Build Your Own Marble Labyrinth Review
DISCLOSURE -THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE THE REVIEWER’S OWN.
Reviewed by Amanda Hayes
If, like me, you are always looking for alternatives to screen based play for your children, then construction based kits are always an engaging replacement. However, If you want to move away from the traditional plastic selections, how about a sustainable carboard option. We were given the chance to try one out when we were lucky enough to be sent a kit from BuildYourOwnKits.com to build over the half term break.
With kits for all abilities, and suitable for ages from 4+ the range of Build Your Own Kits is large and varied, with something for everyone. We received the Marble Labyrinth (rrp £22.99) an 8+ build, arriving in a A4 size cardboard box. The box was covered with a brightly coloured carboard sleeve, which stated the number of pieces, 153, the time to build, 90 minutes, the skill level, 3.5 out of 5, and the age range. I really liked that it showed the time to build, so you knew whether you had time to start it or leave it for another day. The website is really useful in that every build has the same four stats, so you can easily pick the right set for your child, whether it be by age or the amount of patience they have!
Inside the box were two instruction booklets which followed on from each other, with clear printed instructions. With 79 separate build steps, it was quite a complicated build but the diagrams were very clear, however if reading instructions isn’t your preference, you could scan a QR code for video instructions instead. The last page of the instruction booklet, explains the science behind the build and the mechanism of the game for those budding STEM-gineer’s. Our 13 year old sat down with some music on and made the labyrinth in one sitting, and it did take around 90 minutes, maybe a little longer.
You do need patience with some of the fiddly bits as the pieces all come on printed sheets of card which you need to push out before starting each section. The card is thick and good quality though, and it wasn’t easy to make a mistake and rip the wrong piece off, as we have previously found with some of the cheaper kits on the market. The kit doesn’t need tape or glue, the tabs just slot into each other to keep it together, also making a separate box to hold the 5 glass marbles that come with the kit.
On completion you have a pretty cool 3D game with a tilting mechanism operated by dual pull tab controls. The game comes with two options, a customisable labyrinth, and a flat top, more like pinball with holes in, each with a different score. The two games sit separately, on top of the tilting base, so are easy to swap over when you fancy a change.
Both games were fun to play, and tricky while you get the hang of the controls, so were suitable for all the family, impressive considering there was nothing sticking them together, just 100% cardboard.
I thought this kit was a great alternative to screen time, it was engaging, and just the right side of complicated to build, holding the imagination. Other products range from STEM kits such as a marble run or pinball, to fun Wallace & Gromit builds. With prices from £7.99 upwards, Build Your Own Kits are suitable for birthdays, Fathers Day , or just for fun when you need some screen downtime, definitely a great option for those long summer holidays coming up.
Rating: 4.5/5
Kits from £7.99 upwards
This product can be purchased from Build Your Own Kits here: https://buildyourownkits.com/products/