How it plays
The 36 playing pieces are spread out on the table: six shapes, such as rabbits, cars and ducks, each in six colours. Taking turns, one player rolls the two dice, which show a colour and a shape; everyone grabs for that piece at the same time. The fastest hand takes it and keeps it hidden. If the piece has already been taken, players call out the name of the person they think has it; their own name is also allowed. A correct guess wins or secures the piece; a wrong one costs the guesser one of their own pieces. The first to have ten pieces (with two players), eight (with three) or six (with four) wins.
What it can help develop
Every colour and every shape appears six times, so the piece being searched for does not jump out: the eyes check two features at once. This is visual search under time pressure, where the fastest hand counts. With every piece that is taken, the memory element grows: who took which piece, and has it changed hands since? Remembering and updating like this calls on working memory. Calling out a name without being sure can cost a piece: speed and certainty have to be weighed against each other.
Especially suitable for
- Children from age 4 who love speed
- Groups of four: trickier
- Trips and outings: a portable tub
Less suitable for
- Groups of five or more: the rules cover two to four people
- Children who do not cope well with hectic play and losing pieces
Our verdict
Grabolo is a worthwhile choice for children from age 4 who like speed, and for trips or outings: the rules are simple, there is no waiting and the tub is easy to take along. Its limitations are the maximum of four people as well as the hectic pace and losing pieces; overall, the reviews remain restrained.
Getting started
- Spread out the 36 pieces so that all of them can be seen.
- When calling out names, allow players to name themselves; a correct guess secures the piece.
In detail
Variants and player count
The designer is Maureen Hiron; according to Luding, the first edition was published by stragoo (Essen 2012), and the Game Factory edition (Essen 2014) followed later. According to spielen.de, the Game Factory edition is for 3 to 5 people from age 6 and takes 10 to 15 minutes. According to Reich der Spiele, the edition reviewed includes a number die and a colour die as well as 36 number cards from 1 to 6 in six colours. Brettspielblog and Hall9000 mention round cards in a tin in the editions they reviewed. According to Spieletest.at, which tested the stragoo edition, the memory element increases with the number of players.
What reviewers say
Reich der Spiele calls Grabolo a game for travelling and for bringing along as a small gift, with simple rules that let players start straight away. According to the review, it gets louder in large groups, which adds to the fun. Hall9000 describes a reaction game with a memory element that should not be underestimated, which is loud and turbulent in large groups and most fun there. Spieletest.at highlights that there is no waiting because everyone plays at the same time, and criticises white numbers on a white background and brown and red on the colour die in the stragoo edition.
How it compares
Clack! (from age 4, 2 to 6 people, about 10 minutes) shares the age and the skill area of perception and speed with Grabolo; the profile of Grabolo also includes memory. Dobble (from age 6, 2 to 8 people, about 15 minutes) shares the skill area of perception and speed with Grabolo, but combines it with language. Dobble suits short games for a spare moment, but is less suited to children who quickly lose interest under time pressure. Grabolo (from age 4, 2 to 4 people, about 10 to 15 minutes) is trickier with four people and suits trips and outings. It is less suited to children who cope badly with hectic play and losing pieces.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What age is Grabolo suitable for?
Grabolo is recommended from age 4. A child who matches shapes and colours quickly and likes speed is ready. Anyone who does not take commotion and lost pieces well will be less well served by it.
How long does a game take and how many people can play?
A game takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and the game is for 2 to 4 people, who play against each other. The winner is whoever first has ten pieces (with two players), eight (with three) or six (with four).
What skills can Grabolo help develop?
It can help develop perception and speed as well as memory. Players look for a piece by colour and shape at the same time; the more pieces have been taken, the more there is to remember: who took which one, and has it changed hands?
Is Grabolo noisy?
With more players, things get noisy and wild, which several reviews count as part of its appeal. For anyone who does not take commotion and lost pieces well, however, it can quickly become too much.
