Ker Plunk

Pull the sticks without letting the marbles rain down, and the player with the fewest marbles wins.

Designers: A. Eddie Goldfarb, René Soriano
Published by: Early Learning Centre
Editions by: Hasbro, Mattel, Inc., Milton Bradley, MB Spiele, MB Spellen, Estrela, MB Jeux, MB Giochi, Super Impulse, Pressman Toy Corp., Cardinal, Ideal, Arxon, Tesco, Croner, Maple Toys, International Playthings, Inc., IMC Toys, Game Zone, Geyper, Tyco

A clear tube, thirty thin sticks and 32 marbles waiting on top of them. Ker Plunk, from 1967, starts with the sticks poked through the tube in a criss-cross web that holds the marbles up. Then you take turns pulling one stick out and hoping nothing falls. Any marbles that drop through become yours, and in the end the player holding the fewest wins, so failure is what you collect. It is a children's dexterity game built on one idea and a lot of held breath, for two to four players from about five. Adults enjoy it too, but mostly as a way to feel nervous about a plastic tube.

A clear tube holding 32 marbles on a web of sticksRemove one stick at a timeFewest collected marbles wins

Who it's for

You have kids around age five and up and want a simple game that gets everyone leaning over the table.

Not for you if…

You want depth or strategy. It is one idea, and it mostly runs on suspense.

Vibe's take

Tense in a very small way. Every stick you slide out could trigger a rattle, and the whole table winces together.