Locally Created Tangled Game

This is a sponsored post by the creators of Tangled.  Although, I received compensation for the post, please keep in mind that the experiences, opinions and pictures that follow are all mine (or those that participated in the game with me) and are real and genuine.  

I was so excited to get my hands on a new family and friends game called Tangled!  Our family enjoys playing games, and trying something new is exciting, especially during winter months when we find ourselves cooped up more than we like.  The Tangled game is special though because it was created by two guys who grew up right here in Sioux Falls, SD!  How often can you say that?

I sat down with the kids to tell them about the rules of the game and I told them how cool it was that this game was created locally.  Once they found out it was created in Sioux Falls, they were just as excited as me to try it out.  But first they had a few questions about how exactly you make your own game "look so real".  How cute is that!

So based on their curiosity, I asked co-creator, Zachary Fick, just how does one make an idea for a game into the real thing?  Zachary explained that he and David Herbener came up with the idea and developed their very first version this past summer, playing with a group of lifelong friends.  They knew from all the laughter and fun it was worth looking into making it into the real thing.  They contacted a local printer/designer and determined they would purchase a bulk of 100 decks.  And guess what, they all sold immediately. Not hard to believe, after our experience with the game!

The game comes as a large deck of orange, two-sided cards.  Each side of the card lists a body location, such as armpit, nose, shoulder, head, etc.  There are also a few "multiplier" cards that have action challenges on them such as drink, dance, spin, etc.

To play the game, break in groups of 2.  Pick which group goes first, with a third player to shuffle and draw.  The first card is drawn and the group now has to place the card between the two body parts listed on both sides of the card and hold it in place.

For example, in this scenario the boys drew a card that had 'nose' on both sides of the card.  They placed the card between their noses and held it there!  Another card is drawn and while holding the card between their noses, they must try to complete the next set of body parts.

The group's turn continues until they drop a card.  Like these silly boys!  They had a foot placed to a foot and then a hand to an elbow and needed to figure out how to get a head and shoulder together without dropping any of the cards.  As they tried to accomplish this task and become even more tangled, there was some strategy being talked out between them, trying to determine whose head was best to go to the other's shoulder.  And then an eruption of giggles as they tried to make it all happen, until one of the boys fell over and a card fell!

Once a card falls, points on the cards completed are added up and given as the team's score.  The next team is up until they too can no longer hold the cards and are given a score.

Each team has 3 turns.  The highest score at the end of 3 rounds is declared the winner.  Let's just say, I did not win my first game of Tangled!

Watch out though, remember those multiplier cards I mentioned earlier?  They are hidden in the deck and may come up during your turn for an opportunity to earn extra points.  But you must be able to accomplish the action shown on the card, while you are all tangled up!  We found that the multipliers, well, they multiplied the laughter!

Try to picture my daughter and I starting out hand to armpit, then ear to ear and then elbow to head.  The multiplier drawn was 'spin'.  Ha ha ha ha.  Had we been standing up, mayyyybe we could have made it happen.  Go ahead, grab someone and try this scenario!

We had such a fun time playing our first game of Tangled.  We literally laughed from the first play until the very last. We definitely found ourselves tangled in this fun game!  We may have bent a few cards throughout our play, however the cards are sturdy and they smoothed out just fine!

The kids gave me their reviews after their first game.

My 4 year old son said, "We laughed a lot and I want to play again and again."

My 10 year old son said, "I really like the cards where you can try to double your score!"  He is my competitive guy, can you tell!

My 12 year old daughter said, "It is brilliant.  We had a lot of fun and got close, like your armpit."  She shared that she wanted to play the game next with her friends.

The only thing that I could think of that was lacking with the game is that there is no box to put the cards in when play is done.  They came shrink wrapped, so there is nothing to hold the cards together once the package is open.  I grabbed a gallon size baggie and they are tucked away in there, which works perfectly for quick grabbing and going.  I mentioned this to co-creator, Zachary and he mentioned that a box for the cards is in the works!  If current owners of the game want a box once it has been created, they are more than happy to give them one too. Either way, a rubber band or baggie will do the job as well.

Since our first game of Tangled, we have played several more times. It has been fun picking up the game for impromptu play with the 4 year old during the day.  It provides fun, indoor activity during these cold months.  It is a great way to be active and use the brain.  I try to allow him to take the lead with who is putting which body part where and it is fun to watch him think out the strategy piece. It is also a great way for us to bond and provide those special giggles.

My daughter enjoyed a special time playing Tangled with her cousin.  I tell you, these girls are gooo-oood at the game.  They scored over 100 points in just one round!  There was plenty of laughter and giggling, plus strategizing through their many rounds of Tangled.

The fun-spirited creators of the game also include these challenge post cards with the deck.  You can challenge the creators to, well whatever you want, I guess.  It states on the Tangled Facebook page that they will use them for a special social media post.

Well, here is what the 4 year old has requested as his challenge for the Tangled creators.  "Go near a bear". Good luck Zachary and David!  Stay safe! 😉

Is this a selfie or wait - Tangled, Ear to Ear!

Tangled has made a spot into our top favorite games to play.  There are bound to be several more sessions of laughter and fun with this game as part of our rotation!  Tangled is perfect for all ages; adults, teenagers and young kids!  I feel it is great for coordination, learning body parts (for the younger ones of course), moving/being active, socializing and using that brain for strategizing and of course laughter.  Use it as a quick activity or get the group together and play for bragging rights.

If you are interested in grabbing your very own Tangled game, you can purchase them currently for $20 from the Tangled website, or you can pick them up locally in store at The Game Chest or Dragon's Den.  Want to try out the game before you buy?  The creators of Tangled have also created a version that you can print off to play from their website.  How neat is that.

If you find yourself Tangled in the future, I hope you also find lots of laughter and fun like we have!