The Enchanted Forest

Designed by: Alex Randolph,Michel Matschoss

In The Enchanted Forest players are racing to discover treasures for the king.

The board shows the forest of the title with a village on one side and a castle on the other. In various spots around the forest trees are placed, at the base of which the various treasures are visible. A deck of treasure cards go in the castle, and the top one is turned face-up, showing which treasure the king would like at the moment. The players then take turns rolling two dice and moving their pieces around the past though the forest – if they stop on a blue spot next to a tree, they can (secretly) look at the base of the tree to see what’s hidden there. If they locate the treasure the king is pining for, they rush to the castle and reveal the tree in question. Should they reveal the wrong treasure, they must exit the castle and return again for another try.

If players roll doubles they can either use them as standard rolls, or as a special move to jump to anywhere on the board.

If they get it right, they take the treasure card for themselves. The first player to get three treasure cards wins!

Sam says

First published in the 1980's and, to me at least, it has not aged fantastically well. The roll-and-move element has been done over and over (and better, in games such as That's Life or Hugo) and the memory aspect of remembering where things are feels more appropriate to a shorter game, such as the rather wonderful Outfoxed. But it's simple to pick up, and young children do enjoy the fairytale theme and memory aspect.

The guru's verdict

  • Take That!

    Take That!

    None, although younger players may find elements of the game frustrating - being beaten to a particular tree (or the castle) or simply rolling dice that aren't particularly productive.

  • Fidget Factor!

    Fidget Factor!

    Low. There's nothing to stop the game moving quickly.

  • Brain Burn!

    Brain Burn!

    There's nothing heavy here, but remembering where you saw a particular treasure can be surprisingly tricky!

  • Again Again!

    Again Again!

    Dice rolls ensure randomness and the trees are obviously placed without anybody knowing which treasure is where.