Hamsterrolle

Hamsterrolle (2000) is a dexterity puzzle game where you place wooden pieces in a large yellow wheel. The wheel is divided into segments and each turn you must place pieces at least one divider away from existing pieces. As you play the wheel rolls along the table and other pieces fall out, which you get as a penalty.

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Play involves trying to get rid of all of your wooden pieces by placing them in the wheel. The pieces are different shapes and colours and can't be placed in a compartment that already has a matching piece in it. You take turns placing your pieces, trying not to make any other pieces fall out as these come back to your pile.

It soon becomes clear that you have to work with the rolling wheel. This can be a challenge but also an opportunity. Like Jenga and Rhino Hero, you want to place pieces that make the next person's go difficult. This can be from how you place your piece in a compartment, or how you weight the wheel with your placement.

The result is a push-your-luck game that adds more skill and strategy than the familiar Jenga party game. Best of all, you can see it all played out in front of you as the wheel fills up and the tension rises.

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Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Hamsterrolle 22 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 14 months ago.