Super Genius First Words is one of a series of (gasp) educational games from Blue Orange Games. Why, you ask, do I gasp thus? Because it has been my experience, repeatedly, that when people put those two words together, the game part is sacrificed for the sake of making the so-called educational part educational enough. (Here is a little article I wrote about education and games, which should explain my bias, probably in more depth than you want.)
This is what Blue Orange has to say about Super Genius First Words:
This reading matching game focuses on closed syllable and short vowel words and helps prepare early readers for more complicated language skills to come. There is always a match between any two cards. Find the pair between a word and its image, two images or two words.
Developed hand-in-hand with learning professionals, this Super Genius game was specifically created with early learners in mind.
And here’s what I have to say:
First of all: I had to add a new category to this site so I could give this game, and all the games in this series, the kind of award it deserves.
Second: This game is fun – fun enough to play even if you already know everything you thought there was to know about closed syllables and short vowel words. So much fun that you can play it with your early-reading children with all your adult knowledge and reading proficiencies, and still lose. Because they’re better and faster. And that’s the truth.
Based on the same mechanic that makes Spot-It, in all it’s manifestations, as Major Fun a it has proven to be (there’s always a match between any two cards), makes the each of the Super Genius games we’ve played (Super Genius Reading 1, Super Genius Reading 2, Super Genius Addition, Super Genius Multiplication) genuinely, significantly, major fun.
And, yes, OK, learning happens. And, for the people who buy these games for their kids, that’s precisely the point, and the value. But for all of us, champions of fun that we are, the real point is that these games are a genuine invitation to fun, for all of us.
It’s to be amazed by. It’s to be inspired by. It’s to make you want to play.
The Super Genius games are designed by Frédérique Constantini. Lowest recommended age depends on the complexity of the subject matter, from five-year-olds to eight. The games can be played by 1 to 6 players (there are solitaire and cooperative versions). The cards are large, rectangular, clearly and attractively illustrated. The games are packaged in a sturdy box that close with a magnetic flap (which proves necessary, because these games are going to get played a lot). And, as already mentioned, come to us from those gifted lads and lasses of Blue Orange Games.