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If you are planning to play some really fun games with your friends and family, choosing the best ones for the occasion at hand can be quite a challenge. If you happen to be looking for some really hands-on games that are all about manual dexterity and steadiness, as opposed to being about luck, strategy, dice, and cards, then both Jumbling Tower and Jenga are great games to consider.
Both are extremely similar. That said, there are some minute differences between them. Based on those, which one should you get?
Jumbling Tower and Jenga: The Basics
Before we get into talking about the similarities and differences between these two games, let’s give you a quick rundown of exactly what both of them are.
What Is Jumbling Tower?
Jumbling Tower is a so-called block-building game. The game features a total of 48 wooden blocks which are rectangular in nature.
The blocks are laid side by side in layers of three, with layers of three blocks being built on top of each other in a perpendicular manner (so the first three blocks would face left to right, the next three front to back, and so on and so forth), until there is a total of 16 levels (16 x 3), for a total of 48 blocks in the tower.
Starting with the first player, when it is their turn, they must remove a block from the middle or the bottom of the tower, and then place it on top of the tower following the same pattern that was used to build the tower.
What Is Jenga?
Jenga is another block-building game, one featuring a total of 54 blocks. The way in which the tower is built is the same as in Jumbling Tower, with three blocks facing right to left being laid beside each other, the next three blocks on top being laid perpendicular to the original three, and so on and so forth.
In Jenga, because there are 54 blocks, there are a total of 18 levels. Just like in Jumbling Tower, the aim of Jenga is to remove blocks from below the top, and then stack them on top following the same patterns as was used to build it in the first place.
Similarities of Jumbling Tower and Jenga
Now that we know exactly what both of these games entail, let’s take a closer look at what makes them similar.
#1: Basic Gameplay
In theory, both of these games are extremely similar. The main point of both games is to take blocks out of the tower and stack them on top without causing the tower to fall. In this sense, to be realistic, both games are virtually identical. In terms of the differences that we will talk about below, they are very minute indeed.
#2: The Road to Victory
Another similarity that these two games share is how the games are won. The winner of both of these games is the last player to successfully put a block on the tower without causing it to fall. In other words, if you make the tower crumble, the person before you is declared the winner.
#3: Difficulty
Both Jumbling Tower and Jenga, due to being so similar, almost to the point of being the same game with different names, are not very difficult. Sure, they are hard games to play if you don’t have steady hands, but that is about it. Both games are rated for players ages six and up.
#4: Number of Players
Both Jumbling Tower and Jenga can be played by two or more players. Technically speaking, both games say that four players are the maximum, although realistically there is no good reason why more people couldn’t play.
Differences Between Jumbling Tower and Jenga
All that said, let’s take a look at the (very slight) differences.
#1: Number of Blocks
One of the main differences between Jumbling Tower and Jenga is of course that Jumbling Tower features 48 wooden blocks, whereas Jenga features 54 wooden blocks.
#2: Size of the Blocks
Another difference between these two games is that the blocks in Jumbling Tower are just a bit thicker in height than those in Jenga. Jenga blocks are almost twice as wide as they are tall, whereas the blocks in Jumbling tower are more square in shape (still rectangular, so quite long, but both the width and height are fairly similar).
#3: Size of the Tower
Although Jenga does have more blocks, because the blocks in Jumbling Tower are thicker, the tower actually ends up being just a little bit taller.
#4: Where Blocks Can be Taken From
In Jenga, you cannot take blocks from the top, or from the layer under the top if the top layer is not complete. In Jumbling Tower, you cannot take blocks from the top three layers.
#5: Block Spacing
In Jenga, all blocks are placed touching each other, whereas in Jumbling Tower, the blocks that are beside each other are placed with a little space in between them.
Jumbling Tower vs. Jenga: Which of the Two Should You Get?
Both games are great fun, and quite honestly, because they are so similar to each other, we aren’t going to recommend one over the other. Besides the name and some minor differences, they are practically the same thing. This is not to say that both games are not really fun, but they just aren’t very different from each other.
Summary
There you have it people, everything you need to know about these two super hands-on games that are all about manual dexterity. They’re great fun for a night with friends and for family game nights alike!