Trouble Board Game
It’s the classic race-and-chase game with the PopoMatic die-rolling bubble! Pop the bubble and hop your pegs around the track. Land on an opponent’s peg to bump it back home! But don’t you get bumped back, or you’re in Trouble! Keep poppin’ and hoppin’ to get all 4 of your pegs to the finish line first, and you win! Trouble includes plastic game unit with PopoMatic die roller, gameboard, 16 plastic playing pegs, and 4 rubber feet.Trouble is a board game with a simple concept: Be the first player to send your four game pieces all the way around the board, moving spaces determined by rolls of the dice. The “trouble” of the title comes when an opponent’s piece lands on a space occupied by your piece, thus sending yours back to the beginning. Parents will likely remember the game from their youth, or at least remember the game’s signature gimmick, the pop-o-matic dice roller. The Pop-o-matic is a dome-shaped clear plastic housing for the dice in the center of the board game that automatically tumbles the dice when pressed down and released. This feature, plus the board’s plastic slots that hold the game pieces in place, make Trouble a perfect travel game–car or boat motion won’t upset the game’s progress. It is indeed satisfying to press, slap, or pound the pop-o-matic. It’s strong enough to withstand the frustration of the losing player(s). The game’s simplicity makes it easy to jump into without elaborate explanations or practice games for new players, but it’s utter lack of strategy will likely limit interest to just a few rounds. –Porter B. HallNeed an icebreaker? Want to work out some aggression without shin guards and helmets? Popomatic Trouble, Milton Bradley’s classic race-and-chase game, is guaranteed to bring out your competitive side. Try to outstrip your opponents as you race your pawns around the colorful plastic board to safety. Should you have the good fortune to land on a space occupied by another player, you can send him reeling back to start, where he must wait for a six to pop up (literally) on the capricious dice bubble in the center of the board. Once liberated, your foe is free to reciprocate–now you’re in Trouble.
The crystal ball on which the fates of all rest, a.k.a. the Popomatic Dice Bubble, is the genius behind this game, and is one reason it has become a classic. Encased in its bubble, the die never goes flying, rolls off the table, or gets lost. Simple to learn and exciting to play, Popomatic Trouble is a game that never loses its thrill. Popomatic Trouble is for two to four players. –Julie Ubben
User Ratings and Reviews
2 Stars Pieces came deformed, game looks very cheap
After reading some of the great reviews, I got this game as a gift for my step-brother in-law who is five years old. I remember playing this when I was young and I had really enjoyed the popping dice.
The game arrived quickly, but several of the little plastic pieces came misshapen and deformed out of the box. It appeared that the plastic was melted (they are very hard pieces of plastic, so this could not happen easily). The game board also seemed very flimsy and cheap, like it will soon fall apart. It felt too delicate for a child to really play with. I am pretty sure the one I had growing up was a much better quality (it survived four crazy, wild, competitive siblings playing on it for years).
Because of the misshapen pieces only three people can play this game. Altogether a great embarrassment for me, as I am sure it looks like I got my step-brother in-law a gift from a dollar store.
I recommend buying this game from another store with higher standards and easier in store returns; try Kids R Us or Target.
4 Stars Fun with a purpose!
Though I grew up with Trouble and loved it, I now use it in play therapy. It is a great tool for working with kids who have difficulty stopping and thinking before acting.
5 Stars Trouble Game no Trouble
We bought this to keep in our house when my 6 year old granddaughter visits. She already has this game at her house. She loves the game and it is an excellent one to teach children the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat of board games. Simple to learn. Fun for all to play for two to four players. Self-contained, portable and Inexpensive.
5 Stars Hours of fun
My five-and-a-half year old son received this game as a Christmas present and, hands down, it beats anything else that he received. He wants to play it night and day. To stir things up a bit, we’ve created our own new rules, such as “you have to move backwards for 2’s,” or “you can switch places with another player for 4’s” and it makes the game even more fun and interesting.
Trouble … it’s an oldie but a goodie!
5 Stars Jane’s Scoop
This is a great children’s board game and lots of family fun! I must confess, we “bend” the rules a little when only two of us are playing…..! This way we get to play “lots” more games!
This board game helps with finger dexterity plus it a great beginner counting game. In addition, it teaches patience. I reccoment this game to parents with children 3 and above.
The design of the game board itself could be improved, needs to be sturdier. The plastic bubble that holds the dice is very sturdy.
Filed under: Classic Board Game Reviews