Who doesn’t love donuts? And who doesn’t love doing math while eating donuts!? Okay, so maybe you don’t, but that doesn’t mean these two aspects can’t combine to make one deliciously educational game, right? Let’s find out!

Donuts by the Dozen is a game of memory and equations for 2-6 mathematicians, ages 7 and up.

Gameplay Overview:

There are three different donut flavors, each with numbers 0-12. These are spread out face down on the table. A player takes their turn by declaring how many donuts (from 1 to 3) they’re going to flip, then flip them one by one. If the player can reach the sum of 12 using all their flipped donuts, they get to keep them! Players can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to reach the target number. But each player is dealt two bee tokens at the start of the game, and if another player has a bee token with a number on it that would make an equation of 12, they can play this token to take the donut tiles that another player is flipping.

Players take turns flipping donuts until someone collects 12 and wins the game!

If you flip a donut with a bite taken out of it, your turn ends.

Game Experience:

The game really is as simple as it sounds- flip donuts, do a little math, collect tiles. It’s kind of the classic game of Memory with a twist, which isn’t a bad thing. The math isn’t overwhelming, but it’s enough to get their little gears moving. If you like the idea of throwing a little education into playtime, then this game will be a good fit.

My kids enjoyed this one and requested it several times, but I feel like it might not have a lot of longevity. From an adult perspective I will say it loses some pizzazz after the first couple plays and starts to feel pretty samey. Fortunately, games are quick, which helps redeem it. It’s certainly not a bad game and I’ll probably keep it around until the kids no longer show an interest in playing.

Look out for the bees! Another player can use them to steal the donuts you’re flipping.

Final Thoughts:

I think Donuts by the Dozen balances fun and education nicely, not becoming too overwhelming. The presentation and component quality are also quite nice.

I’m not sure it has a ton of staying power because you’re just always trying to reach 12, but playtime is short, and my kids enjoy it. I’d recommend this one to anyone who likes to supplement schooling with games, or for kids who just like math and/or donuts!