woolly jumpers! SO good I actually have to beg DS to play it with me as I really enjoy it.

DSGR · 10/08/2022 16:15

Pop to the Shops and Bus Stop are painful!

Sodiumchloride · 10/08/2022 16:17

My DS loves bus stop game, shopping list and crazy chef.

pirates snakes and ladders and ludo is good - double sided.
DS is 4.5 and they’ve been pretty good games.

Mardyface · 10/08/2022 16:18

I really hate Orchard games. There, I said it.

dogatetheremote · 10/08/2022 16:22

We never really liked Orchard games either.
Much prefer Gamewright games like Hisss, Sleeping Queens and Too Many Monkeys

Lesserspottedmama · 10/08/2022 16:26

I can never understand how these sell so well, they are not that great! We’ve have dozens over the years and 4 DC (mostly gifted). The only one I really rate is post box game, my youngest daughter still plays with it daily - we are on our second set. Oh and rhyming robber is good now I think of it. I would really recommend that. Haba do much better games for little ones, more visually appealing and less dull for parents but still very simple, more robustly built. More expensive too though.

Sammilouwho · 10/08/2022 16:26

We don't particularly rate orchard games either, the only one we liked was Knights and Dragons.
We like the Haba games though! Dragons Breath is a favourite :) there are loads of great games for littles that aren't orchard ones!

SarahWoodruff · 10/08/2022 16:32

Money Match Cafe is good for teaching them to add up money. But surely nobody actually plays them for fun (as opposed to teaching something)??? For fun we have Labyrinth, the Muddles and Catan Junior (DD is 5, for context).

Hopeandlove · 10/08/2022 16:35

Spotty dogs and shopping list are played here. I don’t like the beetle one

excitingusername · 10/08/2022 16:42

We had two - and that was plenty, I didn't think they were good enough to warrant a collection - more of a con than anything.

Paddingtonsmarmlade · 10/08/2022 16:56

Ds likes bus stop and counting mountain but hated where do I live

dd Likes insey winsey and shopping list

SlurpSlooChortle · 10/08/2022 16:59

They are garden centre games.

Baboutheocelot · 10/08/2022 17:00

My 5 year old loves sound detectives

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 10/08/2022 17:00

3 little pigs and Scaredy Cat are huge favourites in our house.
Have to admit I'm not a massive fan of orchard games though.

Trinity65 · 10/08/2022 17:31

My kids when young liked Shopping List and Tummy Ache most

I think there was also a spider one . All a very long time ago now

Scout2016 · 10/08/2022 18:56

Party Party is the worst I know of - utterly sexist crap.
I liked 3 pigs one and flea circus well enough.

Doveyouknow · 10/08/2022 19:00

Old MacDonald lotto was a hit with ours when they were little. The bus stop one always seemed to end in tears...

Favouritefruits · 10/08/2022 19:12

@Scout2016 my youngest son 4 loves Party Party Party, but it always ends in a row as his brother and him fight over the lip balms 🙄I don’t think it’s sexist at all there are boy characters as well as girls?

Bigoldmachine · 10/08/2022 19:25

Woolly jumpers is so much fun! You can steal other players cards if you have a match which the kids find hilarious. And it means the your fortunes can change quickly!

Thefriendlymoth · 10/08/2022 19:27

My boys love Where’s my cupcake, (I think it’s called) countin’ mountain, and greedy gorilla!

Needmorelego · 10/08/2022 19:38

Why do you feel the need to stick with Orchard Games?
One of my daughter's favourites at that age was Build a Beetle which was a Chad Valley (Argos) game.
A couple of years ago I got a lovely animal domino game from Primark and an animal Lotto/Bingo from The Works.

Scout2016 · 10/08/2022 20:43

@Favouritefruits there may be a more recent one but if I remember correctly, ours was all long haired girls with make up on, with maybe a boy / girl couple, I don't recall any boys. And the object was to collect up nail varnish, lipstick, mobile phone and something else into your extremely flowery handbag before going to the party...all very pink and very "Girlie". But I know it's subjectively I have a bee in my bonnet.

debbiewest0 · 10/08/2022 23:15

We liked tummy ache, counting mountain and the build a beetle. We have times tables heroes too. All been played with loads.

FilthyforFirth · 11/08/2022 06:13

Sleeping sloths is a fave in this house. I am bored to tears with Shopping list!

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