Everyone loves a game that stops passer-bys in their tracks, and Catch the Moon XXL is exactly that kind of game — a towering, whimsical spectacle that draws gasps from children and adults in equal measure. With oversized ladders, a giant die, and comically large teardrop tokens, this version of the already charming Catch the Moon doesn’t just scale up the components — it scales up the fun, the laughter, and the chaos.
Let me be clear: Catch the Moon XXL is not a game that’s going to challenge your strategic thinking or test your long-term planning and nor is it trying to. What it does instead is deliver a short, silly, and surprisingly tense dexterity experience that’s perfect for young children, families, and anyone who enjoys a bit of theatre in their tabletop games. The rules are so simple that you can explain them in under a minute, and the game is so visually striking that you’ll rarely need to.
On your turn, you roll the satisfyingly giant die — an object so chunky that feels like it belongs in the Victorian era — and then place a ladder according to the result. One ladder? It must touch exactly one existing ladder. Two ladders? It must touch two. A moon? In that case, your ladder must become the new highest point in the entire structure. That’s it — the whole game, and yet it just works.
The real joy of Catch the Moon XXL comes from the physicality of it. These aren’t just big ladders — they’re massive ladders. When you place one, you’re not just nudging a piece into place; you’re standing up and assessing a precarious construct. You’re leaning over the table, squinting at angles and holding your breath as you let go of your chosen piece. And when something falls — which it will — the resulting crash is met with gasps, laughter, and the occasional dramatic groan. Catch the Moon XXL is a game that thrives on spectacle, and the XXL edition leans into that with gusto thanks to the extra scale.
The teardrop tokens, used to track penalties when you cause a collapse, are just as unnecessarily oversized. There are only seven in total, and once they’re all claimed, the game ends — with the player who has the fewest tears declared the winner. It’s a simple scoring system that keeps the game short and sweet, and it means that even the youngest players can understand what’s going on and feel like they’re in with a chance.
That’s really where Catch the Moon XXL shines — by being both accessible and inviting to everyone. The huge components are tactile and satisfying to handle, and the rules are intuitive enough that even very young children can join in. There’s no reading, no maths, no hidden information — just a shared challenge and a lot of laughter. It’s the kind of game that turns a quiet afternoon into a giggling, wobbly mess of fun.
That said, it’s not without its limitations. The simplicity that makes Catch the Moon XXL so accessible also means that it doesn’t have a huge amount of staying power. Once you’ve played it a few times, you’ve seen most of what it has to offer. There’s no real variation, no alternate modes, and no deeper strategy to uncover. It’s a game that’s best enjoyed in short bursts, or as a showpiece to bring out when you’ve got guests or young players at the table.
But honestly, that’s fine. Not every game needs to be a campaign-length brain-burner. Catch the Moon XXL knows exactly what it is — a light, joyful dexterity game with a show-stopping table presence, and it delivers on that promise with style. It’s the kind of game that makes people smile just by existing, and in a hobby that sometimes takes itself a bit too seriously, that’s a rare and wonderful thing.
But honestly, that’s fine. Not every game needs to be a campaign-length brain-burner. Catch the Moon XXL knows exactly what it is — a light, joyful dexterity game with a show-stopping table presence, and it delivers on that promise with style. It’s the kind of game that makes people smile just by existing, and in a hobby that sometimes takes itself a bit too seriously, that’s a rare and wonderful thing.
If you’ve got the space for it, Catch the Moon XXL is a delightful addition to any family game collection. It’s not deep, it’s not complex, and it’s not going to become your new favourite strategy game. But it might just be the most fun you’ll have stacking ladders with a group of giggling kids — and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
Catch the Moon XXL is available now. You can get the standard version from Amazon.
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