Candy Land Board Game Review: A Sweet Path to Early Board Game Success

Candy Land. The family favorite, sweet adventures board game that parents love to hate. But say what you will, it’s a classic game that kids adore and will continue to adore whether you like it or not.

But should you play Candyland board games with your kids? It’s not a simple question to answer because while the game does have many weaknesses, there is a reason it is an enduring classic and has been a family game night staple since its release in 1962.

Its simple mechanics are very basic and dead easy for even the youngest kids ages 3 and up to learn and enjoy, but the game fails to offer many any interesting decisions, outside of which color they want to be, which is certainly a flaw.

But don’t dismiss this game too quickly. This nostalgic sweet adventures board game with its enduring theme, still has a lot to offer kids and families. That is if you are willing to see it for what it is – a step on a path.

In this review, we’ll go through the pros and cons and offer suggestions for how to use this game to develop core skills before moving on to more interesting games.

Key Takeaways

• Candy Land aims to provide a classic, simple gameplay experience for kids as young as three, which helps them develop foundational social skills.

• The theming and simplicity help get Candyland to the table and can be an easy entry point into playing games with your kids.

• However, Candyland doesn’t offer players any interesting decisions and may not justify the shelf space – certainly not long term – but it’s still a fun family game.

Set Up and Gameplay

Setting up the Candyland board game is a straightforward process that even new players will find intuitive. The game includes:

• A game board

• A deck of cards

• Four frosted plastic gingerbread player pieces

• Instructions

Unfold the board and shuffle up the card deck. Players then select a color take the corresponding gingerbread player piece and place it in the starting space.

To play, players will take turns drawing cards from the deck. The card will have a color symbol, sometimes two, and players will move their piece to the next space with that color, which is how they will progress along the board. The first player to reach King Kandy’s castle at the end of the track wins.

The trick is that mixed in with the color cards are a few cards that allow you to visit different areas of Candyland. If you are at the beginning of your journey, this could, potentially advance you significantly along the path and set you up to win; however, these cards might also pull players back to near the beginning of the trail. It’s all dependent on the luck of the draw.

The Aesthetics of Sweetness

One of Candy Land’s most successful aspects is its vibrant, candy-themed design and fun illustrations. The game board is a visual treat, featuring a winding path through various named locations such as Peppermint Forest, Lollipop Palace, and Licorice Lagoon. Each area contributes to the thematic consistency of the gaming experience, making it a feast for the eyes and the imagination. The Candy Land characters, like Princess Lolly and King Kandy, further enhance the colorful world.

And, here’s the thing, Young kids love the theme and love exploring this world. That’s why it’s been around since the 60s.

Do you remember all the Candy Land Characters? Check out our full article.

Quality of Materials

The materials used in the Candyland board game are generally durable. Hasbro was smart to have oversized game pieces and cards (as opposed to tiny dice) to make sure this one was safe for even young kids ages 3 and up. Small pieces can be very problematic in games for young children, but all the pieces in this box are safe.

Kids can be really rough on cards, but these are about as durable as cards can get with really thick cardstock. It’s not that pleasurable to shuffle and deal with, but hard-wearing, which is important for a game kids may be setting up and playing on their own.

Though I have to say, this game is or should be, disposable. Sure, there is a great collectors edition of the game that comes in a lovely tin and leans into the 60s nostalgia, and that might be the right choice for you if you are looking to replicate a specific experience. But in my opinion, you won’t be passing down your copy of Candyland from generation to generation. Play it. Cards will get bent or disappear and that’s fine.

And when it’s time, you have my permission to let it go.

Ease of Gameplay

Candyland board game is designed with young children in mind and does a decent job of creating an accessible early board game experience. The game requires no reading and minimal counting skills, making it accessible to even the youngest players. The rules are simple: draw a card, move your piece to the corresponding color, and navigate the vibrant path to reach the candy castle.

Overall, while the Candy Land board game offers a fun and educational experience, it does have some challenges for younger children.

A Teaching Tool

As mentioned above kids will practice color recognition and matching and some light counting skills, but this is also a great opportunity to teach some important skills that you’ll use for future games (and in their lives) like taking turns, dealing with frustration, and practicing winning and losing. There isn’t much to the game, so you have an opportunity to focus on these other skills when playing Candyland.

I always found that because the game is entirely luck-driven it was a useful opportunity to talk about losing – because it wasn’t due to a mistake they made. They still don’t like it, I don’t think anyone does, but it was a great opportunity to focus them on enjoying the fun experience, rather than whether they win or lose. A very helpful foundation as they move on to more complex games.

This is also the first game I had my kids teach. They taught grandparents and friends the (simple) rules. But it was great practice and, again, builds that foundation so they can better learn and teach games in the future.

