“Turtlemania” by SimplyFun Games is based on the Chinese game of 
Majong, a matching game using a stack of tiles with different symbols.
In “Turtlemania” there are 136 tiles sporting one of a half dozen 
symbols, such as swirls, a starburst or a stylized turtle. The tiles 
are laid side by side and in two layers, so you can see some of the 
bottom layer tiles, but not all.
The game is simple: In real time try to match as many pairs of tiles 
as possible by removing them and setting them aside. You can only 
choose tiles with an accessible edge, so this means you are working 
from the outside in, trying to reveal and get access to more tiles. 
And by “real time” I mean everyone is doing the same thing at the same 
time. You may have a piece you are reaching for get snatched up by a 
faster opponent, or you may match a pair before anyone else. Tiles 
come from both the bottom and top level, so as more pieces are 
removed, more pieces are revealed.
There is a twist, though. Some of the symbols kind of look alike, but 
really are not the same. Only actual matching pairs count, so some of 
the sets you grab might turn out to not be sets at all.
The game is very fun, very fast and is easy enough for kids and adults 
to play together.
A few more things help make “Turtlemania” a great game for kids and 
families. First, the tiles are brightly colored and made of a glossy 
plastic, which gives them a heavier ceramic feel but still makes them 
quite durable.
The box also is the big selling point. Setup for a game like this can 
take a while because the tiles need to be randomly stacked. However, 
“Turtlemania”’s case allows you to not only store the pieces, but also 
stack them. The case has space for the two layers. Simply put the 
pieces in the case face down a layer at a time. Half the fun my kids 
have with the game is putting the tiles back in the case, which can 
then be flipped over and removed, with the stiles neatly stacked and 
ready for the next game.
The game can be played solo or with as many players as you have space 
for around the table. The game is recommended for ages 6 an up, and 
retails for about $50. SimplyFun games can be purchased directly from 
the company’s Web site at www.simplyfun.com or by finding a local 
SimplyFun agent. The games are sold in a style similar to Tupperware 
or home jewelry parties, so if you are really into games and don’t 
have an agent in your area, you might look at signing up to host a 
game party of your own.