Spiderwick Games to Play

'Creature Collection'

• Because Nickelodeon Movies produced "The Spiderwick Chronicles" film, Nickelodeon's official site promoted the movie by hosting three film-related games. In the "Creature Collection" game, players make matches by placing two or more identical cards next to each other on a grid of nine squares. Players click cards from their hand and put them on the grid. Clicking matched cards removes them from the grid, and several consecutive matches earn players more points. Wild cards work as a match for any card, and mystery cards' contents become clear once players place them on the grid. Players may click "Shuffle Cards" up to three times per game to rearrange cards in play, though they lose 200 points for each shuffle. The game ends once players have placed all of their cards on the grid.

'Escape the Grove'

• "Escape the Grove," accessible at the Nickelodeon site, requires players to bring Uncle Arthur's field guide back to the Spiderwick mansion safely. With goblins fast on their trail, players left-click their mouse to jump and use the mouse to run, leading goblins into holes whenever possible. Gooseberries give players a speed boost and players prevent goblins from receiving a boost by destroying mushrooms. Players lose power from the health bar when goblins collide with them. The game ends when the power bar at the top of the screen depletes.

'The Spiderwick Chronicles: Creature Capture Card Game'

• University Games' "The Spiderwick Chronicles: Creature Capture Card Game." recommended for ages 8 and up, puts players in a creature-collecting battle. Each creature requires a different "Power" card combination, leaving players to use strategy for creature collection. The player with the most points after collecting five "Creature" cards wins the game.

'The Siege on Spiderwick Mansion'

• Creatures try breaking down barriers and entering Spiderwick in "The Siege on Spiderwick Mansion," accessible at the Nickelodeon site. Players use their mouse to throw shingles at creatures. Each time creatures break through barriers and reach the mansion, the "Infiltration" bar fills in. To gain power-ups throughout the game, players collect the following items: tomato juice, to take out numerous foes simultaneously; magical powder, to rebuild barriers; and horseshoes, to score bonus points. Players may use a special weapon three times in a game; to use a weapon, players press the space bar. When the "Infiltration" bar fills, the game ends.

'The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Fantastical Field Guide Mystery Game'

• Players take on goblins in the race to locate Uncle Arthur's field guide in University Games' "Spiderwick Chronicles: The Fantastical Field Guide Mystery Game." Recommended for ages 8 and up, the game features a 3-D Spiderwick Estate, three Grace children play pieces, three molded plastic goblins, cage and object tokens, and movement and tool cards that control players' destinations. Players work to prevent the goblins from taking the guide to Mulgarath the ogre.

'The Spiderwick Chronicles' Video Game

• Combating creatures, hunting and capturing fairies and solving puzzles to complete missions comprise players duties in Vivendi/Activision's "The Spiderwick Chronicles," available for the Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation2 and Xbox 360 platforms, as well as PC. Based on the like-titled movie, the game lets fans play as one of the Grace children---each possessing their own special strengths---or as Thimbletack the Brownie, whose small size comes in handy from time to time. During their adventures, players log found objects, which earn them new abilities, quest solutions and the ability to unlock items.