Review: Tutan Loot'em from Orchard Toys

Tutan Loot’em is an Egyptian-themed card game from Orchard toys for children aged 5+. Players collect Egyptian artefacts by matching their cards with those placed on the centre of the table. The winner is the player with the most cards at the end of the game. However, at any point players can steal another player’s pile if their cards match, so you have to beware of looters.

There are 48 cards in total and 12 different images including a scarab beetle, an Egyptian lady, hieroglyphics and Tutankhamen. Each player holds four cards in their hand; these are replaced once they have all been played. The rest of the cards are stacked in a pile in front of each player.

We liked: The cards are beautifully illustrated and made from thick durable card. The game is fast-paced and it’s possible to play a few games in one sitting. The game also links with the National Curriculum history key stage 2, and IJ was studying the Egyptians at the time, which added to its appeal. Priced at £7.25 is it very good value for money and the box is small enough to pack in your suitcase, as we did when we went away this summer.

We didn’t like: We found the instructions a little difficult to decipher, especially in the beginning, and at least one instruction is open to interpretation. Some of the names of the cards, such as Anubis, Wadjet and Horus, also seemed a little advanced, so we renamed them. Nevertheless these points did not spoil our enjoyment of the game.

Overall: Great fun even though we struggled a little with the instructions initially. It’s the sort of game you play again and again and adults will enjoy it too.