A Hilarious, Hungry, Hippo-Sized Hit: Why This Classic Game Still Reigns Supreme
Forget the latest video game craze, the intricate strategy board games that require a PhD to understand, or the trendy fidget toys that are yesterday's news. If you're looking for pure, unadulterated, laugh-out-loud fun for the whole family (and I mean everyone), then you need the Hungry Hungry Hippos game in your life. This isn't just nostalgia talking; this is a testament to a game that has stood the test of time and continues to deliver smiles and shrieks of delight.
From the moment you crack open the box, the vibrant, chunky plastic hippos with their wide, expectant googly eyes beckon you. The simple setup – just snap the hippos onto the base, release the marbles, and you're ready to rumble – is a breath of fresh air in a world of complicated instructions and endless rulebooks. Even my youngest niece, who struggles with most games, grasped the concept instantly. It's beautifully intuitive: you press the hippo's tail, they chomp down, and hopefully, they gobble up some marbles. That's it. Pure, unadulterated, glorious simplicity.
But don't let the simplicity fool you. Beneath the surface of frantic chomping lies a chaotic, exhilarating competition that will bring out the kid in everyone. The tension builds as the marbles scatter, the hippos’ jaws snap with increasing ferocity, and the room fills with the rhythmic "CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP" that is the game's signature sound. It's a symphony of silly sounds and competitive spirit.
What makes Hungry Hungry Hippos so brilliant is its universal appeal. It transcends age barriers. I've played with kids as young as four and grandparents in their seventies, and everyone is equally enthralled. There's something inherently satisfying about watching those plastic hippos devour marbles. It's primal, it's silly, and it's utterly addictive. Even when you're not playing, just looking at the hippos lined up, ready for action, brings a smile to your face.
Beyond the sheer fun factor, Hungry Hungry Hippos also offers some sneaky educational benefits. It helps develop hand-eye coordination, improves reflexes, and even introduces basic counting skills (whoever gobbles the most marbles wins!). But don't tell the kids that; they're too busy having a blast to realize they're learning something.
Now, let's talk about the quality. This isn't some flimsy toy that will break after a few plays. The Hungry Hungry Hippos game is built to last. The plastic is sturdy, the mechanisms are robust, and I've had my set for years, and it's still going strong. It can withstand the enthusiastic chomping of even the most rambunctious players.
Some might argue that the game is repetitive, but I disagree. Every game is different. The marble distribution is never the same, the other players' strategies vary, and the sheer randomness of the hippo's chomping action keeps things fresh and exciting. It's a game that you can pull out time and time again, and it will always deliver a good time.
In conclusion, Hungry Hungry Hippos is more than just a game; it's an experience. It's a catalyst for laughter, a bonding activity for families, and a guaranteed good time for anyone who dares to unleash their inner hippo. It's a classic for a reason, and it deserves a place in every family's game collection. Five stars? Absolutely. If I could give it six, I would. Now, if you'll excuse me, I hear some marbles calling my name… CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP
There is a newer model of this item:
Hasbro Gaming Elefun and Friends Hungry Hungry Hippos Game
$29.65
(6,305)
Only 7 left in stock - order soon.
$29.65
(6,305)
Only 7 left in stock - order soon.
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Product information
| Product Dimensions | 10.51 x 4.61 x 10.51 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.77 pounds |
| ASIN | B008FD8ETS |
| Item model number | 98936 |
| Manufacturer recommended age | 4 years and up |
| Best Sellers Rank | #31,242 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games) #915 in Board Games (Toys & Games) |
| Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Release date | September 30, 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Department | Classic Kids Games |
| Manufacturer | Hasbro |
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Hungry Hungry Hippos Kids Board Game, Preschool Games for 2-4 Players, Easy to Play Kids Games, Family Board Games for Kids, Kids Gifts, Ages 4 and Up
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From the manufacturer
Hungry Hungry Hippos Game
It's the Hungry Hungry Hippos game that generations know and love! Get ready for a chompin' good time as players race to make their hippos gobble up the most marbles in the pond.
