Ease to set up / learn

How quickly can you set the game up and get playing. Plus how long does it take to really understand all the elements of the game.

Fun Factor

Simply how much fun is generated from playing the game. Do the kids wander off bored after 10 minutes or is it something they are begging you to play again and again.

Family Factor

This is all about how suitable it is for a family. Can everyone play to a similar level? Does it get some ‘family interaction’ going?

Originality

To what extent is the basic idea of the game something different to the run of the mill.

Play it again

Very simply is it a game that you can come back to again and again or is it an early Ebay candidate.

Build quality

Family games need to be robust so this is about how well built the game is - is it likely to withstand prolonged handling from excited family members.

Educational

Is there any educational value in the game - does it help develop number skills, strategic thinking etc.?

Value for money

This considers the cost of the game and basically says how much entertainment value are you getting for the money spent.

Overall

This is an overall score for the game, taking all the scoring categories into account - it’s not a mathematical calculation, just a sense of how the game ranks as a whole.