Monza is a car racing board game where players participate in a big race, rolling colorful dice and moving their racing cars around a track. Players will need to make strategic (but light) decisions about how to best utilize their dice for maximum movement. Kids love the toy factor here, since they get to race their little cars around a track, and rolling a big handful of six wooden dice is satisfying for anyone.
Roll and move games get a bad rap, but this is roll-and-move done right. You roll, you make choices, and then you move. That’s what makes Monza such a great game for kids as they learn tactical thinking. So even though, same as a game like Candyland, they are simply identifying the next space with the corresponding color and then moving there, each player gets to make clever combinations, pick what order they use their dice and make clever decisions about which direction to go on the track.
In this review, we’ll explore Monza’s gameplay, educational benefits, and whether you should add it to your collection.
Key Takeaways
Monza is a fun and educational racing board game designed for children, promoting tactical thinking and color recognition.
The game features high-quality, durable components with a high toy factor. Kids will love racing the little cards around the track.
Simple to learn, this board game encouraging tactical thinking is one of the best for very young players.
Introduction to Monza: Kids Car Racing Board Game
Monza is a clever but simple children’s game. It is a car racing board game and is named after the Italian city known for hosting the formula one Grand Prix. It features high quality wooden race cars that kids will love to play with – even after the game is over.
Players roll six colorful dice and moving their racing cars based on the colors shown. The aim is to be the first to cross the finish line, and the player that makes clever combinations of their dice rolls will be the one that wins the race.
Published by HABA, a brand known for its high quality kids games, Monza is designed to capture the thrill of a grand prix racing circuit. With its simple ruleset and engaging decision space, it manages to provide a fun experience for kids as well as a refreshing change of pace for adults, used to playing a more simple children’s game.
Designed For Learning
Like many of HABA’s games, Monza manages to provide a great balance of entertainment and learning, emphasizing quick decision-making and light strategic play. Monza helps kids develop important skills, including.
Cognitive development
Problem-solving skills
Social interaction
Creativity
On the surface it’s a simple color recognition mechanic, but while it is basic and easy to learn, it’s still a tactical thinking game and encourages thinking ahead when deciding where to move your race car. Monza is a racing board game encouraging tactical thinking and the recognition of shapes and colors among players.
Unboxing the Monza
HABA Monza has a welcoming colorful aesthetic and kids will immediately get excited about the little cars. Inside the box you’ll find:
Six racing cars
Six custom wooden dice
A game board featuring a racing car track
An instructions booklet in eight different languages
Setting Up the Game
Setting up Monza is as easy as:
Placing the game board in the center of the playing area
Each player selects one of the six racing cars and places it on the starting grid
The youngest player rolls the dice first.
How to Play Monza Board Game
As you roll the six dice, the colors will dictate the movement of your racing car, adding an element of unpredictability to the race. But only the player who rolls the dice gets to decide how to best utilize them. Players will need to match the board space colors with the dice, spending a corresponding die in order to move their car ahead. So the order they choose matters a lot, so they can utilize as many colors of the dice and makes clever combinations to move as many spaces as they can each turn. Identifying these clever combinations is where the tactical thinking comes into play.
Start rolling the dice and the race is on! First player to cross the finish line wins.
The trick is that players can’t move through any obstacles and they can’t move into a space that is already occupied. There are certain areas of the track where that creates bottlenecks and at times brings everyone to a screeching halt. This does have the potential to slow the game down and potentially cause some frustration, but because this game is so quick, we’ve never found it to be an issue and, in fact, can be an opportunity for kids to develop strategies around slowing their opponents down without much chance of it feeling mean-spirited in any way. The goal is for each player to use clever combinations of colors thrown with the dice to move his or her racing car over the finishing line first.
Visual Appeal and Build Quality
The wooden game pieces are appealing and durable – a hallmark of many of Haba’s games. They have a great feel and are clearly high quality, made in Germany. The six racing cars and six colored dice are both made of sturdy wood, and definitely bring the toy factor to this game. It’s one I always found my kids had open, even when we weren’t playing, just to have an imaginary race with the little cars.
