Ferris Wheel Rush Board Game Review: Can Your Family Beat the Storm?

Bycozygamer

A storm is moving in, the Ferris wheel still needs repairs, and there’s no time to waste! In Ferris Wheel Rush, players race to fix every cart before the third storm card appears.

Published by RoseArt Games and designed by April Mitchell, Ferris Wheel Rush can be played cooperatively, competitively, or solo. The colorful board, simple actions, and growing threat of the storm make this an exciting family game that’s easy to get to the table.

Players: 1–6
Ages: 8+
Play options: Cooperative, competitive, or solo
Publisher: RoseArt Games
Designer: April Mitchell

What Is Ferris Wheel Rush?

The Ferris wheel isn’t ready, and a storm is quickly approaching. Your job is to move around the wheel, collect the correct tickets, and repair every cart before time runs out.

Each cart has a color and shape that must be matched. When a cart is repaired, its token is flipped to reveal the completed gear side. Fix them all before the third storm card is drawn, and you win!

Although the game is easy to understand, the storm creates just enough tension to make every card draw feel important—especially as the deck begins to run low.

How to Play Ferris Wheel Rush

Every player chooses a character and places it on the Ferris wheel. On your turn, you may take three actions:

  • Move your character one space.
  • Draw a card.
  • Fix a cart.

You may take these actions in any order, and you can repeat the same action more than once. For example, you could move twice and then draw a card, or use all three actions to move around the wheel.

Your goal is to collect tickets that match the colors and shapes shown on the unfinished carts. Cards may also allow players to trade or swap, helping everyone find the tickets they need.

Before you can fix a cart, your character must be standing directly on top of it. Turn in the matching ticket, remove the unfinished cart token, and replace it with the correct completed token. Then flip it over to reveal its gear side.

One cart repaired—now hurry to the next one!

The Storm Is Coming

Storm cards are hidden inside the deck. As more cards are drawn and the deck gets smaller, the pressure begins to build.

The first two storm cards act as warnings, but drawing the third storm card immediately ends the game. You’ll need to decide when to keep searching for better cards and when to work with what you already have.

Trying to finish the Ferris wheel while outrunning the storm created the perfect amount of family-friendly tension. It even reminded me of a certain popular video game where you’re always trying to stay ahead of the storm. If you know, you know!

What We Loved

Ferris Wheel Rush was a big hit with Luke, my five-year-old. He absolutely loved moving his character around the wheel, matching the tickets, and flipping the repaired carts to their gear sides.

The game is officially recommended for ages eight and older, but younger children may still be able to enjoy it with an adult’s help. Luke needed some guidance, but the basic idea of matching colors and shapes was very easy for him to understand.

I especially love games that are secretly teaching in the background. Ferris Wheel Rush encourages children to practice:

  • Color and shape recognition
  • Matching
  • Planning ahead
  • Making choices
  • Working together
  • Using cards efficiently

None of those skills make the game feel like homework. Kids are simply focused on repairing the wheel before the storm arrives.

Quick, Colorful, and Family-Friendly

Another thing I appreciated was that the game didn’t drag on. The turns move quickly because every player only receives three simple actions. Even when someone needs help deciding what to do, the choices are manageable.

The colorful board and character pieces also give the game a strong table presence. Children can clearly see the different cart colors and symbols, while the turning Ferris wheel adds a fun physical element.

I also appreciate the different ways to play. Families can work together in the cooperative mode, compete against one another, or enjoy the challenge solo. That flexibility makes it easier to bring the game out with different groups.

Who Would Enjoy Ferris Wheel Rush?

I would recommend Ferris Wheel Rush for:

  • Families looking for a quick game night option
  • Children who enjoy matching and movement games
  • Younger players beginning to explore strategy
  • Families who prefer cooperative games
  • Players who enjoy racing against a shared threat
  • Parents looking for a game that quietly builds useful skills

More experienced gamers may find the choices simple, but that simplicity is part of what makes it work so well as a children’s and family game.

Final Thoughts

Ferris Wheel Rush is a colorful, fast-moving family game with simple rules and just the right amount of tension. Matching tickets and repairing carts is easy enough for younger players to follow, while the approaching storm keeps everyone invested until the final card is drawn.

Luke had a wonderful time with it, and I loved watching him practice matching, planning, and decision-making without even realizing he was learning.

Can your family repair the entire Ferris wheel before the storm arrives?

RoseArt Games gifted me a copy of Ferris Wheel Rush for review. As always, these thoughts and opinions are completely my own.