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Family game night, filling the vacation days, vacation trips, or just because, board games are one of the popular entertainment options for nearly any person. The variety of adventures, topics, characters, rulesets, and courses captivate and pit players against others all for sheer fun. The epic episodes could aggravate one player, invigorate the “trash talker,” and giggle another yielding new acquaintances and bonding other kindred friendships.
While this article could also be titled single production, one-off, or the like board games, these are the board games that were only produced within a single year. Several of us in the Generation X genre can remember these board games, primarily from our favorite cartoons, while there are a few others that stood out as popular games. This article will highlight and recall many of these games that we consider as single issue board games. We have done our best to include much of the “Single Issue Board Games,” however we are aware that there are many more that simply were not accounted for.
One final disclaimer that should be addressed, much if not all of the research has been obtained via wikipedia.org and boardgamegeek.com, to include the photographs of each game. Additionally, there are board games towards the end of the 1980s that had several publishers. We noted one or two of the predominant publishers, yet we recommend the reader to visit the resources for more information.
This article is excerpted from a trilogy on our partner site, RediscoverOldSchool.com where we look back at the 20th Century. Feel free to visit the entire A thorough but not exhaustive survey of Single Issue Board Game Trilogy.
Entering into the 1980s decade, we introduce Can’t Stop which was published by Parker Brothers. This game was birthed from a paper and pencil game called The Great Races and this is another game utilizing two, six-sided dice with the goal of closing out three columns in the octagon playboard.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can%27t_Stop_(board_game)
1981
1981 brought another obscure game published by Metagaming called The Air-Eaters Strike Back which is a sequel. This up to 5 player consists of several scenarios creating a playing estimated at three to six hours.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4320/the-air-eaters-strike-back
Published by Ideal, The Dukes of Hazzard board game jumped onto the scene as the players would choose their vehicles (The General Lee, Daisy’s Dixie Jeep, Uncle Jesse’s truck, or Cooter’s Tow Truck) and race from the Hazzard County Courthouse to the farm. The player could choose the highway by rolling 2 dice or the dirt road, rolling a single die, and navigating hazards via the cards or road blocks. The first one to the farm, wins!
Personal Knowledge and Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2925/the-dukes-of-hazzard-game
Published by Threshold Games, Highway 2000 “A game of automobile conflict in the 21st century” entered into the board game list in 1981. Game play consisted of players creating their cars while filling out a Vehicle Control Sheet. Then, they would choose a scenario and begin attacking others. The board was a 5 lane highway and each scenario and roll of the die would make various moves such as accelerating, bumping, and essentially combat each other to ultimately win the game.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13954/highway-2000
Introduced in 1981 was the game Inner Circle. This two to four player game published by Milton Bradley utilized equally dispersed pieces or pawns with the game players beginning their moves by placing each of the characters, on each turn, onto the outer spaces along the hexagon board. The game play continues moving in an attempt to both make a straight line as well as survive as there are key points in which a level of the board is lifted. The pawns lifted are out of play while the surviving pawns that have stayed on the next hexagonal board continue movement until the last pawn remains.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_Circle_(board_game)
1982
G.I. Joe Adventure Board Game marched in by International Games Inc. for 2-4 players to enjoy performing adventures, training, and completing missions. Each mission is considered a cycle and as objective cards are pulled, another mission cycle begins as each player gains more points. The first player to achieve 100 points wins.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4912/gi-joe-adventure-board-game
Knight Rider the board game by Parker Brothers was a unique twist on the television show and chicken challenge. There trouble spots that must be cleared, however only by driving K.I.T.T. can you do this. Each opponent is able to steal K.I.T.T. by playing and wining the chicken challenge cards. The winner is whomever has cleared the most troubled spots and collected the most bonus money.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10322/knight-rider
We move into 1982 with the self-published and designer Jason B. McAllister providing the player with Ant Wars. This game involved the player to be with the tribe of black, brown, or red ants. Much light the insects, the play consisted of queens, workers, and soldiers each having their specific role. This clever yet simple game was contained an eight page rulebook, 32 cards, two maps sheets, and the ant characters.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2837/ant-wars
