Milton Bradley Don't Break the Ice Game Review

Most every child likes to play games and many great memories are formed when families take time to play games with their children- even if the game is short and simple. One game that fits this definition is Don't Break the Ice, a simple, quick game from Milton Bradley.

Game Commentary:

Don't Break the Ice is a game consisting of multiple pieces that have to be assembled each time the game is played. There are a total of thirty- eight pieces: 32 small "cubes" of ice; one large cube that is equal in size to four of the smaller cubes; one red- colored person wearing skates; and two interlocking sides that form the base in which the pieces of ice are placed; and two mallets. The base has to be snapped together and the pieces of ice squeezed inside the base (while inverted) in order to prepare for play. The last step is to place the plastic skating figure on top of the large block, pressing the skater into place. Players than tap the blocks of ice, one at a time, while trying to avoid having the skater fall through the ice. Once the skater falls through, that player loses and the game is over.  

Don't Break the Ice is a classic game that has been around for decades and I can remember owning this game and playing it with my sisters and friends more than thirty years ago. The game has undergone a few simple changes, but it is still basically the same. It is still a quick game to play and it makes a good choice when you want some family togetherness but do not have time to play a longer game. It takes little effort or learning skill to play and little understanding to figure out the object of the game. Some kids will triumphantly call themselves the “winner” if they cause the skater to fall through, but as long as everyone agrees to this and has fun, then who cares.

Like I said, the quality that stands out with Don’t Break the Ice is the quickness of play. It is only a matter of time until a player has no choice but to tap the final pieces of ice and cause the skater to fall through. Often, more than one piece of ice will fall with a single tap, and this speeds up the play time even more. Even young children will get the hang of this game quickly and will likely tap in a way that causes multiple pieces of ice to fall through at once. From my experience, the game usually lasts about two to five minutes. Most people assemble the ice cubes by placing the large cube right in the center, but the game can often be speeded up even more by placing the large cube (holding the skater) right on the edge of the grid.

Setting up Don't Break the Ice takes almost as much time as playing the game and this is where some young people will need a little assistance. Anyone who has played Don’t Break the Ice knows what I am talking about. The cubes need to be squeezed into place and a certain amount of pressure is necessary. Some youngsters will grow frustrated with this aspect of playing the game. They won't be able to place the necessary pressure on the pieces of ice and will be unable to set the game up without help from an adult or older child.

Bottom- Line Viewpoint:

Don't Break the Ice is a good, simple game that can be played to completion in a matter of minutes, making it ideal when you want to spend some time with the children but have little to spare. Milton Bradley recommends this game for children ages three and older and it makes a good choice as an introductory game for youngsters. The family time might be short- lived, but some family time is still better than nothing and Don’t Break the Ice is a good game for this purpose.