How it plays
Five wooden figures stand in a circle: a white ghost, a green bottle, a blue book, a gray mouse and a red armchair. A photo card is turned over for everyone at the same time; it shows two of these items, often in the wrong colors. If one of them is shown in its original color, players grab that figure. Otherwise, the figure whose shape and color are both missing from the card is the one to grab. Whoever grabs correctly wins the card; a wrong grab costs a card already won. At the end, whoever has the most cards wins.
What it can help develop
At its core, Ghost Blitz puts inhibition to the test. If the card shows a blue ghost and a red mouse, the hand wants to grab the ghost and the blue lures it toward the book, yet the answer is the bottle. Stopping that grab takes impulse control. In addition, players have to decide afresh with every card which rule applies: grab or rule out. This constant switching draws on cognitive flexibility. When ruling out, players eliminate two shapes and two colors until one figure remains: logical reasoning under time pressure.
Especially suitable for
- School-age children from age 8 who like reaction games
- Targeted practice of inhibition and rule switching
- Short games for a spare moment, with no reading
Less suitable for
- Unhurried children who freeze under time pressure
- Children who find it hard to cope with losing cards
Our verdict
Ghost Blitz is a worthwhile choice for school-age children from age 8 and for families who like short reaction games with no reading. The rule is quick to explain, the wooden figures are appealing and switching back and forth between grabbing and ruling out keeps players on their toes. Its limitations are the luck factor when players grab almost simultaneously, the hectic pace in large groups and children who cope badly with losing cards or with time pressure.
Getting started
- When ruling out, go about it systematically: cross off the shapes and colors shown one after the other until one figure is left.
- Turn the card over so that everyone sees it at the same time; after that, each person gets only one grab.
In detail
Variants and player count
Variant 2 from our tip for parents appears in exactly this form in the rules from Zoch: if a card shows a book, players call out the name of the figure instead of grabbing it. Brettspiele-Report recommends this variant to anyone who finds simply grabbing too easy. The editions differ in age and playing time: Zoch gives from age 8 and about 20 minutes, while Gigamic gives from age 6 and 20 to 30 minutes for the French edition, “Bazar Bizarre”. Both editions are intended for 2 to 8 people and contain five wooden figures and 60 cards. According to the rules, a player who grabs wrongly gives a card they have already won to the person who grabbed correctly.
What reviewers say
Reich der Spiele is delighted with the wooden figures and calls the mix of lateral thinking and direct grabbing sneaky and a constant source of mistakes. Spielekritik describes constant lateral thinking and considers the switch back to simple thinking to be particularly tricky. Brettspiele-Report highlights the well-made wooden figures and the short rules. Cliquenabend praises the sturdy figures and considers Ghost Blitz suitable as a short game to end the evening and for playing on the go. On the critical side, the site notes that some luck is involved when several players grab almost simultaneously, and names the hectic pace and large groups as problems.
How it compares
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza (from age 8, 2 to 8 people, about 10 minutes) shares the age, the number of players and the skill areas of impulse control as well as perception and speed with Ghost Blitz. Flexibility is listed only for Ghost Blitz. Dodelido (from age 8, 2 to 6 people, about 15 minutes) calls for the same skill areas as Ghost Blitz: impulse control, flexibility as well as perception and speed. Dodelido suits families who can laugh at mistakes and mixed groups in which adults slip up just as much. Ghost Blitz and Dodelido are less suited to children who freeze under time pressure. Ghost Blitz is the more likely choice for groups of up to eight and when inhibition and switching between rules are the focus.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What age is Ghost Blitz suitable for?
Ghost Blitz is recommended from age 8; no reading is required. A child who likes reaction games and stays calm when they lose a card is ready. Unhurried children who freeze under time pressure will hardly enjoy it.
How long does a game take and how many people can play?
A game takes about 20 minutes. The game is for 2 to 8 people, who play against each other. Whoever grabs correctly wins the card, and a wrong grab costs a card already won; at the end, whoever has the most cards has won. One review warns that it can get hectic in large groups.
What skills can Ghost Blitz help develop?
It can help develop impulse control, flexibility as well as perception and speed. If, for example, a blue ghost is next to a red mouse, the hand is drawn to the ghost, but the figure being looked for is the bottle. In addition, whether players grab or rule out changes from card to card.
Is Ghost Blitz a matter of luck?
Partly: one review mentions some luck when several players grab almost simultaneously, and another sees the mistakes as exactly where the fun lies. A third thinks the game divides players into those who can do it and those who cannot.