Necromancer appeared in 1982 a 2-player fantasy game, by Steve Jackson Games, where each player becomes the Necromancer. Each player battle the opponents via skeleton and zombie battles to locate the Jewels of Power and knock out their opponent.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3993/necromancer
1983
Field of Honor was set up with medieval themes and appears to be a simulation of jousting. While this game looks interesting, very little is known about this game as well as information.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7029/field-of-honor
Lost Treasure, published by Parker Brothers, incorporates an electronic device called the Digital Dive Control Center (DDCC) to locate the Lost Treasures. Utilizing a 24x24 grid on the game board, the players utilize dice and move along the grids, guessing the location of the gold or silver treasure chest which has been randomly hidden by the DDCC. The player, suspecting a location, will then issue his scuba divers to search before running out of air. This is all controlled by both the financing, the DDCC, and the port locations giving way to the challenges.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Treasure_(board_game) and https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4668/lost-treasure
We enter into 1983 with Alien Contact wherein we experience another multi-player strategic came. The goal is the each opponent races to colonize, build, and expanse a uninhabited portion of the galaxy. The smaller paper board characters resembled Space Invaders with a mix of similar 8-bit like Star Wars or Star Trek inspired artwork on the game board.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2756/alien-contact-extraterrestrial-empires-in-conflict
Another single issue board game called Calamity! is a Monopoly-like game board where the play is built upon insurance. From claims, issuing premiums, rare objects, collecting the money before calamity or a disaster occurs. This game was published by Games Workshop Limited.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1542/calamity
If you thought “this is the song that never ends” wasn’t enough, there is a compatible board game by Mayfair Games called, “The Forever War.” This sci-fi based board game is based on the Joe Haldeman novel, “Forever War.” The game board is a hexagon style grid (unlike hexagon assembled game boards like Settlers of Catan) with paper board cutouts which represent the infantry and various other characters. The contents include choice of tech levels, scenarios, semi-geoporphic mounted boards, rules for designing your own scenarios, 252 counters, 2 - 6-sided dice, and the playing board.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5043/the-forever-war
The High Crusade came along in 1983 through Simulations Publications, Inc. as a next chapter to the Ares saga. Another board game based on a book of the same name with little known information about the game play, the storyline is that of aliens landing on earth in 1345 AD. However, the knights of the time defeat the aliens and utilize their starship which begins the saga to conquer the remainder of the aliens.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6917/the-high-crusade
The Keep entered 1983 based on a horror film of the same name. This 3-6 player game by Mayfair Games pits one player who portrays the evil demon Molasar while the remaining players play out a similar game play of Clue to locate the single weapon, called the Hilt, hidden in one of the six rooms.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/975/the-keep
Published by Merad Design Games, The President board game players towards winning the election to be the U.S. President (uniquely made in Sheffield, Great Britain by the way). Players endeavor to win party nominations, media promotions, finally winning the majority of the states defined by the rolled die.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/163122/the-president
Shadowlord! published by Parker Brothers pits opponents against each other and a timer. Each of the players claims their Master of Earth, Air, Fire, or Water (not to be confused with Captain Planet) character then embarking through the Universe to enhance their warring capabilities. However, if the time runs out, Shadowlord is declared the winner.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1146/shadowlord
Another hexagon board game called Star published by GAMES Magazine in which the goal is to create the most stars. Each opponent takes turns attempting to place their stones, which resemble smooth checker pieces, and connecting and touching at least 3 partial edges of the hexagon spaces. The opponent with the greatest number of stones within the cluster wins.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/194969/star
1984
The A-Team: B.A. Lends a Hand in the Race for the Formula game published by Parker Brothers is called upon by a famous soda company to retrieve the invaluable formula. Amongst the 2-4 players (A-team characters), the goal is to blend in to the retrieve the formula using the action cards to either speed up yourself or slow down your opponent and finish first.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3018/the-a-team-ba-lends-a-hand-in-the-race-for-the-for
Hammer’s Slammer published by Mayfair Games was based off of the novel by Dave Drake. Utilizing another hexagon grid as the play area, wherein the players control military units including the title name character, Hammer’s Slammers, through a series of phases for the gameplay.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammer%27s_Slammers_(board_game)