Marble-Chomping, Hippo-Feeding Frenzy
The brightly colored game board, vivid marbles, and funny hippo characters will inspire laughter as kids join their friends in a frantic feeding frenzy. Launch the marbles into the center pond, and the eating mania begins!
2 Ways to Play
Once players release the marbles, there’s no going back as they try to make their hippo gobble up the most marbles to win. For an additional way to win, be the first to chomp the golden marble.
Easy Storage
The game's convenient marble storage area and snap-on parts help make cleanup a snap.
A Chomping Good Time in a flimsy box
I remember hours of fun playing this game with my friends in the early 80’s. Back then, it came in a sturdy lidded box with real marbles. When I found this one on sale, I had to have it for my grandson! He loves to gobble up the red plastic marbles, but the game is made of thinner plastic in a cardstock-like box. Nothing is made quite like it used to, but the game kept the cousins ages 3.5-10 engaged and off their devices for nearly an hour. Entertaining for many ages, just not as sturdy as the older ones!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2024Color: MulticolorVerified Purchase
I remember hours of fun playing this game with my friends in the early 80’s. Back then, it came in a sturdy lidded box with real marbles. When I found this one on sale, I had to have it for my grandson! He loves to gobble up the red plastic marbles, but the game is made of thinner plastic in a cardstock-like box. Nothing is made quite like it used to, but the game kept the cousins ages 3.5-10 engaged and off their devices for nearly an hour. Entertaining for many ages, just not as sturdy as the older ones!
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Top reviews from other countries
- AnonyMooseReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2018
It won't last forever with the bashing it gets, but it provides lots of fun right now
Color: MulticolorVerified Purchase
AnonyMooseIt won't last forever with the bashing it gets, but it provides lots of fun right now
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2018
Oh dear! Exactly a week before Christmas, having completed the shopping for her children, my daughter took her 5 years old son to see Father Christmas and, when asked what he'd like, he said (totally out of the blue) that he'd like Hungry Hippos. Needless to say, he hadn't mentioned it before, but TV advertising is powerful. So, a quick phone call to mum later that day (so Father Christmas didn't disappoint) .... and Hungry Hippos arrived at her door four days later.
Hungry Hippos was a crazy, early 1980s, 'board' game for up to four players, which my own two kids loved. Apart from the colours and the names of the hippos, it hasn't changed much since the 80s, and it's still just as much fun. It was a game that relied more on luck than skill, and still does, in order to win. There are four plastic hippopotamuses at the edges of a square plastic playing tray, which dips slightly in the middle (to help contain the balls), and about 19 orange marble sized balls, with one white ball. These are the hippos' food. When the little lever at the back of the hippo's head is pressed, its head lifts up and shoots forward to grab the food, which falls into a little compartment adjoining each hippos right side. You can either play to get the most balls, or to get the white ball.
Each hippo is a different colour, and each has a name - Veggie Potomus is green, Bottomless Potomus is yellow (odd name!), Sweetie Potomus is blue, and Hungry Hippo is orange. This game is fast paced fun for little people aged over three, but its quality has deteriorated dramatically in this cheap and cheerful, throw away, age. The game didn't look, or feel, very strong to me as it's only made from plastic. My grandson frantically bashed away on the hippo's head, shrieking with delight, trying to get the most food, and I didn't expect the game to last the day. I took my time - and actually grabbed the most food. Once he realised that frantic bashing didn't win, he toned it down somewhat.
The game looks cheap, and feels cheap - and it was an added expense as it was not on the Christmas list. But, much to my surprise, it withstood many a battering on Christmas day, and is still going strong and providing hours of fun. Therefore, I am judging it on the pleasure it gives as opposed to it's quality, and if it only lasts a few months it will have served it's purposed and proved that Father Christmas exists.
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Philippe THEULETReviewed in France on November 4, 2021
Trés amusant
Color: MulticolorVerified Purchase
