Periodic – A Game of The Elements amply rewards the challenge it presents, conclude Dr Louise Robinson and Dr Ian Turner.
Is it fun?
The game does take a little while to get to grips with (especially for those not familiar with the subject matter) but is a lot of fun. There is a lot of strategy, planning and competition built into the rules. Once the goal cards have been revealed, the first level of planning is which periodic trend to navigate (atomic number, ionisation energy, atomic mass or atomic radii) and if they have energy to make the move.
One clever aspect is that the energy you spend on a trend goes into a pool that other players can collect instead of moving on their turn. This means you need to think about both your moves and those of your rivals. The game also gives each player a secret agenda card which allows them to secure bonus points for number of goals achieved and progress on the elemental tract. This keeps everyone on their toes until the end of the game
Is it educational?
Ohhh yes! Periodic is absolutely built on the intrinsic properties and trends that are embedded in the periodic table. It is impossible to play the game without picking up information about the names and positions of elements plus the patterns that lead to them being arranged as thus.
If this was not enough on its own the game comes with a large glossy seven page book called the ‘The Science Behind Periodic: A Game of The Elements’. This excellent book breaks down the periodic table in a digestible way using the game iconography to really make this a useful educational tool.
Conclusion
A wonderfully produced game. It takes a little while to get to grips with but when you do, you will find a challenging strategy game that is very effectively built on the science behind the periodic table.
Details
- Age 10+
- 2-5 players
- 40-60 minutes
- Genius Games
* Dr Louise Robinson is Lecturer in Forensic Biology and Dr Ian Turner an Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching, both work at the University of Derby
