We received IQ Circle for our honest review from Timberdoodle Co.
As we move into the high school years of homeschooling, I’m always looking for ways to keep critical thinking, logic, and problem-solving part of our day without everything feeling like another lesson or assignment. That’s one reason I’m loving the SmartGames IQ Deluxe collection, and IQ Circle has quickly become a favorite. It looks simple when you first open it, but don’t let that little circular board fool you! 😂 IQ Circle definitely makes you think.
What Is SmartGames IQ Circle?
SmartGames IQ Circle is a one-player logic puzzle designed for ages 14+. It includes 120 challenges, ranging from Easy to Expert, along with 10 double-sided puzzle pieces and a portable game board with a lid. The goal sounds simple: complete the circle. You choose a challenge and place the indicated pieces onto the board. Then you have to figure out how to fit all of the remaining pieces correctly. But there’s a catch!
The pieces contain different-sized balls that must fit into specific areas of the circular board. The board also has ribs that restrict where pieces can be placed, and because the pieces are double-sided, sometimes you have to completely change your approach and flip a piece over to find the solution. Each challenge has only one correct solution.
More Than Just a Puzzle
What I really appreciate about IQ Circle is how many skills are being used while you’re simply trying to solve a puzzle. It encourages:
- Critical thinking
- Logical reasoning
- Problem-solving
- Concentration
- Visual-spatial reasoning
- Planning
- Pattern recognition
- Persistence
As the challenges become harder, fewer clues are provided, so you really have to slow down, analyze what you see, and think ahead. For high school students, I think activities like this are a great reminder that developing thinking skills doesn’t always require a textbook.
Why I Like the IQ Deluxe Games
The IQ Deluxe line is geared toward older teens and adults, and I think that makes a big difference for homeschool families with older students. The games have a more sophisticated design and presentation than many logic games created for younger children. IQ Circle’s unique geometric board isn’t just there to look nice the circular design actually influences how you have to approach and solve each challenge. It feels like a legitimate brain teaser rather than something we’ve simply adapted for a teenager.And apparently, Circle and I understand each other pretty well because I’ve been doing surprisingly good at this one!
Our Final Thoughts
SmartGames IQ Circle has been a great addition to our high school homeschool. It gives us something that’s fun and screen-free while still exercising logic, concentration, spatial reasoning, and critical-thinking skills. With 120 challenges from Easy to Expert, there is plenty of room to grow with the game, too. You can start where you’re comfortable and gradually work your way toward those challenges that really make you stare at the board and wonder how one little piece is causing so much trouble. High school homeschooling doesn’t have to mean giving up games and hands-on learning. Sometimes a quick puzzle is exactly what we need to break up a long school day, reset our brains, and make learning feel fun again. And right now, IQ Circle is definitely earning its spot on our homeschool table.
Little Learner and Mom 