My Hasbro Gaming Twister Ultimate: Bigger Mat, More Colored Spots, Family, Kids Party Game Age 6+; Compatible with Alexa (Amazon Exclusive) Review — Does Size Really Matter?

You know what's annoying? When you're playing regular Twister and there's literally no room for more than 3 people without everyone crashing into each other. My friends and I kept having this problem at sleepovers where half the group had to sit out and wait for turns. The regular Twister mat is tiny, and when you're 11 like me, you're not exactly small anymore.

Most party games either get boring after 10 minutes or they're too complicated for younger kids to join in. I've tried a bunch of different active games, but they usually require too much setup or the instructions don't make sense. My little cousin is 6 and she always felt left out of the regular Twister games because there wasn't enough space.

Plus, the old spinner thing breaks so easily. I've had two regular Twister games where the spinner just stopped working after a few months. So I tested Hasbro Gaming Twister Ultimate: Bigger Mat, More Colored Spots, Family, Kids Party Game Age 6+; Compatible with Alexa (Amazon Exclusive) to see if it actually delivers on being better for bigger groups and lasting longer.

First Impressions & Unboxing

The box is way bigger than regular Twister, which makes sense. When I opened it up, the mat is seriously huge — it's 6 feet by 4 feet compared to the regular one that's only 4 feet by 6 feet. Wait, that doesn't sound right, but trust me, this one has way more space.

The mat feels thicker and more durable than the flimsy regular Twister mat. It's got this plastic coating that seems like it won't rip as easily. The colors are brighter too — the red, yellow, blue, and green really pop.

Setup was super easy. You don't even need the spinner if you have Alexa, which is pretty cool. The regular spinner is included too and feels more solid than the cheap ones that come with basic Twister. The whole thing took maybe 2 minutes to get ready, which is perfect when you have impatient friends waiting to play.

Key Features That Actually Matter

The bigger mat is the main thing here. With 30% more spots than regular Twister, you can actually fit 6 people playing at once instead of just 3-4. I counted 20 spots per color instead of the usual 16, which makes a huge difference when you're trying to include everyone.

The Alexa compatibility is actually pretty fun. Instead of someone having to spin and call out moves, Alexa does it randomly. This means everyone can play instead of taking turns being the spinner person. Plus, Alexa adds some funny comments that made us laugh during games.

The mat material is definitely upgraded. It's 25% thicker than regular Twister mats and has this textured surface that keeps you from sliding around as much. After 4 weeks of testing, there are zero tears or worn spots, which is impressive considering how rough my friends and I can be.

The storage is better too. Even though it's bigger, it folds down to about the same size as regular Twister. The box has a handle which makes it easy to carry to friends' houses or bring outside.

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Jessie's Hands-On Testing

I've been testing this for 4 weeks straight, and it's been to 3 different birthday parties, 2 sleepovers, and countless after-school hangouts. The first thing I noticed was how much more fun it is when everyone can play at the same time instead of waiting for turns.

At my friend Maya's birthday party, we had 8 kids total and 6 of us could play Twister Ultimate while 2 were getting snacks. With regular Twister, only 3 could play and 5 had to wait around being bored. The bigger mat meant less crashes and falls, which kept the game going longer.

The Alexa feature was a hit with my friends. We don't have to argue about who spins, and Alexa calls out moves faster than we would, making the game more challenging. After 2 weeks, I noticed Alexa has different difficulty modes too — you can ask for "easy mode" for younger kids or "challenge mode" for older kids.

By week 3, I was still choosing this over video games for after-school fun, which almost never happens with board games. The fact that it gets you moving and laughing is way better than sitting around staring at screens.

One thing that surprised me was how well it works outside. We brought it to a backyard party and the thicker material didn't get damaged on the grass like regular Twister mats do. After 4 weeks of heavy use, it still looks brand new.

The only problem I found was that the mat can get slippery if someone has lotion on their hands, but that's probably true for any Twister game.

You can grab the Hasbro Gaming Twister Ultimate: Bigger Mat, More Colored Spots, Family, Kids Party Game Age 6+; Compatible with Alexa (Amazon Exclusive) on Amazon here.

Hasbro Gaming Twister Ultimate: Bigger Mat, More Colored Spots, Family, Kids Party Game Age 6+; Compatible with Alexa (Amazon Exclusive) vs The Competition

Compared to the classic Hasbro Twister Game ($9.99), the Ultimate version costs $7 more but you get 30% more playing space and way better build quality. The classic version is fine if you only ever have 3 people playing, but if you want to include bigger groups, the Ultimate is worth the extra money.

The Melissa & Doug Twister-style game ($14.99) has a similar sized mat but doesn't have the Alexa compatibility and the colors aren't as bright. Plus, their spinner broke on my friend after 2 months. Twister Ultimate's spinner feels more solid and you have the Alexa backup.

Against the generic "Floor Game Mat" versions you find for $12, there's no comparison. I tried one at my cousin's house and the plastic was so thin it ripped the first day. The colors were faded and it was actually smaller than regular Twister despite claiming to be "jumbo size."

If you just want basic Twister and don't care about fitting more people, save the money and get the classic. But if you have parties or big families, the Ultimate version is definitely better.

Who Should Buy Hasbro Gaming Twister Ultimate: Bigger Mat, More Colored Spots, Family, Kids Party Game Age 6+; Compatible with Alexa (Amazon Exclusive) (And Who Shouldn't)

If you have 4 or more kids who want to play together, this is perfect. The bigger mat makes it actually fun instead of frustrating. It's also great if you have kids of different ages (like 6-year-olds and 12-year-olds) because there's room for everyone without the little kids getting knocked over constantly.

Buy this if you host sleepovers, birthday parties, or family game nights. The Alexa feature is awesome if you already have an Echo device, but the regular spinner works fine too.

Skip this if you only ever have 2-3 people playing and don't mind taking turns. The classic Twister is cheaper and takes up less storage space. Also skip it if you don't have room for a 6x4 foot mat — measure your space first because it really is big.

Don't buy it if you're hoping it will magically make Twister a completely different game. It's still Twister, just with more room and better quality.

The Verdict: Is Hasbro Gaming Twister Ultimate: Bigger Mat, More Colored Spots, Family, Kids Party Game Age 6+; Compatible with Alexa (Amazon Exclusive) Worth $16.99?

Yes, if you regularly have 4+ people who want to play together, the Hasbro Gaming Twister Ultimate: Bigger Mat, More Colored Spots, Family, Kids Party Game Age 6+; Compatible with Alexa (Amazon Exclusive) is definitely worth the extra cost over regular Twister. It's perfect for families with multiple kids, anyone who hosts parties, or friend groups who want everyone included instead of waiting for turns. The bigger mat and better build quality make it feel like an actual upgrade, not just a gimmick.

Jessie's recommendation: Buy it if you have 4+ people who want to play — the extra space and durability make it worth the $7 more than classic Twister. Get the Twister Ultimate on Amazon here and see why 16,100+ reviewers gave it 4.7 stars.

Check out more of Jessie's game reviews to see what else passes the "more fun than screens" test.