ThinkFun Rush Hour

Rush Hour is the mind-challenging game of pure bumper-to-bumper fun! Players set up the cars and trucks on a game grid to match one of forty color-coded challenge cards, and then try to maneuver the red car to escape the gridlock. Four levels of play range from beginner to expert. Measures 9″W x 8″H x 2.5″D.
Honk! Honk! It’s gridlock and the little red car can’t move. The player is a traffic cop in the Rush Hour Traffic Jam Puzzle where the objective is to get the red car off the road. To play, pick one of 40 challenge cards; solutions are printed on the back of each card. Then set up the cars and buses in a specified pattern on the 6-inch-square road grid. Move the vehicles one by one (obey those traffic laws!) until the red car can escape the traffic jam. There are four levels of difficulty. Kids can alternate turns with another player or just “play in traffic” alone. The game from Binary Arts received a national award from Mensa and is used in elementary school math classes. The design includes clear instructions printed on the sturdy box, which can be used both as a playing tray and for storage. The game cards stow away in a drawer in the road grid. This is a 1999 Parents’ Choice recommended toy.

ThinkFun Rush Hour Reviews:

This game has 4 levels of difficulty: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert, with 10 cards for each. I bought it for a 8 year old and she completed the Beginner levels. Her 6 year old sister wanted to try and managed to solved a couple levels.

The Intermediate levels are harder to solve and Advanced / Expert levels are a puzzle lover’s delight, adults should be challenged! The solution is on the back of the card, helpful when I got stuck, then I tried again without looking at the solution. Imagine the player’s satisfaction when the red car is freed from the traffic jam! This game was a good find.

If this is relevant: someone with an advanced degree in engineering saw our game and gave it a try on Expert level, soon was totally absorbed!
We purchased this product for our waiting room (we see a lot of families in our office) and it has been a hit! Both adults and kids can’t wait to try the different puzzles! It is nice because the puzzles have different challenge levels, so there is always a puzzle for every age level. I would definitely recommend this product!
My daughter has ADHD as well as learning disabilities. Her occupational therapist recommended this game and used it in her sessions. Even at 9 years old, she was somehow able to go through all the levels of the game (something which most adults can’t do).

I would have NEVER thought my ADHD child would love this game. I knew I did but she isn’t someone who sits down and concentrates on anything. I don’t know what makes this game special but it certainly accesses a part of her brain that other things don’t.

Whether you or your child can go through all the levels, this game is worth the money. It teaches planning skills, critical thinking skills, spacial skills AND it is fun.

I think this is my best toy purchase EVER! It is not something that could be played in the car though–too many pieces. But it does have a travel bag so you can use it at your destination!