Quality of components matters a lot for kids games to ensure that it will survive anything your kids can throw at it. That said, I did have a dog chew up my pieces once, and it did not survive that – however, I contacted HABA and they sent me out replacement pieces, no problem. A testament to the integrity of this excellent publisher. Thanks HABA!
The game board lays flat, folds easily without tearing, and has clearly differentiated spaces and the instructions are easy to use.
The art on the box and game board is detailed and colorful, depicting items and stories creating a stylized version of formula one grand prix racing and capturing the attention of young children, which matters – especially when you ask them to pick out the games from the shelf. There’s no question that kids gravitate to the design aesthetic of this game.
User Experience and Playability
Monza scores high on user experience and playability, because it intuitive. At its most basic level its just a race around the track and children can quickly understand the game’s straightforward rules. As they play they will build skills around choosing the right order to use their dice, leveling up their skills, but they will be able to play the game right from the jump.
While there is an element of luck in the game due to the reliance on dice rolls, it enhances the fun and adds to the pure race feel of this game. The unpredictability also helps to improve tactical skills because players have to respond to the dice that they have in front of them.
Challenges and Observations
Playing Monza may present certain challenges, including:
The first few turns might require assistance for younger players.
Younger children, especially those under 5, should be able to play, but may have difficulty with the small pieces, which can pose a choking hazard and is the reason the game is rated 5+.
Making optimal plays can be challenging for some kids, and they may not always make the best decisions on their own. Though giving them the space to make some mistakes and/or challenging them to find a better play is part of the appeal of this one.
The game’s heavy reliance on luck can lead to frustration, but I like the feel of a family game with some unpredictability. For me it adds excitement and importantly for a game aimed at five to seven year olds, evens the playing field between adults and kids – since they have a chance to win, even if the adults are playing optimally, if the dice go their way. That’s a nice feature for a family game like this one.
Pure skill-based gamers might find the game disappointing. But, come on, it’s a race. Introducing a challenging game variation idea could add a tactical element, encouraging players to make clever combinations to move their cars rapidly ahead.
Overall Impressions
Monza Board Game is a kid’s car racing game that combines color recognition with strategic thinking. It is both clever and simple, making it enjoyable for kids. It’s well-suited for younger children or those new to the board game scene. It’s definitely a bit too simple for families with older kids or experienced board gamers when played with the basic rules and they should move on to all the other great racing games out there.
However, the simplicity of Monza is indeed its strong suit. It offers a balance of fun and educational value, which is why it is recommended over simpler games like Candy Land. Additionally, incorporating challenging game variation ideas can enhance the gameplay experience and provide added challenges for more experienced players.
Final thoughts: There’s just something about Racing Cars
Monza Board Game is an admirable board game balancing entertainment and educational benefits. Its simplicity makes it an excellent choice for younger children or those new to the world of board games. While it may not suit everyone’s taste due to its reliance on luck, it’s one we always recommend for 3 and 4 year olds and can be a great choice for a toddler’s first game.
Check out our full list for three year olds and our list for four year olds if you’d like more age-specific recommendations.
All said and done, Monza is a delightful car racing board game that serves as both an entertaining pastime and a learning tool. It’s visually appealing, easy to set up, and offers a gameplay experience that’s both fun and educational. While its reliance on luck could be a downside for some, it adds an unpredictability element that keeps the game exciting and evens the playing field.
Whether you’re looking for a game to introduce your child to the world of board games or a light, fun game for family game nights for a young family, Monza Board Game is a fantastic choice. It’s more than a simple race, providing opportunities for tactical thinking, color matching challenges, and plenty of fun!
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Monza suitable for?
Monza is suitable for children aged 5 and older, but younger kids aged 3-4 can also enjoy it with guidance. It’s a versatile game for a wide age range!
Does Monza only rely on luck?
No, Monza does not only rely on luck. Tactical recognition and thinking ahead, and planning are also important factors in the game.
Is Monza suitable for family game nights?
Yes, Monza is suitable for family game nights as it promotes communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, making it an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Are there challenging game variation ideas to make Monza more challenging?
Yes, you can find home-brewed rules online to add complexity and make Monza more challenging for older kids and parents.
Are there any safety concerns with Monza?
Yes, small pieces in Monza can pose a choking hazard for very young children. It’s important to keep an eye on them while they play with it.