Math Island Game Review: Why Kids Ask to Play Again

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Learning Resources Math Island Game Worth It?

Getting a worksheet-averse six-year-old to do twenty sums in a row is hard; getting them to beg for another game of Math Island seems to be easy. The catch is that the first few games need an adult at the table, and a lucky roll can leave one player far behind. Learning Resources' board game has two to four players, aged six and up, racing off a volcano island by solving addition and subtraction problems up to 20. Two 10-sided number dice and an operation die create the problem, the answer sets how far you move, and a volcano popper sends the dice flying on special spaces. Parents are near-unanimous that it makes math practice fun.

NoFussDeal rates the Learning Resources Math Island Game 4.7 out of 5 at $21.40. Last updated September 26, 2026.

Key Facts

Item Dimensions: 10 x 2.6 x 10 inches
Material Type: Plastic
Color: Multi
Supported Battery Types: No batteries required
Age Range Description: Kid
Global Trade Identification Number: 00765023050257

What Stands Out

Two 10-sided number dice and an operation die create a new addition or subtraction problem every turn
Practices counting, addition and subtraction up to 20
Volcano popper launches the dice when a player lands on a special space
2 to 4 players, ages 6 and up, for family game night or classroom math centers
Game board, four adventurer pieces, the popper, three dice and instructions, in a 10 x 10 x 2.6 inch box

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

Makes addition and subtraction practice fun, even for children who resist worksheets
10-sided dice and an operation die create a different problem up to 20 every turn
The volcano popper keeps children engaged and asking to play again
Simple to set up and easy enough that children soon play on their own
Sturdy components that still look good after more than a year of play
2 to 4 players aged six and up, suited to family nights and classrooms
Easy to adapt, for example by removing the operation die for addition only

What does not

Needs adult help and patience in the first games
Lucky rolls can open a big gap between players
An older child will usually beat a younger one without a handicap
Covers addition and subtraction only
Instructions are in English only

Features in Depth

Two 10-Sided Dice and Problems Up to 20

Number dice 2 x 10-sided Math range Addition and subtraction up to 20 Educational value Consistently praised

Each turn starts with two 10-sided number dice, so the numbers go much higher than a pair of ordinary six-sided dice allow. Together with the operation die they create addition and subtraction problems up to 20, the range Learning Resources designed the game around and the span of number facts children work on in their first years of school. Because the numbers change every roll, a child keeps meeting different facts instead of rehearsing the same few, which is how quick mental math builds. Parents report exactly that kind of progress. One who played every day for two weeks saw his son go from needing candies as counters to solving most problems on his fingers or in his head. The bigger numbers also bring a cost, covered below: a big lucky roll moves one player much further than a small one, so the gap between players can grow quickly.

$21.40 4.7/5 Check price

The Operation Die: Deciding Before Calculating

Operation die 1, chooses add or subtract Gameplay Consistently praised Players 2 to 4

A third die decides whether each problem is addition or subtraction. That sounds minor, but it changes the practice. On a page of addition, a child sets their mind to one routine after the first few questions. Real math problems don't come pre-sorted, so deciding what to do is a separate skill from doing it, and this game asks for it every turn. It is harder than drilling one operation, and doing it inside a game means it doesn't feel harder. The die is also easy to adapt. One parent removes it so a child still learning to add can play addition-only, and another sets it to minus for their own turns so they don't race ahead of their child. Learning Resources describes the dice as creating varied equations that build quick mental math, which is a fair summary.

$21.40 4.7/5 Check price

The Volcano Popper Keeps Them Playing

Popper Launches dice on special spaces Fun factor Consistently praised Box size 10 x 10 x 2.6 in

Landing on a special space lets you launch the dice from the volcano popper, and it is the part children play for. That is not a gimmick in an educational game: a child who stops playing stops learning, however well the math is designed. Learning Resources says the popper keeps children asking to play again, and parents agree. One family uses the volcano for every roll to make it more fun, one six-year-old has asked to play every day, and one mother says her son, who has math anxiety and ADHD, stayed focused for the whole game without realizing he was doing math. Fun, gameplay, ease of use and design all draw consistent praise from parents. The box is 10 x 10 x 2.6 inches and holds the board, four character pieces, the popper, three dice and instructions. Parents describe the set as durable, with one saying it still looks good after more than a year of play.

$21.40 4.7/5 Check price

Ages 6+, Adult Help and the Luck of the Dice

Age range 6 and up Players 2 to 4 Item Dimensions 10 x 2.6 x 10 inches

Learning Resources recommends it for two to four players aged six and up, for family game nights or classroom math centers. Six is about right, as a child needs to recognize numbers and have started adding. Younger children can join with help: one family's almost-five-year-old plays with support, and in another, a six-year-old helps a four-year-old with the math. Expect to sit in at first. Complexity is the one theme owners score negatively, and one father stresses that parents need to invest time, explain and be patient; he used candies as counters to make subtraction concrete. The other caution is luck. One parent points out that a roll of 10 plus 10 against 10 minus 10 can open a big gap, and math isn't much fun from the back of the board. A head start for the younger player, or an adult playing only subtraction, keeps things close. Once the rules click, children tend to play on their own; one parent's six- and eight-year-olds play together without help. One Italian buyer notes the instructions are in English only.

