Floats McGoats Board Game Review for Homeschooling Families

As part of the Timberdoodle Blog Team, I have received complimentary access to this product. I have not been compensated for my time reviewing the product and producing this review. I have not been influenced in any way and my opinions on this product are my own.

Do you use board games in your homeschool days, too? I mean, why not?! Games offer a hands-on opportunity to learn and and create memories together. Playing a shorter board game can be a great way to start the day, ease back into lessons after lunch, and even continue learning after the “required” lessons have been completed, right?

Sometimes, board games are good enough to earn a coveted spot on the shelf right by the game table. Sometimes, though, games get played once only to be put away, forgotten & collecting dust for months on end. Where did our Floats McGoats board game end up after playing it a few times?

Let’s chat a bit about that, m’kay?

About the Floats McGoats Game

Created to be played by 2-4 players ages 10 and up, the Floats McGoats board game includes one of our favorite animals…goats, and one of our favorite types of gameplay…strategy!

Within a small cardboard box, game players will find a board that unfolds to about 10″x18″ (if you know where my kids may have put my measuring tape, would you please let me know?) along with a number of manipulatives: plastic goats, raft boards, a 12-sided die, and a shark’s dorsal fin.

I bet you never thought goats and sharks could be included in the same board game…let alone the same sentence, huh?

Think again!

The goal of the game is the be the first person to earn a certain number of points that come only when your goats are safe on a raft. Easier said than done, the 12-sided die can often cause more good than harm, placing your goats in dangerous predicaments or requiring you to sabotage your friend or family members goats!

Whoa!

All in all, gameplay should take about 15-30 minutes which is apparently enough time to turn siblings (momentarily) against each other.

Our Experience Playing Floats McGoats

My boys and I are always game (get it?) to play board games together. This makes me happy because I am all for fun learning opportunities and makes them happy because they likely think they’re just playing a game…and not actually learning important skills.

It took some time to get used to the rules of the game, as it does with any game, but we were soon on our way to having a great time together.

You know that feeling when you look at your kids and it seems like you can see the wheels turning in their head? I totally had that feeling, multiple times, while playing Floats McGoats. We were all strategizing against each other, hoping to be the first to reach 5 points. My history-loving 12-year-old likened it to strategizing a war battle while my 14-year-old would erupt with little giggles every time an “ah-ha” moment would come to mind.

Me? Well, my boys definitely get their love of friendly competition from me, so I was doing what I could to make sure my goats were as safe as possible.

In the end, my 12-year-old ended up winning the first round. My 14-year-old and I ended up winning rounds after that, but…there’s nothing sweeter than the feeling of winning a game the first time playing, is there?

We’ll be keeping this silly game on our dining room shelf for the time being – it’s really a cute way to hone strategic thinking while spending time together as a family.

Did Floats McGoats Float our Boat?

Included in Timberdoodle’s 6th grade curriculum pack, the Floats McGoats is definitely a cute game that’s worthy of being included in your game collection. It includes enough educational benefits to be part of our homeschool day, but is also silly enough to be the highlight of family game night.

What do you think? Will you be adding Floats McGoats to your collection? Let me know!

Until next time, stay safe, & enjoy quality time with your family,