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Hoyle Kids Games 2000

Last updated: January 22, 2026

Overview

Hoyle Kids Games 2000 is a compilation of classic children’s games released by Sierra On-Line in September 2000 as part of their long-running Hoyle game series.12 The title brought Sierra’s familiar format of colorful graphics and internet play to a younger audience, featuring twelve fun titles including Battling Ships, Checkers, Chinese Checkers, Snakes & Ladders, Crazy Eights, Go Fish, Memory Match, Old Maid, War, Hangman, Placer Racer, and Speedy Racer.1 Additionally, two bonus games—The Music Game (similar to Simon) and Tic Tac Toe—could be unlocked by players.1

The game was designed to appeal to families and younger players, supporting both single-player experiences against animated computer opponents and multiplayer sessions with up to four players locally or online.1 A standout feature was the Facemaker utility, which allowed players to customize their own character avatars, adding a personal touch to the gaming experience.1 An animated talking Genie served as the in-game helper, explaining rules and providing assistance to players who needed guidance.1

Released during Sierra’s transition period under Havas Interactive ownership, Hoyle Kids Games 2000 represented an effort to expand the Hoyle brand beyond its traditional adult casino and card game audience.3 The game was featured prominently in Sierra’s 2000-2001 product catalog on page 19, indicating it was considered an important part of their family-friendly lineup.4

Story Summary

As a compilation of classic board and card games, Hoyle Kids Games 2000 does not feature a traditional narrative storyline. Instead, the game presents a collection of timeless children’s games within a colorful, animated framework.1 Players engage with various computer-controlled opponents who have distinct personalities and backstories that add character to the gaming experience.

Among the memorable computer opponents is Marvin, a T-Rex character described as “quite likable” despite being a fierce dinosaur.6 According to the character’s biography, Marvin is “self-conscious about his tiny arms and still bitter about the Ice Age” but has notably “not eaten an opponent yet.”6 Another distinctive character is Roswell, described as “the sole survivor of the infamous ‘crash’ in Roswell, New Mexico,” who was subsequently “employed by the government as a janitor at Area 51 to keep this event hidden from the public.”6

Captain Scurvy, a pirate character, also appears in the game and notably shares some voice lines with Captain Barnes from the earlier Hoyle Classic Games (1995), suggesting character continuity within the Hoyle universe.6 These colorful personalities transformed simple games like Go Fish and Checkers into more engaging experiences for young players.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Hoyle Kids Games 2000 features an intuitive point-and-click interface designed specifically for younger players.7 The game supports mouse control as the primary input method, making it accessible to children who may not be familiar with keyboard commands.7 Players navigate through menus and game boards by clicking on cards, game pieces, or interface elements.

Structure and Progression

The game includes fourteen different activities organized as follows:1

Main Games:

  • Battling Ships: A strategy guessing game
  • Checkers: Classic board game
  • Chinese Checkers: Star-shaped board variant
  • Snakes & Ladders: Dice-based racing game
  • Crazy Eights: Card shedding game
  • Go Fish: Card collecting game
  • Memory Match: Card matching game
  • Old Maid: Card game
  • War: Simple card comparison game
  • Hangman: Word guessing game
  • Placer Racer: Racing game
  • Speedy Racer: Racing game

Bonus Games:

  • The Music Game: Similar to Simon, a memory sequence game1
  • Tic Tac Toe: Classic X and O game1

Puzzles and Mechanics

Players can customize their experience using the Facemaker utility, which allows creation of personalized character avatars.1 The game includes ten generic voice options that can be assigned to custom-created characters through the Face Creator feature.6 Screen background environments where games are played can be altered to the player’s liking, and difficulty levels are adjustable to accommodate different skill levels.1

The game supports various multiplayer configurations, including local play with up to four players on the same computer or online play with up to four players via internet connection.1 This made it suitable for family game nights and playdates.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Hoyle Kids Games 2000 received positive reception upon release. Critics awarded the game an aggregate score of 85%, indicating strong approval for this children’s title.1

Modern Assessment

User ratings from GameFAQs show the game classified as “Good” based on two user ratings, suggesting it maintained a positive reputation among players who remember it.2 The limited number of ratings reflects the game’s niche audience and the passage of time since its release.

Aggregate Scores:

  • MobyGames Critics: 85%1
  • GameFAQs User Rating: Good (2 ratings)2

Development

Origins

Hoyle Kids Games 2000 emerged from Sierra On-Line’s strategy to expand their successful Hoyle brand into the children’s market.3 The Hoyle series had been producing quality card and casino games since 1989, and by 2000, the company recognized an opportunity to create family-friendly content using the established brand recognition.3 The game was developed as Sierra On-Line transitioned through various corporate ownerships, ultimately being distributed under the Sierra Entertainment banner.2

Production

The development team was led by Producer Michael Katz, who had extensive experience working on the Hoyle game series.8 The design team included Rabih AbouJaoudé, Dana Armstrong, Eric Fleming, and Robert L. Jerauld, who collaborated to create an accessible gaming experience for younger audiences.1

Jeff Hoyt served as Script Writer for the project, contributing to the character dialogues and in-game text that brought the animated opponents to life.9 Hoyt’s involvement with the Hoyle series extended from 1997 to 2011, making him a significant contributor to the brand’s voice and personality.9

Development Credits:189

  • Producer: Michael Katz
  • Designers: Rabih AbouJaoudé, Dana Armstrong, Eric Fleming, Robert L. Jerauld
  • Script Writer: Jeff Hoyt