$21.40 4.7/5 Check price

How We Scored It

Based on: The manufacturer's published specifications and the product's live Amazon listing.
Owner rating: 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon, recorded September 26, 2026
How we score: We score each thing that comes up most in owner feedback on the Learning Resources Math Island Addition. Eight things come up most in owner feedback: seven draw praise and one draws mostly complaints. Its ratings average 4.8 stars (86% five stars, 10% four, 4% three and 0% one or two), so every score starts at 96, that average on a 100 point scale. Where opinion is split, we take off 6. Where it draws mostly complaints, we take off 12. Then we read ten owner reviews in full (every one we found gave it four or five stars) and move the score up to 5 points either way depending on how the owners who mention it rated the product. Our overall score starts from the same 4.8 star average and loses 0.1 for each thing that draws mostly complaints, with 0.1 more when at least a tenth of ratings are one star, never more than 0.3 in all. Here that takes off 0.1, which gives 4.7. Read our editorial standards

Fun

Seven of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 96 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Gameplay

None of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. Score 96: its 4.8 star average on a 100 point scale.

96Positive

Educational

Learning Resources lists the educational objective as STEM. Two of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 96 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Ease Of Use

Two of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 96 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Enjoyment

Four of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 96 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Complexity

None of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. 4% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 84: we started at 96 and took off 12 because it draws mostly complaints.

84Needs Improvement

Owner Satisfaction

86% of ratings are five stars and 10% are four. 4% are three stars and 0% are one or two. Very few ratings land that low. Score 96: its 4.8 star average on a 100 point scale.

96Positive

Specifications

Size and weight

Item Dimensions: 10 x 2.6 x 10 inches

Materials and warranty

Material Type: Plastic
Color: Multi

Power

Supported Battery Types: No batteries required

Performance

Age Range Description: Kid

Other specifications

Global Trade Identification Number: 00765023050257

What Buyers Say

Based on 1,042 Amazon customer ratings, averaging 4.8 out of 5, recorded 20 September 2026. See the reviews on Amazon

5 stars		86%
4 stars		10%
3 stars		4%
2 stars		0%
1 stars		0%

★★★★★

Makes math fun

Great game. My 4 (almost 5) year old needs help with the math but he loves to play and it’s really helping him learn the basics. I was impressed because he usually balks at anything educatio… Read it on Amazon

Katie · February 28, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Learning math while having fun with the whole family

My 6 year old absolutely loves this game. She’s in first grade and working on building her addition and subtraction skills and this makes it way more fun. It’s also fun for the whole family.… Read it on Amazon

Kathryn Diamond · October 26, 2025 · Verified

★★★★★

Fun and educational

Super cute game that makes learning fun.

Kat · August 12, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Great board game!

My 6 year olds new favorite game! It’s so fun to watch him enjoy math in the form of a game and he’s asked to play it everyday since we received it.

Amazon Customer · July 31, 2026 · Verified

★★★★☆

Lots of addition and subtraction practice in a way kids like

I like this game. The game pieces are of a decent quality. We have owned it for well over a year and it still looks nice. Even the box is in good shape. Not because of gentle usage.My kids e… Read it on Amazon

Kendra R. · November 13, 2025 · Verified

★★★★★

Fun way to work on math facts

My kids love this game. It’s a fun way to work on math facts.

Becca · August 2, 2026 · Verified

Setting It Up

Set up the board and volcano

Lay out the board, fit the volcano popper and give each player a character piece. Parents describe setup as simple.
Go through a turn together

Roll the two number dice and the operation die, read the problem aloud, solve it and move that many spaces. Checking the plus or minus before calculating is the habit worth building.
Keep counters handy

Blocks or small treats help a child who isn't sure of an answer; one father used candies to make subtraction concrete.
Start with addition only if needed

For a child still learning to add, take the operation die out, as one parent does, and add subtraction back later.
Even out the ages

Give a younger player a head start, or have the adult always subtract, so a lucky roll doesn't leave someone stranded at the back.
Keep the three dice together

Store the two number dice and the operation die in the box after every game. Without them there is no game.

Common Questions

Is the Learning Resources Math Island Game worth it?

Yes: we score it 4.7 out of 5. Math Island turns addition and subtraction practice into a race that children want to play.

What do owners say about the Learning Resources Math Island Game?

Rated 4.8 out of 5 across 1,042 user ratings, with 86% giving it five stars.

What are the downsides of the Learning Resources Math Island Game?

Needs adult help and patience in the first games. Lucky rolls can open a big gap between players.

How do you clean the Learning Resources Math Island Game?

Wipe the board with a damp cloth rather than soaking it.

How do addition-only games work on the Learning Resources Math Island Game?

Remove the operation die for children who are still learning to add, then bring subtraction in once addition is secure.

Math Island Review: The Volcano Game That Makes Sums Fun

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Learning Resources Math Island Game Worth It?

Key Facts

What Stands Out

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

What does not

Features in Depth

Two 10-Sided Dice and Problems Up to 20

The Operation Die: Deciding Before Calculating

The Volcano Popper Keeps Them Playing

Ages 6+, Adult Help and the Luck of the Dice

How We Scored It

Fun

Gameplay

Educational

Ease Of Use

Enjoyment

Complexity

Owner Satisfaction

Specifications

Size and weight

Materials and warranty

Power

Performance

Other specifications

What Buyers Say

Makes math fun

Learning math while having fun with the whole family

Fun and educational

Great board game!

Lots of addition and subtraction practice in a way kids like

Fun way to work on math facts

Setting It Up

Set up the board and volcano

Go through a turn together

Keep counters handy

Start with addition only if needed

Even out the ages

Keep the three dice together

Common Questions

The Verdict

Who should buy it

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