An adventure game by Iron Crown Enterprises, Lonely Mountain has each opponent ebbing towards the Lonely Mountain on a hexagon grid to steal what they can before Smaug the Dragon wakes and destroys all the characters consisting of dwarves, elves, men, orcs, and freebooters.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2736/the-lonely-mountain
Victory Games introduced the 2 player game Panzer Command: The Gateway to Stalingrad in 1984. This strategic combat hexagon grid game enables each player to orchestrate 40 - 60 units of either a German armored division or Soviet tank corps during the World War II era.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2072/panzer-command-the-gateway-to-stalingrad
1985
While there are a number of Chase titled games, this particular Chase board game published by Tactical Studies Rules uses dice as the game pieces. A hexagon grid serves as the piece’s travel as the player roles the die and moves that number of hexagon spaces as indicated (e.g. rolled a 5 - move 5 hex spaces, etc). The goal is to keep your total die count to 25, no matter the configuration of each die. If an opponent drops below 25, they lose.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316/chase
Milton Bradley published this G.I. Joe Commando Attack board game which is unlike the previous G.I. Joe Adventure Board Game published in 1982. Like Hotels, this is another 3D-like board game with buildings as part of the game play. This game entails a clear team, G.I. Joe and Cobra, comprised of 2 squads containing 6 soldiers within each. The turns are unique as the player rolls a single die per squad and that number moves only a few soldiers within each squad. Hazards can stop soldier movement, combat occurs with the dice rolls, with the primary objective to invade their opponents headquarters.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/35618/gi-joe-commando-attack
Lead singer of the British punk bands Writz and The Technos, Steve Fairnie and U2 set designer and lighting director, Willies William designed the game Hype for those wanting to dabble into becoming a hit band. Virgin Games Limited published this game as each player works through their efforts of starting a pop or rock band, performing at local venues, recording demos for record deals, and traveling to big name gigs to become the Number 1 hit.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hype_(board_game)
M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand): Raid and Rescue Game published by Parker Brothers pits the M.A.S.K. team against V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem) as they attempt regain their transforming vehicles from V.E.N.O.M. 2-4 players are enticed to play along and collect 5 pairs of the M.A.S.K. vehicles and/or Boulder Hill Bunker cards to win. But be careful, there are V.E.N.O.M. agents disguised as M.A.S.K. agents. Is illusion the ultimate weapon in this board game?
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/13524/mask-raid-and-rescue-game
Who knew they made solitaire board games like Mosby’s Raiders: Guerilla Warfare in the Civil War? Published by Victory Games, Mosby’s Raiders illustrates the battlefield in which the sole player (portrayed as the namesake Colonel John S. Mosby) pushes towards the Union War as a Confederate warrior. Through various scenarios, the player’s goal is to continue scoring points and ultimately disrupt the supply lines of the Union.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosby%27s_Raiders_(game)
Tales of Arabian Nights published by West End Games is a storytelling style game in which each player reads a paragraph with the reader reading to opponents moves with a choice option. Each choice leads to either another adventure or another paragraph read while gaining skills and statuses with the ultimate goal of becoming rich and returning to Baghdad.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/788/tales-of-the-arabian-nights
Voltron: Defender of the Universe provided the player the feel of battling robeasts with each chosen lion and their pilot. They must first find the 5 lion keys before they can ultimately form Voltron. Game play consists of dodging laser blasts and the robeasts as each character traverses a grid game board.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12268/voltron-defender-of-the-universe
1986
Britannia published by Gibsons Games in the UK and The Avalon Hill Came Company in the U.S. is a 3-5 player strategy board game wherein it recreates the battles from the millennia-long wrestling for control of England, Scotland, and Wales. While the player can recreate the battles there is plenty of freedom to change the battle scenarios in an effort of every opponent having a close race with the final roll of the dice ultimately declares the winner.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia_(board_game)
Die Macher, published by Hans im Glück, is a 3-5 player a Germany based board game with a political spirit. Players vie to collect resources as they endeavor to become elected via victory points. There are various elections held throughout the game play which aid in obtaining the victory points to become the elected winner.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1/die-macher
Photo Courtesy: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1768/fireball-island
