The Varoni board is printed on both sides. One face carries the Game of the Goose with its spiral track and the familiar obstacles along the way; turn the board over and you have the horse race, in which each player tries to get their pawns from the start to home. Coloured pawns and dice are included.
According to the box, 2 to 6 people play. Both games run on throwing and counting forward, so a child who can count to six takes a full part and stands as much chance as the rest of the table. That is exactly what has kept these two games useful for generations at a birthday where the ages are far apart.
The box calls it a traditional family board game, and that covers it: no ten-minute explanation, no cards to read, just throw and move. The board is wood rather than card, so it lies flat on the table. The box itself is printed in Dutch.
A good choice for a family with children of different ages, for the grandparents' house where there always has to be something to play, or as a present for anyone who goes misty-eyed over the Game of the Goose.
