Engineering Ants (2015) Board Game

Engineering Ants is a children’s board game released in 2015 by Broadway Toys LTD. It was designed by Peggy Brown and Don Ullman, with artwork by Michael Robertson. The game is set in a whimsical world where players take on the role of ants working together to build a bridge and reach the picnic basket before the rain comes.

Game Components of Engineering Ants

Game board

Ant mover token

Anteater marker

Obstacle cards (red and green)

Ant tokens

3-D model building pieces

Die

How To Setup Engineering Ants

To set up the game, place the ant mover token in the ant hill at the center of the game board. Position the anteater marker on the first step of its grey path. Place one obstacle card face-up on each red obstacle spot and one face-down on each green obstacle spot. Place an ant token next to each face-up obstacle card.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Play: Players work together as the ant mover.

Dice Rolling: Roll the die to move the ant mover token around the board.

Obstacles: Face-up obstacles require players to stop and create an invention to rescue the ant.

Invention Building: Use 3-D model pieces to create inventions to rescue trapped ants.

Anteater Movement: Landing on anteater spaces or rolling an anteater on the die moves the anteater closer to the ant hill.

Game Objective: Rescue all three ants and return to the ant hill before the anteater reaches it.

Player Experience

Engineering Ants combines STEM/STEAM skills with cooperative play, encouraging players to think creatively and work together. Players must navigate obstacles, avoid the anteater, and invent solutions to rescue the ants. The game enhances fine motor control, thinking skills, and strategy.

Pros

Cooperative: Encourages teamwork and collaboration.

STEM/STEAM Skills: Develops science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills.

Creative Inventions: Players use their creativity to build rescue inventions.

No Reading Required: Easy to understand for non-readers.

Variable Gameplay: Each game is unique due to different obstacle placements and invention ideas.

Cons

Fine Motor Control Challenges: Building pieces can be difficult to handle, especially for younger children.

Small Game Board: Some players might prefer a larger game board for extended gameplay.

Frustration Level: The complexity of the building pieces can lead to frustration for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Engineering Ants

Engineering Ants is an excellent choice for families and classrooms looking to integrate fun and learning. It is particularly suitable for children aged 5 and above who enjoy building and creative problem-solving. The cooperative nature of the game makes it an ideal activity for families with children of different ages, promoting teamwork and mutual support. However, adult supervision may be necessary to help with fine motor control and building the inventions.

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