Outburst

The Game of Verbal Explosions for Kids Ages 7 and up

Outburst and Outburst Junior are relatively old games but I hadn’t played until I bought our copy of Outburst Junior just a few years ago. My oldest daughter and I loved the game right from the start but now my youngest daughter has gotten the Outburst bug too.

If you like words games like 5 Second Rule and Taboo then Outburst is a must play. Keep reading to find out the rules and how to play.

The Object of Outburst

The object of Outburst Junior is to be the first team to get to 50 points by correctly guessing words in a category.

How to Play Outburst

First, decide which team will go first. Next, pick a side of the card to play, The yellow side is somewhat easier and the purple side is a little harder. Playing a mix is good when you are playing with younger kids. (Personally, we find that sometimes the yellow side is a little harder. That might be because the game is a little older or that our kids are a little older too. It could just be us too!)

Next, the team who is playing, rolls the dice to determine what their bonus number will be. After that is decided, a player form the non-playing team puts the card into the viewer and reads all the answers silently. When that player is ready, she flips over the timer and the playing team has one minute to call out as many items that fit the category as they can. The player with the viewer will slid the check mark over as they answer the items on the list.

When the timer is done, the player with the viewer then reads out all the answers, moving the arrow on the score card up. If the team was successful in saying their bonus word, the arrow moves up 3 extra points. If the playing team claims to have said an answer that the score keeper didn’t hear, the point is awarded. 

When all the answers have been read, it is time to switch playing teams.

Playing With younger Kids

When there are younger kids on both team, the kids should be play at the same time as the rest of the players. However, a round can be played where just the kids give answers. Abduls can give hints. This adds to the fun for the kids and gives them some confidence too.

Winning Outburst Junior

The first team to earn 50 points is the winner.

What we Like

First, we are big fans of games that make you think (but not too hard). Net, we love that the rules encourage players to help out the opposing team. Hints are allowed and the rules even state “after all, it’s only a game.” We also like that you can play with just two players just as well as you can with teams. It also doesn’t take a long time to play a game; perfect for a busy family. 

UPDATE: we like this game so much we made our own for holidays like St Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day. you can see them here.

What We Don’t Like

First, the game is a little outdated. My kids don’t know some of the cartoon characters that are in the game. Also, it is an American game. We are not familiar with some of the products here in Canada. The last thing that we don’t like about Outburst Junior is the viewer. Although it is a cool idea using the red “fuzz” and red viewer to hide the words, it is also hard to see. It could be that we bought our game second hand but it isn’t in that bad of shape. We need to play in a very well lit space to play well. (Also I’d like to point out that this is an adult complaint. The kids have no trouble and love the viewer.)

Conclusion

Outburst Junior is a great game that lightly tests your knowledge and memory. It is great fun for both adults and kids. We recommend adding Outburst Junior to your Family  Game Shelf.

To add Outburst Junior or Outburst to your family game shelf, shop here. Canadians can get their copy of Outburst here.

And you can shop at our Family Game Shelf Shop here to get holiday themed Outburst games for great laughs, great memories and great holiday parties!

To find other great games for your family read our game reviews, card games and dice games.

Rating:

Pros: all ages, easy to learn, choices,
Cons: viewer can be hard to read, some categories are outdated,
Mom: language skills, critical thinking, team work