http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/16986/ubongo

This game is a lot of fun. Think Tangagrams, sort of, but compettive and timed.

There is a much harder 2 player version, called Ubongo Duel, and a version called Ubongo Extrem which is a harder version of this game.

I would recommend buying this version, for the great gems and so forth. Just look at the components in this review:
http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/303083/ubongo-a-detailed-review

Ubongo Extreme is also quite different in where you have a hexagonal grid instead of the square grid, with each unit comprising of a hexagon instead of a square. The scoring method is also different. Draw randomly from a cloth bag and see what type of gem you get. In Ubongo, some may like that better since all the gems are laid out in front of you on a gem track, and you can at least try to plan ahead.

Get a copy!
NOW!!!!
If you have one, get a copy for your neighbor!

This is a fantastic game!

We have Duel and it's a lot of fun and the tetris factor is a huge tractor pull at parties. People try to play it multi-player, so if the accountant says I haven't blew my budget going to get this one.

Ubongo Extreme is good. If I didn't already have a copy I'd pick one up.

Also, since I haven't seen it in awhile...

[21] You are cool.

If my son (29) and D-I-L and their friends like CATAN would they like this game? Or would I need to buy them Ubongo first, or UbongoDuel before getting THE Ubongo Extreme? Is this a game that is played a lot by that age group with no kids (yet)?
Thanks...
From a Christmas Shopping Mom!

I wouldn't say Catan has much of a connection with Ubongo. Ubongo games are more like a puzzle game, whereas Catan is more of what you would actually call a board game (roll dice, trade, build stuff, etc...).

I would say if they enjoyed things like Tetris, or solving puzzles, stuff like that, they would definitely enjoy the Ubongo series. It's certainly fine to start with Ubongo Extreme and then try regular Ubongo later. Ubongo Duel is basically the same as regular Ubongo, but designed for just two players.

Also, my friends and I don't have kids and we play it quite often, if that's worth anything.

Hmm, thought Ubongo was a version of Linux.