The Reality of the Candy Quest

While Candyland is a charming tool for teaching young children essential skills and is deservedly considered a classic game, it does fail to deliver on what I consider an essential component of any good board game – including kid’s games – interesting decisions.

In this game you are just drawing cards and doing what they say – there is nothing more to it and no strategic decision-making. As I said above, that has some advantages because it allows you to focus on teaching essential gaming skills, but it does not make for an interesting gaming experience, which is why it doesn’t have a great shelf life and won’t be a mainstay of your collection for years to come.

Let’s delve deeper into these aspects in the following subsections.

Not a lot of Strategic Depth

Because the classic Candy Land game doesn’t involve any choices and is entirely based on luck, repeated play for parents can be frustrating. Without any meaningful decisions, the game can feel fairly pointless.

This is also true for kids because they can get frustrated when their pieces are moved back. Hasbro gaming does recommend a variation where you aren’t allowed to move backward on the track even when drawing a location from the card deck. I tend to prefer that kids learn that sometimes things don’t go their way and that’s okay, but you could use a rule like that, but only apply it to adults, so that kids have a better chance of winning.

In any case, the game is not strong on strategy, and being a victim of luck isn’t all that fun for parents or kids.

Issues of Fairness

As I say above the simplicity of Candy Land’s gameplay, while accessible, can also present challenges. The game relies heavily on card drawing, which removes any element of skill or strategic decision-making. This can lead to frustration, particularly for older children and adults who might prefer more interactive and thought-provoking games.

Additionally, the game mechanics, such as losing a turn or moving backward, can seem unfair and lead to feelings of frustration among players. These elements, while intended to add excitement, more often detract from the overall enjoyment, especially for younger kids who may not understand the reasoning behind these setbacks.

The Sweet Conclusion

Candy Land delivers a straightforward, accessible experience, for kids ages 3 to 5, and, if done right, can be an important step as they develop the skills they’ll need for more complex games.

Candy Land is a classic among family board games and stands out for its iconic aesthetic, but it lacks the strategic depth found in other games designed for ages 3 and up. I usually opt for something like Animal Upon Animal or My First Orchard, both of which offer more interesting decisions along with many of the benefits.

But, and I don’t think I can emphasize this enough: Candyland is fun for kids. They love the theme and they like that they can understand it completely and make all the moves themselves. It has been getting families to the table to play board games for over sixty years so being a snob about whether it is a “good” game or not seems really silly. I played it with my kids many times and we started a pattern of sitting down to play games together. Tough for me to stick my nose up at that.

The question you need to ask is, where are you and your family on your board game journey? Because, say what you will, the Candyland board game can be an incredibly valuable step in your child’s development of key skills: taking turns, dealing with losing, teaching a game, and setting up a game to play with friends (without you). It ain’t fancy. It ain’t complex. But if that’s what you’re after, it’s difficult to think of a game that does those things better.

So I’d say, ultimately, the entertainment value of Candy Land lies in its simplicity and the shared family memories it can create. While it may not offer cutting-edge mechanics or competitive gameplay, it excels in bringing people together for a sweet, timeless adventure, where everyone can have fun playing.

Should You Upgrade to the Nostalgia Tin?

The Candy Land Nostalgia Tin Collection by WS Game Company promises to take us back in time with its vintage 1962 edition gameboard and old-fashioned game cards. With four ‘frosted’ gingerbread men playing pieces, this collection is designed to appeal to fans of the classic Candy Land board game and collectors alike. The tin’s built-in storage is not just functional but also adds a decorative touch, making it a beautiful addition to any game collection.

From the retro design to the promise of convenient storage, the Candy Land Nostalgia Tin Collection delivers. It will provide a better tactile and visual experience for you and your kids. But I mentioned above that this game is one that your kids might grow out of quickly, so the lower-priced, mass-market edition from Hasbro gaming might be the way to go here.

It just depends on whether you value the nostalgia, or you see this game as a step on the path in their board game journey. Definitely worth a look for a few extra dollars.

And, for those of you considering buying Candyland as a gift – don’t hesitate: the nostalgia tin is the way to go.

Buy that version here

Summary

Candy Land remains a beloved classic board game for kids, offering a vibrant and nostalgic journey through a world of sweets. Its simple, accessible gameplay makes it an excellent choice for young children and helps develop core skills, though it may not hold the same appeal for those seeking strategic depth.

The Nostalgia Tin Collection is worth a look since it adds a touch of elegance and durability to the classic candy land game, and can be a great gift.

In the end, Candy Land’s true value lies in getting families around the table to play games. So whether you are reliving childhood adventures or introducing the game to a new generation during family game night, Candy Land really does continue to deliver on the sweet theme.

We recommend this game on our list of games for three year olds. Check out that article for other recommendations for kids ages 3 and up.

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