From the Toysit archive
Zathura: Adventure Is Waiting Board Game
Explore the Zathura board game’s rocket journey, card console and disappearing house, then invent a paper captain’s log for a voyage of your own.
The play at a glance
A space voyage with a house to bring home
A rocket, a robot and a house in trouble give this tabletop journey its shape. Pressman’s Zathura: Adventure Is Waiting turns the space-adventure idea into a path to travel, a console that delivers events and a house whose pieces can disappear as the voyage unfolds.
A console at the center of the journey
The retained box has the feel of an old space-adventure poster: blue sky, striped rockets and a robot marching into the scene. The game gives those ideas tabletop counterparts. Its printed instructions list spaceship movers, a robot, a card console and an eight-piece house puzzle.
A turn combines movement with a surprise. Players spin the travel indicator, move their ship, then turn the console key and press its button to release an order card. Events can threaten the house, while defense tokens sometimes let one player help another. The aim is to reach Zathura while some of the house remains; losing the whole house gives victory to the Zorgons. Use the linked instructions for the complete rules and final approach to the planet.
Original activity: House captain’s log
Make a paper voyage that begins with an ordinary house. Draw four rooms and give each an unexpected job: the kitchen might become the navigation room, while the attic stores messages from distant stars. These are inventions for your own story.
- Choose three stops. Sketch a moon with ringing stones, a garden inside a comet or another place of your invention. Give each stop a name.
- Record one event at each stop. Write a discovery and a response: “The windows filled with purple light; the kitchen navigator found a new constellation.” A younger storyteller can draw while a partner writes.
- Let the rooms work together. Choose which room provides an idea or a useful object for the next part of the journey.
- Write the homecoming. Read the three log entries aloud and decide what small souvenir the house brings back.
This is a companion storytelling activity with paper and pencils, separate from the published game rules. Keep the log beside the game rather than adding homemade cards to its console.
Three versions of an adventure
A book can make a whole house part of an adventure; a board game gives players pieces they can move and events they must resolve. Compare the two after reading or playing: which detail became an object on the table, and which needed the storyteller’s imagination? The complete earlier Toysit account remains below, with its book-summary correction explained in the editorial note.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Replica of the game from the movie comes with board, spinner, card ejector, game cards, and rocket ship movers
Based on the best-selling book by Chris Van Allsburg, the story centers on two young brothers and the mysterious game that they find. In playing it, they and their house are launched into outer space and numerous adventures. Pressman's game is a replica of the one seen in the film and has many of the same features. Turn the key and a game card pops out. A robot moves along the board to slow you down. Eventually, the house puzzle comes apart. Be the first to reach the planet Zathura and win.
Zathura is a science fiction adventure book written by Chris Van Allsburg, known for its captivating storyline and imaginative elements. The story revolves around two brothers, Danny and Walter, who discover a magical board game that takes them on a thrilling intergalactic journey:
Discovery of the Game: While exploring their home, Danny and Walter find a mysterious board game called Zathura. When they start playing, they realize that the game has the power to transport them into the depths of outer space.
Interstellar Adventures: As the brothers play the game, each move leads to a series of dangerous and fantastical events. The events include encounters with a malfunctioning robot, an astronaut, a Zorgon spaceship, and a cosmic meteor shower. The challenges they face become increasingly perilous and require their resourcefulness and teamwork to overcome.
Survival and Redemption: Throughout their journey, Danny and Walter must navigate the perils of space and work together to solve the game's puzzles. As they face adversity, they also learn to appreciate and rely on each other's strengths. The experiences in space ultimately bring them closer as brothers.
Resolution and Return: After enduring various trials, Danny and Walter manage to complete the game's challenges and return to Earth. However, they discover that their journey through space was real and that they have returned a significant amount of time after they left. This twist ending adds an element of mystery and wonder to the story.
Themes: Zathura explores themes of sibling bonding, cooperation, and the power of imagination. The brothers' growth and transformation during their space adventure highlight the importance of family connections and working together to overcome challenges.
Critical Acclaim: Zathura has been praised for its captivating storytelling, imaginative world-building, and Chris Van Allsburg's signature illustrative style. The book's combination of science fiction elements and emotional depth resonates with readers of all ages.
Adaptation: Zathura was adapted into a 2005 film of the same name, directed by Jon Favreau. The movie follows the basic premise of the book while adding additional characters and plot elements. The film adaptation also received positive attention for its visual effects and engaging storyline.
Zathura is a captivating science fiction adventure that follows two brothers as they embark on a fantastical journey through space via a magical board game. The story explores themes of cooperation, imagination, and family bonds while delivering an imaginative and thrilling narrative.
Sources and editorial notes
The complete four-page Pressman #4505/0710 instructions were reviewed. This is the physical game, distinct from Chris Van Allsburg’s book and its film adaptation. The publisher’s book guide returns the brothers to the earlier park scene; the preserved essay’s claim that they return significantly later is inaccurate for the book. No physical game was tested.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site image reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Pressman Zathura instructions, #4505/0710 — Original ©2005 manufacturer document hosted by Board Game Capital; all four pages read and visually reviewed.
- Publisher’s teacher guide to Zathura — Guide by Zoe Ryder White with HarperCollins permission credit. Its indexed plot summary was reviewed; the PDF address currently returns an unavailable-file response. The summary places the brothers back at the earlier park scene.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete historical account retained, including its original claims and wording.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
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