Jumbulaya Game
by Platypus Games
List Price:
Our Price: $16.88
You Save: $8.11 (32%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $15.99 (click here)
Category: Toy
See more product details
Product Summary
Manufacturer: Platypus GamesBrand: Legendary Games
Model: 26001
Product features:
- Multi-faceted word strategy game.
- Each person works with 5 letter tiles in his/her tray and all the letters on the board.
- Rearrange, add, trade them, build and claim longer words each turn.
- Players can build words horizontally too.
- A "jumbulaya word" is a 7,8 or 9 tile vertical word.
Toys and Games Reviews of Jumbulaya Game
Customer Review: Jumbulaya - an excrutiatingly challenging word game
Summary: 5 Stars
If I wanted to explain the concept of "excruciating fun" to a word game player, I would start with Jumbulaya.
You get 100 letter tiles, which are played onto a 9x10 matrix. Some of the letter tiles contain two-letter combinations (QU, CH, ED, ER, LY, ST, TH). Each row in the matrix is for another word. To start the game, the three center columns are seeded with tiles randomly drawn from a conveniently included drawstring bag. Each of up to 4 players then draws 5 more tiles to put on their letter rack. And the game begins.
On your turn, you make a new word by rearranging, adding to, trading letters with the letters on any single row. You (temporarily) claim that word by using one of your color-coordinated scoring cubes (matching your tile rack). Until someone else rearranges, adds to, or trades letters with your word, that particular word remains yours. The longer it is, the higher your potential score.
And so the game continues, turn-by-turn, word-by-word, until someone builds a 10-letter word, claims all 9 rows, or calls a seven-or-more letter JUMBULAYA.
A JUMBULAYA? A JUMBULAYA is a word that can be made by taking one letter from 7 or more of the words already on the board. You can skip word lines, but you can't rearrange the letters. Once all 9 rows contain words, JUMBULAYA can be called at any time during the game, whether or not it is your turn.
As for the excruciating part: in the early phases of the game, when it's your turn, you have to consider each of the 9 possible word rows - even those you've already claimed. If you can make one of your words longer, you might be able to keep it from getting claimed by someone else. If you can change someone else's word, you can add to your scoring potential (you get points for every word that you've claimed by the end of the game, the longer the word, the more points). Even when it's not your turn, it pays to think ahead as many moves as you can possibly contemplate (albeit highly likely that the most exciting opportunity for you gets claimed by someone else before its your turn again). And then, any time after all 9 rows have been made into words, there's the JUMBULAYA possibility. There's also the possibility that someone might make a 10-letter word, or that someone might claim all 9 words (either event resulting in ending the game), but the JUMBULAYA possibility is more common and far more fun to contemplate. Since anyone can call JUMBULAYA at any time, you must always reckon with the possibility that if you don't claim enough words quickly enough, the game will be over.
As for the fun part, there are so many things for you to think about, so many opportunities for you to surprise even yourself with your uncanny brilliance, that you become totally absorbed in the challenge. At first, it's a little slow. You have to wait for your turn. Even though you can plan for various possibilities, the unforeseen has it's way of happening before it's your turn again. But once all nine words are claimed and the JUMBULAYA possibility is activated, you are thoroughly engaged, all the time, regardless of whose turn it is.
Designed by Julie and Karl Archer of Platypus Games, and distributed by the Farkel Factory, Jumbulaya proves itself to be Major FUN, of the excruciating kind - for people who like word games, and like to think hard. The rules are long, but logical, well-written, and not overly complex. Newbies will probably start playing in less than 15 minutes. The tiles are wooden, rounded, and pleasant to touch. Though it can be played by anyone old enough to appreciate Scrabble®, it is such an intense game that we recommend it especially for groups that are roughly the same age and of similar maniacal tendencies.
Description of Jumbulaya Game
Jumbulaya is an addictive, multi-faceted word strategy game in which each player works with five letter tiles on his/her tray and all the letters on the board, rearranging, adding, and trading them, building and claiming longer and longer words each turn. Simultaneously, as players build words horizontally, they also look for a Jumbulaya. A Jumbulaya is a seven-, eight-, or nine-tile word that can be spelled vertically on the board. Players strategize and plan multiple moves ahead to create longer and longer words. A player earns points for all lines he/she claims, bonus points for using letter-combo tiles, and even more points for being the first to find a Jumbulaya. The player, who earns the most points, wins! For 2 to 4 players, ages 8 and up.Board Games Toys
Toys and Games
Bestsellers in Board Games Toys
Munchkin Impossibleby Munchkin, Steve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games; Steve Jackson Games; Published: 2006-11-29; Toy
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Knightmare Chess 2edby Steve Jackson Games
Steve Jackson Games; Steve Jackson Games; Published: 2002-03-01; Toy
Best price: $257.26
I Love Lucy SmartsSmartco; SMARTS; Release date: 2011-03-21; Toy
Best price: $9.94
Price in other shops:
That's Right, That's Wrong!: Level One, Set One (Game)by Alan Katz
Little Simon; Little Simon; Published: 2007-04-10; Toy
Best price: $3.95
Price in other shops:
Last Night on Earth Hero Pack One ExpansionFlying Frog Productions; Flying Frog Productions LLC; Toy
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
NYC Smarts GameSmartsco; SMARTS; Release date: 2011-01-17; Toy
Best price: $9.80
Price in other shops:
Pit Fighter Fantasy Arena Game: Starter GameCWG; Toy
Best price: $24.95
Gift TRAP GameGiftTRAP; GiftTrap; Toy
Best price: $29.69
Pizza Box FootballOn the Line Game Company; Toy
Best price: $21.18
Similar Toys and Games
Dominion: HinterlandsRio Grande Games; Rio Grande Games; Release date: 2011-11-20; Toy
Best price: $25.94
Price in other shops:
YikerzWiggles-3D; Wiggles 3D; Toy
Best price: $10.94
Price in other shops:
Forbidden IslandGamewright; Gamewright; Toy
Best price: $12.98
Price in other shops:
Konexi -DeluxeThe Wonder Forge; The Wonder Forge; Release date: 2011-04-15; Toy
Best price: $19.27
Price in other shops:
IngeniousFantasy Flight Games; Fantasy Flight Games; Toy
Best price: $23.99
Price in other shops:
Go Nuts! Dice GameGamewright; Gamewright; Toy
Best price: $3.71
DixitAsmodee; Asmodee; Toy
Best price: $20.11
Price in other shops:
Spicy FarkelLegendary Games; Legendary Games; Toy
Best price: $7.25
Price in other shops:
Word On The Street - The Hilarious Tug Of WordsOut of the Box; Out of the Box Publishing, Inc.; Release date: 2009-07-29; Toy
Best price: $10.84
Price in other shops:
AnomiaAnomia; Anomia; Toy
Best price: $13.32
Price in other shops: