Addictive

Based on a traditional African game, Mancala is a good investment for any family. It generally takes no more than fifteen minutes to play a game, though whether you can just play one remains to be seen. The premise is very simple. Each side of the board has six egg-shaped "pockets," each of which contains four brightly colored gem-like rounded pieces of plastic. The point of the game is to make your pieces travel around the game board, depositing one in each pocket you pass. At either end of the board is a long basin, one for each of the two players to collect game pieces in. The player with the most pieces in her bin when the game pieces run out wins.

This game is a lot of fun, but it can be maddening. When you lose one game, you insist on playing best of three. Then it's best of five. And so on. You could find yourself in a championship Mancala tournament. The polished game pieces and lovely board make this edition of the game one that whose quality will last for years to come. If you're the crafty type, though, you may have even more fun making your own. Children can use an egg carton and marbles just as effectively. Just put a bowl on either end for the basin. No matter what form this game takes, it's a great way to spend a rainy day -- or maybe even a sunny one!