Children’s Game Review: ‘Hocus Pocus, Everybody Focus’ from Briarpatch by University Games

Hocus Pocus, Everybody Focus from Briarpatch by University Games is a memory game that challenges players to keep track of an ever-changing field of objects. There have been countless feats of memory attempted, such as pi to more than 70,000 decimal places, but these are usually strings of concrete items. It’s an entirely different game to note what has changed from a certain set, which is a skill in observation we all need to practice as we grow older.

Building a Collection

Hocus Pocus, Everybody Focus begins with players taking turns selecting Objects from the box until 10 are placed on the game table. These may be wooden blocks like the letter “A” or a house, or they may be cardboard cutouts on stands that range from a boat to a cluster of grapes to a soccer ball or even a dinosaur. Each player chooses a mask with a fun cartoon mascot, like an owl or a dog, which will hide their eyes during play.

Changing the Objects

Players take turns spinning the spinner to see what action they will take. The players not spinning cover their eyes with their masks and look away to ensure that they cannot see, leaving it a mystery until the active player tells them to look up. The result of the spin may have the active player add a new Object, take away and hide an Object, or, in All-Play, either choice. The other players take turns guessing what the change was. The first to guess correctly wins the Object. The first player to collect five Objects wins the game.

Tricks for Memory

The core of Hocus Pocus, Everybody Focus is for the player to keep the field of Objects in mind any time they need to cover their eyes. Then, they need to determine the difference between what they remember and what is now on the table. Players may use memory strategies such as linking each Object with something similar about them, such as a cat living in a house that is next to a boat on the beach. Other players might strategize spatially, making note of where all of the Objects are to see what has been added or removed from their mental map. One trick players might use for the All-Play is to count the Objects to make it easier on themselves to see whether something has been added or taken away.

Hocus Pocus: Great Lessons for All Ages

Hocus Pocus, Everybody Focus is “The Game of Now You See It, Now You Don’t” for two to four players aged three and up. In addition to practicing memory, much of the gameplay is rooted in social mechanics: No one should peek when it is not their turn, otherwise they will gain an unfair advantage. This turns into a learning opportunity for self-control and fair play, two of the most important lessons players of any age should master.