Marble runs have been around for awhile, but none of the ones I’ve seen look quite like the Q-BA-MAZE. What makes this one different is the cube-like shape of the pieces, making for one interesting looking structure when it’s all together.
Our testing mom tried it out with her three kids, ages 7, 4 and 3, and was delighted to see this was a toy the whole family could use (even if the 3-year-old could only really send the marbles down a completed tower, she still enjoyed it). She said figuring out how to put the pieces together so that the run would work took some effort (and a little adult supervision), but the included diagrams helped. The biggest downside of the Q-BA-MAZE, according to our mom, was how easily the structures fell apart. The pieces themselves were sturdy, but anything over a gentle nudge would send the constructed towers tumbling. This did keep the kids busy rebuilding, but it became frustrating at times. Overall, the kids enjoyed playing with the Q-BA-MAZE despite some setbacks.
The 20-piece Q-BA-MAZE retails for $22 while the 50-piece set retails for $50. For more information, including a video demonstration, visit www.q-ba-maze.com.