OuiSi’s array of beautiful photo cards have piqued my interest for a while now, and I finally took the plunge and checked this creative brain game out with my family! What initially caught my eye was the stunning imagery, but aesthetics aside, I had to wonder: is this game really fun?
The short answer: YES! Since bringing this game home, we have been able to play OuiSi with our grandparents, aunts, and cousins of all ages, and it has been a hit with everyone so far.
Here are few reasons why I think OuiSi is a true family crowd pleaser:
1. Screen-Free Bonding Time for Every Member of Your Family
Just about every parent I know is constantly on the lookout for ways to keep their kids engaged without tablets or video games, and with OuiSi, you get the perfect opportunity to put those screens away and spend some quality time together.
Although I will admit that when we did pull out our gadgets again, we had quite a bit of fun looking up the QR codes on the back of our OuiSi cards to learn more about the pictures. So maybe just keep one device handy for that part.
2. Visuals, Visuals, Visuals!
The most rudimentary form of reading involves pictures, and even when people can’t communicate verbally, they can always use imagery to help drive a point home.
Broken down, OuiSi is a game of beautiful, visually interesting photographs of nature and everyday objects that are sometimes recognizable. There are colors, shapes, textures; all the basic principles of art, and all you have to do is describe what you see…which brings me to my next point:
3.Open-Ended Play that Challenges Your Creativity
With OuiSi, there are no concrete rules. There are so many different versions of the game that you can play, and it can easily be adapted for the ages and skill level of the players in question.
You can keep it as simple as a matching game for the youngest players, or you can really get into the abstractness of the images and create a game from there. No matter who is playing, everyone will be able to contribute something valuable–a major confidence booster for anyone who needs one.
4.Collaboration and Cooperation Are Key
While having a competitive streak can be fun sometimes, it can also end in tears and bad feelings in moments where there should be laughter and bonding. Luckily, OuiSi is the perfect game to teach collaboration as you work together to utilize each card in your deck.
Everyone gets a chance to share their ideas, and through cooperation, decide together how best to arrange cards. It’s a great teachable moment for little kids and veteran gamers alike to share opinions and have them met with respect and curiosity.
5.You’ll Give Your Brain a Much-Needed Exercise
It’s not always immediately obvious what the picture on each OuiSi card is, and it can take time and mental effort to figure out how to match it to another card in your deck.
OuiSi engages with your mind’s ability to compare images, exercising parts of your brain you might not use on a regular basis. Interestingly, we found that the younger players were often able to match the pictures much faster than the older players, and needed much less guidance at first.
I love that OuiSi can be occasionally challenging. It’s really the perfect way to flex your brain and sharpen your visual skills at any age!
My Family’s Takeaway:
This family loves OuiSi! In addition to being a fun, screen-free way to pass the time together, the imagery is stunning to look at. OuiSi grabs everyone’s attention as they flip through and arrange the bright and beautiful photos.
While the original deck is loads of fun, my family has really been enjoying the Nature Edition; learning all about different organisms has been a particular hit with the youngest players in our extended family.
