Orchard Toys Loopy Llamas Game Review

Reviewed by Debbie Talbot

Like so many parents in this country right now, I am home schooling my children.  From the start of this experience I was keen to ensure I got the balance right between traditional learning, free play and games based learning.  Even before the coronavirus situation, Orchard Toys games have been a firm favourite in our home.  I was therefore over the moon to be offered 3 Orchard Toys games to review.  Loopy Llamas arrived in perfect condition due to being so well packaged.  With two very excited children around, the contents of the box did not stay inside the box for long.  I must mention the box design. It looks appealing but also serves the purpose of providing so much useful information about the game.  I love the fact that the game is Teacher tested.   My twins are aged 7 and therefore the perfect age for the 4+ recommended age range.   The game can be played by 2-4 players. The box contained:

• 1 jigged game board
• 4 three-part 3D llamas
• 4 character playing pieces
• 4 character stands
• 20 loop cards
• 1 spinner board
• 1 two-part plastic spinner
• 1 dice
• 1 instruction leaflet

The box usefully informs me that the game has been carefully designed to:

• Promote matching skills
• Enhance colour and pattern recognition
• Support interactive play

Our first task was to assemble the game board from its various pieces and spread the hoops around the outside of the board pattern side up.  We then placed the spinner and dice where everyone could reach them.  We did have to punch out the inner part of the loops and discard them before our play started, however this took so little time and my sons love setting up games for the first time.  We then each chose a matching llama (looking at the image on the box helped) and assembled our own llamas before placing them in front of us.  We then each found the matching llama playing piece and assembled it by slotting it into its base. Finally, we placed our playing pieces on their corresponding position on the game board.  Now we were all set to play the game.  Game set up was quick enough that my sons did not get bored whilst waiting to play. 

The youngest player, always fun working this out when you are a twin mummy, started by rolling the dice and moving around the board by the correct amount of moves.   If they landed on a llama patterned space they then picked up the relevant patterned loop and placed it on their llama.   Then the next player got their turn.  Play then continued with the aim being collecting all 5 differently patterned loops and placing them on your llama.  Our second favourite part of the game was the fact that if you land on a llama face you can collect whichever colour loop you like.  This really helps with your loops collecting task.   If you land on a pattern you already have, then your turn is over and the next player gets their turn.  Landing on an arrow space before you have collected all 5 loops means that the next player gets your turn and you do not collect a loop that turn. 

Once you have collected all of your loops you must then throw the exact amount required using the dice to land on a diving board arrow.  Here is where the spinner comes in.  You spin the spinner and only move towards the pool if you land on a llama that is not scared.   If you land on a scared llama then you must stay where you are.   Once you have reached the llama footprints you can then try and spin a splashing (not scared) llama on your next turn and jump into the pool.  Now, this was our favourite part.  My twins found this so amusing and were shrieking.  The winner is the player who collects five pieces and then manages to spin two splashing llamas to jump into the pool.  There is also a way detailed on the instructions leaflet to adapt the game for younger players.

We absolutely love playing this game and it has become a firm favourite in our home.   I would recommend this and other Orchard toys to others.  Orchard Toys have found the perfect balance of fun and learning.   I don’t think my sons even realised that they were learning, and this is the best part for me. 

Rating: 5/5

RRP: £ 10.50

This game can be purchased from the Orchard Toys website here.