A unique, 3D board game called Fireball Island published by Milton Bradley is a clever and dynamic game in which the explorers choose their pathways and shortcuts through caves to climb atop the mountain to obtain a giant ruby. Cards, moves, and the chance of a fireball or a series of fireballs knocking a single or multiple players off the board. Winning is achieved by crossing a pair of treacherous bridges and getting into the awaiting boat.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1768/fireball-island
Published by Milton Bradley, Hotels (known a Hotel elsewhere) is another near 3D board game that is notably similar to various owned/licensed property Monopoly. The three dimensional portion of the playset is in the form of the buildings that each opponent builds upon purchasing chosen properties. At key points, expansion or entrances can be purchased to gain the financial edge that the opponent will ultimately need to pay rent and lead to their bankruptcy.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_(board_game)
Labyrinth published by Ravensburger provides a unique and changing game board which can be slid in or out as necessary to slow down or change the labyrinth’s directions. This puzzle game enables the player to collect treasures along the ever changing maze. The first to collect all the treasures and return to their home space wins.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1219/labyrinth
A controversial game mimicking the regime of South Africa called Oppression surface the board game realm and was published by Midson Limited. This game, which includes a warning on the rulebook, presented up to 12 players with a government versus the people game play. A quick storyline synopsis on the bottom of the box guides the player into a world of being either the oppressor or the oppressed. However, there are advantages and disadvantages on either side.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/26231/oppression
Platoon the board game was based upon two premises: the Academy Award Winning film and the regiment or platoon during the Vietnam conflict. Game play uses a hex game grid to move the character along. There are 152 counter moves to include opposing infantry, mines, traps, and many more provide a diverse game play for the two player game.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2812/platoon
Milton Bradley published Power Barons which arguably may be classified as a card game. While there is game piece movements involved, the primary play occurs with the four suits of cards which contain various values to obtain the highest score.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/535/power-barons
Invented by George R. Sekle Sr, Quatrochess uses a 14x14 game board where either each of the 4 players or a teamed 2-on-2, two-player can move each game piece along the oversized game board. While the original Chess game pieces are present, each of them are grouped into 4 corners. Variations on the original Chess game also appear such as there is a squareless center that no character can traverse, the is no castle and fairy pieces are introduced as upside down. These fairies are the mann which is an upside down king but has no power, the ferz is an inverted bishop and moves only one space diagonally, and the giraffe is an inverted knight and moves in a 1,4 movement only. Winning is achieved by being the lone surviving player or team.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quatrochess
Seaside Frolics published by San Seriff Print Promotions Limited with the objective of the game to visit the most sights and collect postcards. Game play is timed as the player has a limited time to see the most attractions, using the dice as the movement to achieve this goal.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4585/seaside-frolics
Thunder Road published by Milton Bradley pits each player utilizing 3 cars and a helicopter along a highway attempting to either duke it out amongst the opponent’s vehicles or race ahead of them. The game play can be nearly unending as there are two gameboards and upon the remaining vehicles exiting onto another gameboard, the former is emptied of any crashed vehicles and is placed ahead of the other.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/804/thunder-road
While not a card board-board game, Torpedo Run! was Milton Bradley published floor played game (unless you had a large dining room or sports table). Each player controls World War II battleships with a submarine which fires red discs, the torpedoes, which hits the opponents ships causing damage. Yes! Each hit could trigger the ship’s turrets to eject or damage then, ultimately, sink the ship when all of the turrets have been removed.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2457/torpedo-run
Triumph published by Creative Crusade Limited was a hexagonal board similar in appearance to Chinese Checkers. This checkers-like game used tetrahedron-shaped characters or pieces landing on triangular spaces while vying to capture all of the opponents pieces to win.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/10073/triumph
1987
Published by Games Workshop Limited, Blood Royale entertains 3-5 players on a journey to pilot the dynasty or blood line of ancestors traversing generations to gain the most money. The game levies the opponents upon the political and ruling power within their country to win the game. The game consisted of a 6-piece board, 30 characters, 96 coins, 63 event cards, and 250 counters which represent armies, 3 - six-sided dice, and 1 - ten-side die.
