So what do you get for your $30? The beauty of a Lego game is that you get to build the game first, so kids who love Lego don't miss out on this part. Once the game is built you can start playing just as you would with any other board game. The idea is for each player who represents a Hogwarts house to collect items from four classrooms. Sounds simple doesn't it. But of course it isn't. Being based on a magic book you can expect all sorts of tricks to happen.
It is very educational, despite being based on fictional characters involving witches and wizards. The game teaches kids to think about strategy and not just playing to win. Obviously they will want to finish and win the game but they will also want to make it more difficult for their opponents to beat them. This could involve moving staircases or relocating classrooms in order to confuse the other players and distract them from their goals. Your child will develop his cognitive and creative skills as well as his ability to be a good participant and team player. It should also help with concentration levels which is always a good thing.
The game comes in a good sized box which is small enough not to cause storage problems but large enough to accommodate the game board when it is fully built. This avoids the need to dismantle it every time you have finished playing. With a little practice the game can be played in about 30 minutes which is just long enough to prevent anyone getting bored, given boys in particular are not generally known for their ability to sit still.
If you have kids who have yet to read the Harry Potter books or watched any of the films, they may not get the same level of enjoyment from this game. Given the potential complexity it is probably more suited for kids aged 8 and up but that will depend on your child and his or her knowledge of Harry Potter. It is really hard to imagine how you could beat the Lego Hogwarts (3862) for value, education, and sheer enjoyment factor this Christmas.
