Coconuts – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Coconuts

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Board Game

78%

WISE Score

7.0

Board Game Geek

Monkeys. Catapults. Rubber coconuts. Your living room is about to get wonderfully chaotic.

Coconuts

Board Game

78%

WISE Score

7.0

Board Game Geek

Monkeys. Catapults. Rubber coconuts. Your living room is about to get wonderfully chaotic.

4.6

7.0

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Where to Play

Amazon

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Screenwise Verdict

This is what board games should be: immediately fun, easy to teach, and genuinely entertaining for mixed-age groups. The spring-loaded monkey catapults are tactile enough to keep kids engaged, and the skill curve is real—you actually get better at aiming over time.

It's not going to win awards for strategic depth, but that's not the point. Coconuts nails the 'gather around the table and laugh' vibe that makes family game night work. The 20-minute playtime is clutch—short enough that losing doesn't sting, and you can run a quick tournament if everyone's hooked.

The BGG rating of 7.0 with 4,700 votes and multiple award nominations tells you this isn't a gimmick; it's a well-designed dexterity game that delivers. Just be ready to chase rubber coconuts under the couch.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 6–12 as the primary audience, though younger kids can play with supervision (watch those coconuts). Teens and adults will enjoy it as a light party game but won't seek it out solo. Think of it as the board game equivalent of backyard cornhole—silly, accessible, and surprisingly replayable.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Pure silly fun with monkeys flinging coconuts—no conflict beyond friendly competition. The 'take that' mechanism is just stealing cups, which at this complexity level (1.04) stays lighthearted. Multiple reviews emphasize it's family-friendly even for toddlers (with choking hazard supervision). No mean-spirited dynamics, just goofy physical comedy.

Imaginative

The core mechanic—launching rubber coconuts with spring-loaded monkey catapults—is tactile and novel enough to spark joy. Kids naturally experiment with angles and force. But it's not open-ended creative play; you're following a simple tower-building race. The push-your-luck element adds some strategic thinking, but at weight 1.04 this is more about physical skill than imagination.

Safe

Board games are inherently safe, and this one especially so. Age 6+ rating with clear choking hazard warning for younger kids. The 'take that' stealing mechanic could frustrate sore losers, but reviews note it's quick (20 min) so nobody stews long. No mature themes, no gambling, no toxic social dynamics. Soft rubber coconuts mean no one's getting hurt. Only minor ding: competitive stealing might annoy very sensitive kids.

Enriching

Builds hand-eye coordination and fine motor control through the catapult mechanism. Kids learn to calibrate force and trajectory through trial and error—genuine skill development. The push-your-luck element teaches basic risk assessment. But it's not cognitively deep; there's minimal strategy beyond 'aim better.' High replayability keeps engagement up, and family bonding over silly monkey antics counts for something. Entertaining? Absolutely. Life-changing? No.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Pure kinetic joy—kids (and adults) love launching stuff, and the spring-loaded monkeys deliver satisfying thwack sounds
Genuinely skill-based: you get better with practice, and even young kids can compete with older siblings through persistence
Quick 20-minute rounds mean no one gets bored, and you can play multiple games without commitment fatigue
The bouncing coconuts add delightful chaos—you can totally miss and ricochet into a cup by accident
Nominated for multiple children's game awards (Golden Geek, Spiel der Spiele) for good reason

⚠

What to Watch For

Choking hazard: those rubber coconuts are small, so keep away from kids under 6 (box says 6+ for a reason)
The 'stealing cups' mechanic might frustrate very competitive or sensitive kids—though most reviews say it stays fun
Coconuts will scatter everywhere—you're basically signing up for a minor cleanup afterward
Not much strategic depth if you're looking for a thinky game; this is all about dexterity and laughs

Conversation Starters

"What's your strategy—go for close cups or risk the far ones for more points?"
"Did you see that ricochet?! Sometimes luck matters more than aim."
"How does changing the angle of your monkey change where the coconut lands?"
"Is it more fun to build your own tower or steal from someone else?"

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