Technical Achievements

The game featured internet multiplayer functionality, allowing up to four players to compete online—a notable feature for a children’s game in 2000.1 The Facemaker avatar customization system demonstrated Sierra’s attention to personalization, encouraging children to create unique identities within the game.1 The animated talking Genie helper system provided an accessible way for young players to learn game rules without adult intervention.1

Technical Specifications

CD-ROM Version:17

  • Resolution: 640x480, 800x600, 1024x7687
  • Color Depth: 16-bit color10
  • Media: CD-ROM17
  • Input: Mouse7
  • ESRB Rating: Everyone1
  • Players: 1-4 Players (offline), 4 Players (online)1

Version History

VersionDatePlatformNotes
1.0August 7, 2000WindowsInitial release1
1.0September 7, 2000Windows/MacintoshRetail release25
1.02000Mac OS ClassicMacintosh version10

Easter Eggs and Trivia

  • Captain Scurvy’s Recycled Lines: Captain Scurvy re-uses some voice lines from Captain Barnes who appeared in Hoyle Classic Games (1995), suggesting Sierra economized by reusing voice assets across the Hoyle series.6
  • Marvin the T-Rex: The character Marvin is described as being “self-conscious about his tiny arms and still bitter about the Ice Age,” adding humor that appeals to both children and parents.6
  • Roswell the Alien: Roswell’s backstory references the famous 1947 UFO incident, with the character described as working as a janitor at Area 51—a subtle nod to conspiracy culture that parents would appreciate.6
  • Face Creator Voices: The Face Creator feature includes ten generic voice options that can be applied to custom avatars, providing personalization beyond just visual appearance.6

Voice Cast

The game featured various voice actors for its animated computer opponents. While official credits are limited, community research has identified likely voice performers:6

CharacterVoice Actor
MarvinPat Cashman (likely)
Captain ScurvyPat Cashman (likely)
HarleyPat Cashman or Jeff Hoyt (likely)
Male Voice 1David Scully (likely)
Male Voice 2Ross Douglas (likely)
Male Voice 5Jock Blaney (likely)
Female Voice 1Alyssa Keene (likely)
Female Voice 2Leslie Wadsworth (likely)
Female Voice 3Jen Taylor (likely)
Female Voice 5Amy Broomhall (likely)

Note: Voice actor attributions are based on community research and comparison with other Hoyle titles, not official documentation.6

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

Hoyle Kids Games 2000 was featured in Sierra’s 2000-2001 product catalog on page 19, indicating it was considered an important part of their family product lineup.4 The game was released during a transitional period for Sierra under various corporate ownerships, and represented an effort to diversify the Hoyle brand’s appeal beyond adult gamers.3

Collections

The game was marketed as a standalone product and was part of the broader Hoyle series of game compilations that Sierra produced throughout the 1990s and 2000s.5 It sits alongside other Hoyle titles in Sierra’s extensive catalog of board and card game collections.5

  • Sierra 2000-2001 Catalog: Featured the game on page 19, providing marketing materials and system requirements.4

Critical Perspective

Hoyle Kids Games 2000 represents Sierra On-Line’s attempt to leverage their established Hoyle brand for the children’s market. While Sierra was primarily known for adventure games and adult-oriented card game collections, this title demonstrated the company’s recognition that family-friendly gaming was a viable market segment. The inclusion of internet multiplayer in a children’s game was forward-thinking for 2000, anticipating the social gaming trends that would become dominant in later years.

The game’s emphasis on character personality through opponents like Marvin the T-Rex and Roswell the alien shows Sierra’s understanding that even simple games benefit from distinctive presentation. The Facemaker avatar system presaged the customization features that would become standard in children’s games and later in social platforms. While not as historically significant as Sierra’s adventure game titles, Hoyle Kids Games 2000 serves as an interesting artifact of the company’s diversification efforts during a period of corporate transition.

Downloads

Download / Preservation

Database Entries

Series Continuity

Hoyle Kids Games 2000 was part of Sierra’s extensive Hoyle game series, which began in 1989 with Hoyle’s Official Book of Games.3 The series was known for bringing quality versions of classic card and board games to home computers. This title specifically targeted younger audiences while maintaining the series’ reputation for polished presentation and multiplayer support.1

The game shares character assets with other Hoyle titles, including voice lines recycled from Captain Barnes in Hoyle Classic Games (1995).6 A sequel, Hoyle Kids Games 2001, was released the following year, continuing the children’s sub-series.3

References

Footnotes

  1. MobyGames – Hoyle Kids Games – release dates, credits, features, technical specifications, description, ratings ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26 ↩27 ↩28 ↩29 ↩30

  2. GameFAQs – Hoyle Kids Games – release date, developer, publisher, user ratings ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  3. Wikipedia – Hoyle’s Official Book of Games – series history, context for Hoyle Kids Games titles ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  4. Sierra Chest – Hoyle Kids Games (Publications) – Sierra catalog reference, publication data ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. Sierra Chest – Hoyle Kids Games – platform information, engine, release dates, series info ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  6. Steam Community – Hoyle Kids Games Character Guide – character bios, voice actor speculation, trivia ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12

  7. UVList – Hoyle Kids Games (Windows) – technical specifications, resolution options ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  8. MobyGames – Michael Katz – producer credit confirmation ↩ ↩2

  9. MobyGames – Jeff Hoyt – script writer credit ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  10. UVList – Hoyle Kids Games (Mac) – Macintosh version, color depth specifications ↩ ↩2

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