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Numbalee

After thoroughly enjoying Bananagram, I was quite happy to read a comment on instagram mentioning a few number games of similar structure. 

A read of reviews, views of pictures and a few hours of thinking, Numbalee won, and was swiftly purchased. 

Numbalee is a 'fast paced numbers game', minimum number of players is 1 and maximum is 8. The absolute deciding factor for me, was the fact that Numbalee isn't just one game, there are 12 different games that can be played with the provided tiles, die and symbol pieces. 

How it works

The general rules for the game are quite simple, and these rules apply to a few of the games included (Numbalee, Numbalee solo, Numbalee colour run, Numbalee match). It's nice to see that the person who starts play isn't simply player 1, but referred to as 'Premier'. For Numbalee, the 'premier' is the person who has the highest number tile (all players take a tile from the centre -face down tiles).

The general rules state when there are 2-4 players, each player takes 20 tiles, 5-6 players and it's 16 tiles...and so on. As stated the general rules don't apply to all the games, but the few mentioned above. 

As this is a fast paced numbers game, calculators are allowed (wahay!).

We've had the opportunity of playing a few of the games, and I thought it would be nice to write a quick description of the games played, to give an idea of what this is all about.

Numbalee

This game can be played by 2-8 players. Simply place all the tiles face down in the centre. Number of required tiles are taken by each player. The 'premier' is the person who picks the largest number (each player picks a tile each to allocate 'premier'). 'Premier' chooses the maths function that will be used. Addition, subtraction and multiplication can be used alone, division has to be used with another function. 'Premier' picks a tile  that is placed in the centre, and this is the first tile of play, using that tile the first player makes a sum. For example, the first tile placed was number 2, first player may make the sum 2+4=6. The next player makes a sum using one of the number tiles in play. If a player cannot create any sort of sum, they miss their turn (shoutout miss) and have to take another 4 tiles from the centre. When creating sums, a maximum of 6 tiles can be used. Winner is the first person to use their tiles. 

Numbalee Darts

Two 12 sided dice are used for this game. 'Premier' chooses a random high number, e.g. 202. Both dice are rolled, and the two numbers are added and then subtracted from the starting chosen number. Each person takes turns rolling the dice, and each time a turn is taken the total of the two die is subtracted from the previous number. 
For example, 'premier' chose 202, he rolled 6 and 5, totalling 11, he subtracted 11 from 202, leaving 191, on his next turn he rolled 3 and 4, totalling 7 and so his next sum would be 191-7= 184 and so on.
First person to reach 0 is the winner.

Numbalee Line Plus

In this game each player takes 14 tiles. Both 12 sided dice are used. 
The number tiles are lined up, face up. The dice are rolled, and each corresponding number tile to number on dice is removed. For instance, one of the dice lands on 6, this means a number tile with 6 is removed, but others that can be used to make 6 are also removed (3+3=6), therefore on that turn three tiles would be removed, 6,3 and 3. 
Winner is the first person to remove all their tiles. 

Numbalee solo

This game follows all the rules from Numbalee, except each player has a solo grid (rather than creating a central grid by all players).

Numbalee Number Run and Colour Match

Each player takes the allocated number of tiles (another game that follows the general rules). 'Premier' picks a tile from the centre and that tile (face up) is the start of the game. 'Premier' takes the first turn, he/she uses one of their tiles to either use for number run or colour match on the central grid. Number run are number patterns such as 1,2,3...or 1,3,5,7...or 2,4,6...and so on. Colour match is simply placing tiles with the same colour alongside each other. 

Numbalee Plus

'Premier' chooses a random number (usually between 5-10); players then use their tiles to match the chosen number. This can simply be by direct match or by addition of two tiles. As many sums as possible should be used to reach target number. 

Numbalee Minus

This is exactly  the same as Numbalee plus, only instead of addition this times to reach target number, subtraction is used. 

Numbalee Prime

Players use their tiles to create prime numbers. There are two ways the numbers can be presented, either side by side, so 1 and 7 is 17, or by addition, so 4+3=7. a maximum of three tiles can be used. 

Other games 

We haven't had a chance to play the following games 

  • Numbalee Block
  • Numbalee Run 
  • Numbalee memory
  • Numbalee Lo
  • Numbalee Hi
I didn't want to end up blogging mere instructions and rules of all the games, so thought I'd leave the ones we haven't played yet...also its nice for all those who will be purchasing this game to have some 'surprise' games (without knowing what they all entail!)

Final thoughts

Numbalee has been a fantastic buy, and has allowed for great improvement within numeracy, especially mental arithmetic. The variety of games has meant hours of fun, if one game has become tedious, with so many options you can simply switch to another game.
I've found this game to help little person immensely with speed and maths. It has also really encouraged 'on the spot' maths, as well as allowing him to practice quick pace. 
I've thoroughly enjoyed playing with little person, as it has also enabled me to sharpen my skills, whilst having a great time. 
The use of calculators is great, we haven't used a calculator yet, as I'd like to encourage as much brain power as possible, but it's great that it is 'permissible'!!
I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants to make the concept of maths fun again (as it should be). 
The quality of the tiles is great, not flimsy or weak, but tiles that will last a long long time! 
I truly believe this game is worth every penny...and this is where we purchased ours from - Numbalee



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