Don't Break the Ice facts for kids

A Game of Don't Break the Ice

Don't Break the Ice is a classic tabletop game. It's designed for two to four players. This exciting game challenges your strategy and careful hand movements. It was first sold by Schaper Toys in 1968. Today, Hasbro, through its Milton Bradley brand, makes the game.

How to Play Don't Break the Ice

This game is all about being careful and strategic. The goal is to tap out ice blocks without making the main character fall.

Setting Up the Game

To start, you'll need the game's plastic parts. These include:

• Many small "ice blocks"
• A special stand or frame
• Tiny plastic hammers
• A character figure (like "Ice Man," a polar bear, or Phillip the Penguin)

First, turn the game stand upside down. Then, carefully place all the ice blocks into the frame. They should fit together tightly. This pressure holds them in place. Once all blocks are in, flip the stand upright. The ice blocks will now form a solid "ice" surface. Place your character figure on the special, larger ice block.

Playing the Game Rounds

Players take turns in this exciting game. When it's your turn, you use one of the small hammers. Your task is to gently tap out one ice block. You want to remove a block without disturbing the others. The main goal is to keep the character figure from falling.

The game continues with each player taking a turn. Everyone tries to remove an ice block. You must be very careful with your taps. One wrong move can make the whole structure collapse.

Winning the Game

The game ends when a player "breaks the ice." This means their tap causes the character figure to fall through the ice blocks. The player who made the character fall is not the winner. Instead, the player who successfully removed an ice block right before the collapse is the winner! It's a game of skill and a little bit of luck.