Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #193 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Ravensburger
• Model: 5000
• Dimensions: 2.50" h x 9.00" w x 8.00" l, .45 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
This captivating game could have been made with London's rush hour in mind. In fact Rush Hour was invented by American games company Binary Arts. In the US it went down a storm, winning various prizes including a national award from Mensa.

The objective of Rush Hour is to move the little red car out of the snarled up traffic gridlock that the game begins with. Rush Hour arrives with 40 challenge cards, which depict various gridlock scenarios to set up your traffic jam to. Use the coloured Troublesome Trucks and Aggravating Autos to reflect the chaos on your particular challenge card. Then all you have to do is move the blocking vehicles up or down on the grid in order to free up the escape route for your own red car. And yet this wonderfully simple concept is enthrallingly more difficult to execute. Who knows, maybe the real London rush hour is easier on the nerves than the Binary Arts version.

The challenge cards themselves offer four different levels of complexity and all solutions are printed on the back.

Yet not only is Rush Hour great fun but it can also boast strong educational benefits, teaching problem solving to children of seven years plus. In the US Rush Hour is used in some primary school maths classes. Even a smart four-year-old will find some reward by trying to replicate the traffic set-up scenario of the challenge cards.

Rush Hour can be enjoyed by one player or various players competing.

Suitable for children from 7 years old and all adults who enjoy an ingenious little challenge.--Victoria Mackenzie

(American Mensa)
Winner of American Mensa "Select" Award

Manufacturer's Description
You are the red car and are stuck in traffic--surrounded by four big trucks and eleven other cars. Can you manoeuvre your way through the gridlock to escape the jam? Includes 40 different game challenges ranging from beginner to expert. Simply arrange the cars as shown on one of the 40 challenges, then try and move the red car out of the gridlock. With simple rules, Rush Hour is easy to understand and will captivate all age groups. Add on packs are also available: Rush Hour 2, 3 and 4, once the first 40 become too easy. Rush Hour is for ages 8 and older. This highly addictive game has won over 15 international awards and continues to give minds all over the world a good workout. Box size: 23 x 20 x 6.5cm.

Customer Reviews

More fun than a x-b0x!!
I had seen this puzzle in shops for several years before I finally decided to buy it for myself. Although it looks like a childs toy (brightly coloured and with almost cartoon-styled pieces), it's designed for all age-groups to enjoy. The idea is very simple - you must move the various pieces (cars and trucks) within the grid so that your car can drive to the exit, but you can only move each piece forwards or backwards. It is *very* addictive, really great fun, and comes with a range of puzzles to solve ranging from beginner to expert. The beginner-level challenges are a good introduction to the thinking required in this game, while the intermediate-level challenges are at just the right level for a few minutes' mental exercise. The expert-level challenges are really quite difficult, taking time and careful thought to solve. Each of the puzzles is printed on a durable card, with the solution printed on the reverse in case you get completely stuck. When you've solved all of the supplied puzzles, there are at least a couple of expansion packs available with all new puzzles to solve (Amazon doesn't appear to sell the expansion packs - come on, guys, what's up?). My son likes this game almost as much as I do, and I've just bought my father one to while away a few hours during his night-shift! An expensive x-b0x and games couldn't be any more fun than this simple, well thought-out puzzle. Highly recommended!

Think and Learn
This is a brilliant way to develop sequential thinking skills. It has been used very successfullly with Dyslexic children who can learn in a fun, non-threatening way. Kids can't get enough and it's not a computer game. Excellent!

rush hour traffic jam puzzle
My son was bought one for his birthday by his friend who has one as his friend thought it was fantastic. We all played it from 7 years up to 75 years. Every time he is invited to a party we buy his friend one. They always come back to us and say how fantastic it is and how everyone in the family plays it. So far we have bought 4 in the last month. Every person has rated it a 5 star game and cannot put it down. One of the great things is that it doesn't need batteries and comes with a pull string bag to keep the bits in. Great for at home or travel. You won't regret buying one.