Building blocks that come with challenges! These building games are great fun for the whole family.
We often come across building blocks that children can use to exercise their imagination and build whatever they want to out of the blocks they have. Then we have the Geoblocks set that consists of just 18 building blocks and many building challenges if you look the whole range of games that it is part of.
Geoblocks: aet of 18 basic blocks used for the puzzles
Geoblocks is a basic block set that can be purchased separately and is also packaged with 4 block puzzle games: Architecto, Tangramino, Clicko and Equilibrio. Together these games have a whopping 229 building challenges that can be built with the same set of just 18 building blocks.
These building puzzles are great fun for the whole family and are a great educational toy at the same time.
The educational benefits may include:
- Growing an understanding of geometric concepts
- Improving and exercising fine motor skills
- Improves spatial intelligence and develops stronger 3D visualisation
All the puzzles in each game are categorized into 6 different levels of difficulty. This means that younger children can start with the easier puzzles, while older children might only need these as practice for the more difficult ones.
There are only enough pieces to build one puzzle at a time, even though not all the pieces are used in each one.
After giving you a bit more detailed information on each set I will also be giving you some important information to help you with your buying decision, so keep reading…
Architecto Game
Puzzles for building upright structures
As the name suggests, this game is based on architectural structure. While it has little to do with architecture as such, all the puzzles are for building upright structures. This was the first game created by FoxMind and the series of games is often referred to as the Architecto line of games.
Tangramino Game
Build flat shapes and pictures
This game has puzzles that are built on a flat surface using the 3D Geoblocks. Very similar to tangram puzzles, the player has to copy 2-dimensional flat shapes and create them by arranging the blocks in the appropriate way to create the picture. While it might sound like these are easy, they also have the graded levels of difficulty and will become quite a challenge as the player advances through them.
Cliko Game
Puzzles with draughtsman’s drawings
This is definitely one of the more challenging games in the series because the puzzles are given in drawn from a draughtsman’s perspective with multiple angles of the model being shown. While smaller children can still have fun playing with the blocks, they might have difficulty interpreting the diagrams and being able to build the designs. It is for this reason that this game is suggested for children of 8 years and older.
Equilibrio Game
Puzzles with balancing act
The puzzles in Equilibrio are definitely more challenging than those in Architecto and Tangramino because they introduce tricky balance elements to the designs. This game will need a lot more dexterity, patience and perseverance than both Architecto and Tangramino. It could possibly frustrate younger players.
Important information before you buy.
As I have already mentioned, each game set includes the set of Geoblocks and a book with challenges for that game. The Geoblocks can be bought separately if you want 2 people to be able to play at the same time, building their own puzzles. All the books are also available separately if you just want to add to the puzzles and you already have a set of Geoblocks.
If you already have one of the game sets you don’t need to buy another set if you only want the puzzle book. It would only make sense to get another complete set if you also wanted a second set of blocks.
If you click on any of the images above you will be taken to the relevant Amazon page where you can check the current price.
Here is a quick summary of the 4 game sets:
Architecto Line of Games
| Game: | Architecto | Tangramino | Cliko | Equilibrio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| List price: | $34.99 US | $34.99 US | $34.99 US | $34.99 US |
| Suggested Age: | 7 years + | 6 years + | 8 years + | 5 years + |
| Contents: | Geoblocks set + Architecto book | Geoblocks set + Tangramino book | Geoblocks set + Cliko book | Geoblocks set + Equilibrio book |
| Number of puzzles: | 50 | 64 | 55 | 60 |
| Number of levels: | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Type of models to be built: | Models for a variety of upright structures. | The designs are built on a flat surface, similar to tangram puzzles but using 3D blocks. | Images of the structures to build are from a draughtsman's perspective, with mutiple views of the image. | Build upright structures with challenging balancing aspects to them. |
My Opinion
These are all great games with puzzles that will give children of different ages a challenge. All of these games have many positive reviews and some have won various awards. You really can’t go wrong buying one of these sets for the family to enjoy. I honestly can see myself trying some of the puzzles as well.
Do you have any of these games, or do you plan on getting one? which one would you vote as the best one of the 4? Leave a comment below and let us know your choice.
Hi
My children love puzzles , this would be a gret idea for the nex birthday!
Very nice and helpful article
Thank you
These puzzles can also be turned into some really good competitions between friends. Have fun!
I enjoy reading your posts, always full of fun ideas for the kids and building blocks are a great, The table you provided is a great way to compare the different products. Thanks for sharing!
I hope my posts make it easier to decide on which option to purchase. I am glad that you find the information useful.
These are some great ideas for games for children. There is so much technology in this world now and it seems that our kids don’t take the time to enjoy games like they use to. Even as an adult, I enjoy playing building games with children! It is entertaining and great for family time. Thank you for sharing, as I had not heard of some of these!
Let me know which one you get. I am sure you will all have great fun.
Wow, reminds me of real life MineCraft! I remember loving playing with blocks as a kid, but I never had instructions. I think that could be a cool family time game, building something together with these blocks. Kind of like a 3d puzzle I guess.
Most of them are 3D puzzles. That’s what makes them a great challenge and a good way to develop spacial intelligence while having fun.
Wow! I wish these were around when I was a kid. I had endless fun with Lincoln Logs, but these games look like more fun. Glad I found this article because I have a 7yr old niece I’m shopping for as we speak.
Glad to able to give you some ideas. Let me know how she likes your choice.
Keeping my two boys occupied is a constant struggle. An article like this certainly gives us some more ideas. You have some creative solutions here. I must admit ive not heard of them. I will certainly look to give these a go.
I know your boys will love them, and you will enjoy them as well.
Hello Lesley,
When I was growing up I had some games similar in nature to this and I loved them.
Lincoln Logs – Came with instructions on how to build log cabins and other things and varied in size of how many logs came with or you could add to them.
This one was my favorite because after you completed the designs shown in the book you could design your own buildings and it was a great learning tool.
I have grandchildren now and have been trying to find such games for them and you have introduced the very thing I am looking for with Geoblocks, love it.
Thanks,
The Fat Guy
I am pleased that you found the information helpful.
I love these types of games, especially because they can keep kids busy for long periods. In the process of attempting the various challenges they also develop many essential fine motor skills and also mental and social skills.
What a lovely post! I would have loved to have had these kind of games as a kid. I could see the potential of fun these could have for children.
If I were to pick one, I would love to try out Equilibrio! That one is my favorite out of the four mentioned above as it seems like it would have the highest potential for a challenge. I think I may just get it in the future too!
Thanks for the visit. I agree with your choice of Equilibrio! It certainly offers a good challenge. Make sure you work on a steady surface otherwise you will get very frustrated.
Fun game! I think the Architecto might be more suitable for beginners. I am convinced that this game could entertain adults as much as the children. I think the Equilibrio Game is the best one. It would be the one I buy. But for younger children I think the Architecto is the best one.
I agree with your choice Lorren. These challenges are good for children and adults. Equilibrio involves balancing so it is the most challenging set and might frustrate beginners, but it is good for older kids and adults.
My parents bougtht me and my brother a set of construction toys when we were kids. What a guy can’t build with a constuctor set and an imagination is not worth talking about.
We played with that constuctor set for hours on end. We even made little cars that we wound up with rubber bands and sent them ripping across the room. Great post. Torrey
I absolutely agree. when a child can build freely with a good construction toy set and a bit of imagination it leads to endless possibilities. I like that it also creates adults that can think up creative solutions to many everyday problems. Not to mention developing a little bit of tenacity.