20 Fun Facts About Jenga

Here are 20 fun facts about the popular game, Jenga:

1. Origins: Jenga was created by Leslie Scott, a British board game designer, and is based on a game she used to play with her family in the 1970s.
2. Name: The name “Jenga” comes from the Swahili word meaning “to build.”
3. Launch Year: The game was launched at the London Toy Fair in 1983.
4. Blocks: A classic Jenga set consists of 54 wooden blocks.
5. Rules: The objective of the game is to remove one block at a time from the tower and then balance it on top without causing the tower to fall.
6. Popularity: Since its launch, Jenga has sold over 80 million sets worldwide.
7. Versions: There are many versions of Jenga available now, including themed sets based on popular TV shows, movies, and even a “Throw ‘n Go” version with colored blocks and a dice.
8. Record: The tallest tower ever built with an official Jenga set, according to the Guinness World Records, was 40 complete tiers and 2 additional blocks (or partial tiers) tall.
9. Tournaments: There are Jenga tournaments held across the world, some even offering cash prizes.
10. Educational Use: Jenga has been used as an educational tool to teach physics, specifically the laws of gravity and balance.
11. Painted Blocks: Some people personalize their Jenga sets by writing rules or challenges on each block, which must be done when the block is pulled.
12. Oxford Games Ltd: The company Oxford Games Ltd, which initially marketed Jenga, was founded by Leslie Scott and her former husband.
13. Size Variations: Jenga comes in different sizes, from small travel-size sets to giant outdoor sets.
14. Bridge in Peru: The story goes that Leslie Scott was inspired by the balancing skills of local builders in Peru when they cut rectangular blocks from trees and stacked them up.
15. First Sets: The first sets of Jenga were made from wood offcuts from a nearby sawmill in Takoradi, Ghana.
16. Use in Therapy: Some therapists use Jenga in their practice to help children and adults improve fine motor skills.
17. Charity Editions: Special editions of Jenga have been released to raise funds for charity, like the (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition to fight AIDS.
18. Spin-offs: The game has inspired several spin-offs, including Jenga Truth or Dare, Jenga Xtreme, and Jenga Quake.
19. Used in Bars: Some bars have giant Jenga sets for customers to play, promoting a fun and relaxed environment.
20. Giant Homemade Jenga Sets: Some Jenga fans make their own giant Jenga sets using 2×4 blocks of wood for use at parties and outdoor events.