Licensed board games can be very hit or miss. Sure, we’ve pretty much moved beyond the issues of the 80s, where everything had a board game in those long boxes and they were all terrible. But there’s still lots of terrible stuff out there. Plus, as games have grown in popularity over the past few years, various IPs are getting slapped on everything and new titles are coming out at a dizzying rate, so it’s harder to tell what’s good and what’s bad.
I generally try to stay away from most licensed games, especially those that are geared towards younger children. But every once in a while, Amazon decides to recommend something that catches my eye. Mostly by being incredibly cheap.
That’s how I found Mickey and the Beanstalk. It was just a little over $10 and chock full of fun little pieces. For that price, I figured it was worth a shot. And after several play sessions with my kids, I’m happy to say this game has earned its spot in our rotation — mostly thanks to the magic of a falling beanstalk and the thrill of the spinner.
Let’s Climb That Beanstalk!
The gameplay is simple and designed with younger kids in mind. Players take on the roles of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald, who find themselves in the classic Jack and the Beanstalk story. You’ll be trying to get food from the Giant’s table to take down to Happy Valley to feed the people, while also releasing the Golden Harp from the Giant’s lock box.
Most of the game takes place on the Giant’s table, which is set up as a small 3×3 grid. Most of the spots will have you flipping food tiles, since you’ll need one of every type of food to win. You can also collect keys, which will let you get into the Giant’s lock box. That’s where he’s keeping the Golden Harp, plus other food that he collects whenever he spots you sneaking around.
The goal is to collect enough food (and the Golden Harp) and bring it to the village before the Giant locks up too many items in his Lock Box. Do this and you win! Fail, and… well, you don’t.
Luck of the Spin
Let me address a major issue right from the start – yes, there is a lot of luck in this game, particularly with the elements of the game you’re “competing” against. Lots of this comes down to the spinner. At the beginning of your turn, you’ll spin to determine how many spaces you’ll move. But where you land also determines how the Giant moves around his table. If the color the spinner lands on matches the location of one of the characters, he sees you and you have to put a food token into his lock box.
There are also extra spaces on the spinner that cause you to just have to put an extra food tile in. This can be frustrating, as you don’t really have any control here. A few bad spins in a row can end the game pretty quickly, though this hasn’t happened to us often. Out of eight plays, we’ve only lost once, and the kids didn’t seem too upset about it.
Magic for Younger Players
But it’s unlikely that you came here thinking this game was going to be a strategic powerhouse. You want to know if this is a game that’s entertaining enough for the kids.
Well, I can tell you that my kids certainly are fans. It’s the tactile elements. My kids LOVE sending the characters down the beanstalk. Is it a vital gameplay mechanic? Nope. But is it fun enough to keep them asking to play even after the board’s packed away? Absolutely. My three-year-old regularly asks to “play the beanstalk game” — that’s really all he wants to do.
When judging games for younger kids, I don’t focus too much on strategic depth or the amount of player agency. What matters is whether they’re having fun. And in this department, Mickey and the Beanstalk delivers. The characters, the tactile elements, and the thrill of the spinner all come together to create a game that my kids genuinely enjoy. They ask to play it multiple nights in a row, which is about as strong an endorsement as you can get from kids under six.
At its current price of around $30, the game might feel a little steep for what’s in the box, but if you find it on sale, it’s a solid pick for families with younger children. If your kids are just starting to get into board games, Mickey and the Beanstalk might be a perfect way to introduce them to the hobby — especially if they’re big fans of Disney or, like mine, just really enjoy watching a tiny Mickey Mouse tumble down a beanstalk.
You can purchase Disney: Mickey and the Beanstalk at your local game store or online through Amazon today.
Highs
- Fun tactile elements, especially the beanstalk
- Simple rules and quick setup
- Kids love the cooperative play and familiar characters
Lows
- Heavy reliance on the spinner can lead to random losses
- A little pricey at full retail
