The original game called The Landlords Game was played around 1900s to try and explain the single tax theory of Hendry George. In 1941 the British Secret Service had the game distributed by the Red Cross to the prisoners of war held by the Nazis, the only difference was the game contained compasses, maps, real money and other objects useful for escape.

The game has changed a lot since the early days, the board now has a ‘go to jail, chance, visit jail, collect £200 as you pass go and community chest cards’. The object of this game is to buy property and bankrupt your opponents, each game should last about 45 mins (according to the manufacture) but as we all know it often lasts for hours. In recent times local editions with local landmarks and streets have been made.

So whether you choose to be the top hat, iron, car, wheelbarrow, scotty dog, battleship or train one thing remains the same it’s a great laugh and will last all night, as long as you don’t start fighting before that.

The game involves throwing a dice and move your mouse, as you continue round the board you land on build squares that gradually puts the trap together, once the trap is ready and you land on the “turn crank” square then the fun begins( if it all comes together).

As you turn the crank this rotates the gears this in turn pushes the elastic lever this then hit’s the boot which kicks over the bucket which has a marble in it, this runs down the chute, hit’s the large pole in which a large hand holds another marble in its palm. As the marble falls into the bath then onto the seesaw which catapults the man onto the pole which drops the “mouse trap”. This classic game will take approximately 30mins from start to finish.

What a treat to find a game that we have not played for ages, Twister. My kids who are both under 7 they have never played it before so trying to explain the rules was interesting, but never the less what a laugh we had. This is a great game with the big plastic sheet with coloured circles you place this on the floor, this is your playing surface.

The spinner is divided into 4 sections right foot, left foot, right hand and left hand which is then divided into another 4 coloured sections. You have to spin the pointer and you place your hands or feet on the corresponding colour.

My kids loved it. This iconic game was nearly banned when it was produced in 1966 as the makers’ competitors said it was a sex game, because the main playing parts of the game is your body. Thankfully this game went on sale and is a great success. We will be playing it again.