It takes a minute at first to help kids (7 & 8) understand the rules, but it's one of those thing that once it finally clicks, they pick it up really quickly and enjoy it. The other reviews are true, it's like dominoes and scrabble, but I thought it was a lot like the card game Set as well. It's got that same "everything has to match or everything has to be different" element to it that makes it more challenging. And since it's turn based, there's still that competitive element of hoping that your opponent doesn't see/take the opening that you see and plan on using. Really fun game, and yet really simple design. I like that the little squares are not super cheapie, so the game should last a long time.