Thinkfun has created a clever little logic game called Cat Crimes that challenges your child to solve mysteries like “Who broke the flower pot?” and “Who ruined the shoes?” The guilty party, of course, is one of the six sneaky cat characters. Using clues, self-standing cardboard cats, and a colorful board to guide them, children can sniff out the culprit using logic and spatial concepts.

We received a complimentary copy of the Cat Crimes game from our homeschooling partners at Timberdoodle to share with you!

Our children ages 6 to 13 have enjoyed this little game so much, and learned to play it very quickly because the set-up is so easy. Put the board in front of you, assemble the cat characters and choose one puzzle card to solve. Put your thinking cap on and use your logic skills to find the culprit; check your answer by turning the card over. That’s about it!

The cat graphics are whimsical and appealing, and the “crime profiles” in the rule book will elicit some definite chuckles. Like this description of the Persian, Duchess:

“Duchess lives a luxurious life and has a taste for the finer things. Of all
her expensive tastes, her taste for crime may be the strongest.”

I like that there are different levels of puzzles to solve – Beginner, Intermediate, Advance and Expert. My only suggestion is that with 10 puzzles for each level, children who love this game as much as mind do can blow through the first two levels pretty quickly. Expansion packs are needed!

One side of the card contains the clues; solutions are on the reverse.

Cat Crimes teaches and reinforces these skills:

• Logic
• Problem-Solving
• Deduction
• Spacial concepts (left, right, beside, across, between, etc.)

Product details:

• 1 Game board
• 6 self-standing cat characters
• 6 evidence tokens
• 40 challenge cards
• Rules/Solutions booklet

It’s available separately for $13.99 or included in Timberdoodle’s 5th Grade Curriculum Kit. Cat Crimes was a 2018 National Parenting Product Awards Winner and gets 5 stars from our family!