Rush Hour By Humma By Humma on Mar 31, 2008 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

The first time I saw Rush Hour was on a small a boat in Maldives returning to the capital, Male' from a resort island about 30 minutes away. One of the young passengers owned this toy and passed it on to an international consultant, who was looking on with a disparaging haughtiness. To the kid's delight, it took the consultant a long while to figure out the game. This got me interested so when I got home, I bought Rush Hour from our local store and sent it to my niece who has two boys between 4-7, the age bracket specified for the junior level. With my purchase, I added the cards for the next level up so they can keep on playing as they get older. Well. Not only did the kids enjoy playing it but their grandparents and their mother's office colleagues got caught up in it, too . Since then, I have bought several and have given them as gifts, knowing that this mind puzzler can be tailored for the age and experience of the player.

The game includes 40 direction cards. Each card outlines the traffic on the game grid and tells you how to arrange the cars and trucks on the grid. You take one card, arrange the trucks and cars on the grid and start driving your red car out of the playing grid, shifting all blocking cars and trucks out of the way, but staying in the track built for each vehicle. It is fun and it builds thinking skills, concentration and analytical skills in the kids, not discounting the fun the adults have as well. Add to that the healthy competition between grandpa and granddaughter and a rainy day disappears without television or the internet. Then, it really becomes more fun.