Micro Macro Kids Crazy City Park has finally arrived! I have been begging for this day since the very first MicroMacro game released. Before we even finished our first play of Micro Macro Crime City I knew this had to be a kids game and I’ve been trumpeting the horn about how fun the cases could be for years! I’m pleased to say all of the trumpeting was a success and Micro Macro Kids is every bit as good as I always knew it could be!
How Does Micro Macro Kids work?
In Micro Macro Kids: Crazy City Park, you’ll take on the role of investigators looking into the mysterious things happening around the city. The game features over 20 family friendly cases for players to solve which you’ll do by looking for clues on the large city map, finding suspects, following them throughout the city, and working to put all the pieces together just like real detectives!
It works like a narrative driven seek and find game just like the original, award winning Micro Macro but with a few tweaks and adjustments to make it a smooth experience for budding investigators.
The entire game plays out on the large hidden picture city map. Characters aren’t just represented once on the map, they’re going about their day and can be found multiple times all around the city. This means you can retrace someone’s steps to see what they’ve been up to and where they’ve gone. Each case will give you a general starting location to find on the map which begins your search, then you’ll need to answer questions from your investigator book to solve the puzzles and follow the clues to the conclusion.
One of the best additions they’ve made for Micro Macro Kids is swapping out the envelope system for a spiral bound investigator’s book. 1,000,000 thank you’s for this! Everything stays nice and tidy and the book is very easy for kids to use all on their own.
There’s also a handful of tokens included which are helpful for marking various things on the map, making it easier to come back to as you’re solving the cases. These became a popular accessory for the original and I love that they’re included in the kids version — they’re genuinely helpful and our kids used them for nearly every case.
Is Micro Macro Kids replayable?
Yes and No..ish.
Yes, you can replay it as many times as you’d like. Nothing is damaged or destroyed during the game.
Once you play through all of the cases you’ll know how they end, so you will only get to experience them for the first time once. However, much like reading the same storybook over and over is not only enjoyable but good for developing minds, the same is true here. Repetition builds language skills, comprehension, and confidence. The idea that you can only play through MicroMacro Kids one time and get something out of it is silly — multiple of our children have already played through the same cases 2 or 3 times, sometimes by themselves, other times with their siblings.
Even if you only play through Micro Macro Kids one time, I feel you more than get your money’s worth. This is a very fun activity that kids greatly enjoy and there’s enough content here that it’s highly unlikely that they’ll burn through it all in a single sitting. If you’re truly engaging with the story, going at a kids pace and not rushing through, it’ll take you a few days minimum to work through all the cases.
Is the Content in MicroMacro Kids Truly Family Friendly?
YES!
Each of the cases features family friendly stories of mystery and petty crime. Since budding investigators will likely want to get some criminals off the streets, you’ll have stories that feature the following crimes: shoplifting, burglary, theft, graffiti, and a bank robbery. But not all of the cases center around crime itself. You’ll also be solving some mysteries, finding missing animals, figuring out what happened to tasty treats, and determining the order of events for members of the community.
I think they knocked the stories out of the park, (and not just because I totally called the themes years ago!) They’re on brand while remaining kid friendly.
What is the best age for Micro Macro Kids
Micro Macro Kids is perfect for kids between the ages of 6 and 12. If you are wanting your kids to play MicroMacro Kids independently, you’ll need at least one reader among the group to read the various prompts in the investigator booklet.
Because the bulk of the game is essentially a seek and find experience, you can play Micro Macro kids with almost any age. Our four year old has even gotten into the fun and enjoys finding things on the map. The cases are definitely geared towards the younger audiences though so kids nearing 12-13 will be a bit too old. (Though they may enjoy the Micro Macro Jigsaw puzzle which was a huge hit with our oldest kids.)
Educational Benefits of Playing Micro Macro Kids
I feel great about my kids playing Micro Macro Kids too, not only because the nature of the cases is family friendly, but because there are a lot of great educational benefits that are unique to this game series specifically. Following characters across the detailed map as they solve each case, kids are practicing visual inferencing, using clues in the pictures to figure out what happened. This strengthens their ability to understand sequences, make logical connections, and draw conclusions based on what they see. It also supports attention to detail, spatial awareness, and narrative comprehension. All huge bonuses wrapped into an engaging mystery-solving experience!
A Tabletop Family Top Choice!
We couldn’t be happier with how well Micro Macro Kids has delivered the Micro Macro experience in a family friendly way and are excited to give it our Top Choice seal! This is the perfect activity for kids with age appropriate storytelling in a medium they’ll love.
I’m thrilled that this kids version is finally here, but probably not as thrilled as the creators are that I’ll finally stop asking them about it. Unfortunately for them, I now need to know when Micro Macro Kids 2 is coming out. 😉
A special thank you to our friends at Hard Boiled Games and Hachette Boardgames for sending a copy of MicroMacro Kids for review. As always, our thoughts and opinions are our own.
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