FoxMind Games Mystero – Multi-Level BrainTeaser Puzzles for Kids Ages 4+, STEM Game Develops Math, Logic & Reasoning Skills, 64 Progressive Challenges (Brain Builder Series)

It took me a minute to figure out how this game worked. I just assumed it would require 2+ players, but this is a game that is absolutely complete for 1 player alone. I won’t get into detail on how badly I misinterpreted the instructions at first lol, but in addition to handling the cards all wrong, I was also using the “puzzle book” on the ring as the board to place the cards on… which is obviously not how it works. The player gets all of the small cardboard cutout playing cards. The cards have a number on the back, which is perfect for the first few levels, and then a picture along with the number on the other side, which is needed for the higher levels. You look at one of the puzzle pages in the book on the ring and use the clues in the images to figure out which card matches, then place that card into the corresponding spot on the blank game board. When only one card is left, you check the answer key in the back of the thin instruction booklet to see if you got it right. For example, on level 1, 2, and 3 difficulty, you count the objects in the images on the clue card and match it with the playing card that has the same number. This was perfect for younger kids and kept them engaged. My 5yr old was great at this and it was nice seeing him feel so confident winning at the game. Level 4 starts the same with dots on dominoes to count, then transitions into simple addition by giving a number and an amount of dots to add/count to get the answer, and then transitions again into adding two numbers together. Again, my 5yr old was LOVING this. Level 5 is where it starts to get more challenging and requires imagination as well as counting and adding. It’s not just counting an image, but things like how many legs, beads, buttons, etc. are on the image. Level 6 continues with that same idea of interpreting the images. It can be quite tricky. This is where my 5yr old started losing interest, but my 8yr old became really engaged. Truth be told, he is far better at this game than I am. Level 7 and 8 are just hard imo lol. Some of the answers are easy to figure out, but it becomes a lot about process of elimination and really needing to justify your answers. I’m not great at these levels. My oldest continues to beat me at them. We did make a rule that even if we’re wrong, if we can give a solid reason for why we chose the answers we did, we still get a point for it. We’ve had this for just over a week now and the kids keep reaching for it during downtime for a few minutes at a time. I also really like that my 5yr old and 8yr old can play at their own levels but still sit and play it together. This game is fun and far more challenging than I expected from a kids game. It’s engaging and works for a range of ages. My son was playing this with his 13yr old cousin and it was still a challenge for them. Really great game. Simple setup, no finicky pieces, and easy to store. This is a winner in my house.

We’ve been playing Mystero, and it’s one of those rare educational games that doesn’t feel like schoolwork. The concept is simple but clever—kids use visual clues and basic math to figure out the missing “mystery” number. It’s essentially early logic and deduction, but presented in a way that feels more like a puzzle than a lesson. What stood out right away is that my kid actually wanted to keep playing. The puzzles are short enough to stay engaging, but there’s enough challenge to make it feel rewarding when they figure one out. What works well: – progressive difficulty (starts easy, builds up gradually) – encourages real problem-solving, not just memorization – can be played independently once they understand the rules – mixes math + logic in a way that feels natural – quick rounds, easy to pick up and put down The multi-level structure is a big plus. Younger kids can start with the basics, but it doesn’t get boring quickly because the later levels add more challenge—even adults can get stuck on some of them. Tradeoffs: – requires a bit of initial guidance to understand the system – more of a quiet, focused activity than a high-energy game – kids who don’t like puzzles may lose interest faster Where it lands: This works really well for kids who enjoy figuring things out, patterns, or puzzles. It’s especially good for building early math confidence without feeling forced. Overall, a solid mix of fun and learning—and one that actually holds attention, which is the harder part to get right.

Please note that this is a review by an adult: I happen to really really enjoy Meta-Forms and Smart Cookies. The advanced levels actually feel very satisfying and logical, and I hoped that this new iteration in the series would be as satisfying. Unfortunately it is not for me, an adult. I do believe that this game is good for actual children learning about numbers and developing their ability to see connections between pictures or ideas, learning how to justify them. The quality of the material is good, sturdy enough to be used without worries, somewhat water-resistant, the instructions are clear, the illustrations are easy to read, colourful and appropriate for children. The double-sided tiles (one side with just numbers, one with illustration of toys) insert some light theming that help make the puzzle nicer for kids. I feel that the "flexibility" of some solutions in the advanced levels might be confusing or frustrating for some children, especially some neurodivergent kids (it is for me, a neurodivergent adult). More on that below. Thus.... the 4 stars: good for its purpose, but not perfect. ------- Below is my experience as an adult: The levels are divided in 2 "categories": the first four are "easy" and are very much about learning how to count (counting dots, fingers, recognizing numbers). I did not expect to enjoy them, but can see their function for kids and they seem appropriate, with various difficulty levels, just.... for an adult who knows how to count, .... not exactly fun. The deduction aspect is very basic: there are two dots in the clue > the answer is two. The 2nd category is supposedly more advanced, and the player has to "guess" the tile based on less straightforward clues: maybe there is something in the clue that suggests a number, or shape, or colour, maybe there is a clue that limits which tiles it could be (it must be a tile with a circle, there are 3 circle tiles, so I need to figure out where the first 2 circles are). The issue is that.... this is more like guessing using imagination than actually solving a puzzle that has a solution, as suggested by the rules: "for series 5 to 8, there may be more than one solution for the same challenge card. Any solution is considered valid if you can correctly justify each of the proposed numerical associations". Looking at some of the "suggested" solutions for the last levels, I cannot for the life of me guess how the logical associations are. Again, this is probably useful for children, learning how to justify their choices and think outside the box, though I feel that the "fuzziness" of the logic at play could be unpleasant and confusing for some neurodivergent kids (it is for me, a neurodivergent adult who likes... clearly defined solutions that cannot be bent by imagination). So.... I will go back to MetaForms, this one is not for me.

I really wasn't sure what to expect with this math game, but got it for my 5 year old. It took me a few minutes to comprehend the instructions and understand where to find the answers for the puzzles. Setup is simple though. There's a basic game square with 9 grids for kids to choose where numbers 1-9 should be placed. The first few cards are incredibly easy with basic counting skills (my 5 year old had no problem) and they gradually get more complex and add on more critical thinking factors. By the end it is quite challenging. At my daughter's age we are sticking just to the first 10 puzzles or so for now, but it's nice that this is something she can continue to work on and improve her reasoning and problem solving skills. The cardstock is good quality. The ringed gameplay sheets are a little annoying. I wish they had a spiral ring at the spine, more like a book or binder....but it works. I will say that the box everything came in is beautiful and feels very high quality/very gift able, if that is your intention. My daughter has been having fun and I think it steps up in intensity at the right level to not overwhelm kids.

The FoxMind Mystero game is an absolute hit in our house! It’s a fantastic brain teaser that keeps kids engaged while secretly building important math, logic, and reasoning skills. What really stands out is the variety of 64 progressive challenges. The levels start simple enough for younger kids and gradually become more challenging, which keeps them interested and motivated to keep going. It’s great to see kids thinking critically, problem-solving, and gaining confidence as they solve each puzzle. The quality of the components is excellent—durable pieces and clear instructions make it easy to jump right in. It’s also compact and perfect for travel or quiet time activities.