It's that time of year again where Winter Wonderland has graced us with its festive presents! Whether you enjoy ice skating or even the ice bar, there’s always someone who tries their luck at winning one of those massive octopuses (which I have acquired). So, the question is, which games are actually giving you the best chance at winning one of these oversized trophies? Thinking of skill, luck, and price, here's my take on our probability of leaving with something of the same value you’ve paid to play!
There's a tin can alley to start us off, costing £1 a ball, you need to knock down all 6 cans to win a prize! We’re looking for all of those with good aim, so those of us in archery or shooting, this may be your game. Needing actual force and accuracy, this game was a no-go for me, as my eyes can hardly see the cans a few metres in front of me. I did not end up with anything but sheer resentment for Specsavers. However, if you’re willing to pay the pounds for more balls, there’s a pretty good chance of some tins flying.
Calling all the netball girls and the basketballers of Cardiff, the shoot-a-hoop is your time to show what you’ve learnt in training! However, your luck must turn into skill as you need two baskets to secure a prize but then again at £1 per ball you need to put your money where your skill is as well as your mouth. I personally did not get the basket in the hoop once, but I am expecting every IMG team with a mascot by the end of the year, or your shooters clearly aren’t your shooters. But this game is more skill than it is luck; therefore, we’re thinking if you’re splurging money at Winter Wonderland, it may as well be on something of value.
Ring toss—of course not. This game is nearly impossible and if anyone sends us proof they managed to do it, I will personally email you myself exclaiming my congratulations. The only part of this game that warrants making it onto this list is the amount of ring you get for your money. Yet again, the more you risk, the more you lose... Financially, anyways, because this game is £3 for ten rings, £4 or thirty rings and £6 for seventy rings and if you only need one ring for a prize you may as well just throw them all over Winter Wonderland in hope it lands on one of those oversized bottles. Therefore, seemingly the best value for money, but maybe not the best for your mental health this year.
Finally, there’s the darts game. A suggested game of skill but a proven game of luck when the dart hits triple twenty on your first throw and not the one that was next to it. But needing to score under thirty points for a small prize and under five for a large prize, this game is suggestively one of the easier ones, in the sense that you’re just throwing darts at a dart board, how could you miss? Three darts for £4 doesn’t make it the cheapest of the games, but the gamemakers of Cardiff are back with the small print in that you need to hit different numbers to accumulate your score. Leading me to question whether the massive crocodile is worth it any more, especially after spending small fortunes on Baileys hot chocolates!
Regardless of whether you end up winning or losing, Gair Rhydd is super excited at the return of our whimsical Winter Wonderland!