Ready... SET!

Aside from looking like symbols on an alien spacecraft, Set is also a card game for kids as young as 5 or 6. The object of the game is to combine three of the twelve face-up cards into a set, based on one of four characteristics: shape, color, shading, or number of symbols on the cards. A set is either three cards that are all the same, or three cards that are all different with regard to same characteristic. There's one more interesting aspect of the game, everyone plays at the same time! There is a lot of fun and confusion as everyone is reaching for the cards at the same time, and quickly rescanning the remaining cards for new patterns. This makes Set only a pattern recognition game, but a speed game as well. It is one of the few all ages (above 5 or 6 years) card games out there. It has a surprising 5 stars at amazon with 145 reviewers. At only about $7 it is a great game, and since it is basically a deck of cards it is also very portable.

SET Game at amazon.com

SET Game at ebay.com