Katamino Pocket Puzzle

£20

Available from www.amazon.co.uk   and all good Hobby Stores.

When being sat at a desk all day, it can be nice to come away at the end of the day and occupy your mind with something that is stimulating but also relaxing. The Katamino Pocket puzzle is perfect for just that! It is good for getting the cogs turning in a sort of real-life Tetris that is really enjoyable.

To play the game, you simply have to place all the geometric shapes securely into the square. The twist comes by the placing of the divider. According to the placement of the divider, you have to make the perfect combinations of the ‘Pentaminos’. The more dividers you include the harder it gets. This is a really good feature, as it allows you to choose the difficulty of the game, whether it be a simple relaxing placement of blocks or a complex geometric operation. This also means that all members of the family can use it, as it can be used to train your mind, as well as learning about spatial awareness for the kids. For adults though, I would say that it can be a bit fiddly when trying to place and take out the last couple of blocks, but this is only a minor thing.

The game comes with a useful booklet that lets you know to how store all the pieces so they don’t get lost. It also gives you different challenges and game modes that you can play. I really liked this part as it suggests ways in which the game can become even more interesting, and it meant that I was able to challenge my friends and family.

The aesthetics of the game really reflect its influences from 1980s retro gaming. Its bright and colourful pops of colour add an extra dimension if you want to chill out a bit more and make a pattern with the blocks. Katamino Pocket is part of a wider range of Katamino games, including Katamino Classic and Katamino Family. This smaller travel version of the game however (11 x 5) means that it is compact enough to pop in your bag and play when you’re bored on the train or if you need light entertainment during the day.

4.5/5 stars

Pros:

- entertaining

- can be made easier or complex

- Colourful and retro appearance

- played by all ages

- comes with game play booklet

Cons:

- Pieces can be fiddly