Sources: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/248/blood-royale and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Royale
Central America published by Victory Games was a challenging 2 player game with variations of scenarios depending on the skill level of the players. This game utilized land and air combat to incorporate the dynamic and interactive game play.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2080/central-america
Flying Carpet published by Ravensburger has the 3-6 players attempting to circumvent obstacles while flying amongst the sky and clouds to arrive at the destination or finishing line first. While the game consists of maneuver cards and a unique die which can over-rule the card, strategy is the key to finishing first.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1101/flying-carpet
Published by San Serif Print Publications Limited, Man the Lifeboat was inspired by the real life adventures of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution whom answered the distress calls from sea vessels. The goal of each player is to rescue as many people as possible.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23543/man-the-lifeboat
Mixma+h is a mathematical based game published by Wrebbit in Canada and with resemblance to the Scrabble gameboard and tiles wherein the 2-4 players assemble equations to achieve points. To become the winner, the player with the most points wins.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2858/mathable
The life of a trucker is the concept of this game called Mr. Trucker. The husband and wife team both designed and published this game educating the novice about trucking such as regulations, tariffs, loans/borrowing money, as well as the transporting of goods.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/15598/mr-trucker
Another board game based upon World War II, Onslaught pitted 2 players characterized as Western and Eastern Germany units. This challenging game published by Tactical Studies Rules plays out for 20 months of play with each subsequent month providing players with supply points. The player must choose which supply to use with each turn, however the opponent can capture supply points which challenges the other to change tactics. Game play occurs on a hexagonal grid with the winner being the higher number of units.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4287/onslaught
Quadromania published by Red Dragon Games enables 2 players consisting of colors or shapes with the game play consisting the color team attempting to match their colors either as a row of blue, for instance, or 2x2 formations such as red and yellow. The opposing shapes contestant scores by achieving a row of a single shape such as stars, or a 2x2 formation of circles and triangles. Ultimately, the player with the most points wins the game.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12020/quadromania
Photo Courtesy: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3712/tac-air
Tac Air is a complex and entertaining 2-4 player board game published by the Avalon Hill Game Company that fills the game play with aircraft from various country forces as opponents. 13 scenarios enhance game play and complexity from minor encounters to complete campaigns.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3712/tac-air
Vultures is a cartoonist in appearance board game published by Henry Games wherein 2-4 players work to gather carcasses without being bombarded by use of cards. The goal is to collect 5 carcasses and return to your tree to win.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18203/vultures
1988
Not to be confused by the television sitcom, the board game Bewitched published by Waddington Sanders Limited in which 2-4 players consisting of 3 frogs each work throughout the game play in an effort to be turned back into 3 princes. Witch hats conceal 4 spell books with only one of them being the real spellbook. As the frogs find the real spell book, they win by returning to their lily pads first however they face obstacles along the way to include a cat which can enable another player to steal the spell book.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2306/bewitched
Buck Rogers: Battle for the 25th Century Game published by Tactical Studies Rules features the solar system designed from the 1950s yet based from the Buck Rogers television series. 2-6 players are welcomed into the circular game play with various characters to employ as the team builds factories, areas are suspected to be attacked by ships at any time, points are determined depending on the unit being attacked and defended, while ultimately working towards ebbing for control of various planets and their moons.
Sources: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/548/buck-rogers-battle-for-the-25th-century-game and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Rogers_%E2%80%93_Battle_for_the_25th_Century
Bug Hunter Sniper! is a board game that is a sci-fi based game matching human space adventurers against alien bug-like monsters. Up to 3 players play upon a hexagon grid consisting of 2-sided maps creating several adventures along with a separate st of achievements to win.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5940/bug-hunter-sniper
Clash of Arms Games published The Campaigns of Robert E. Lee which take place along the Eastern United States during the American Civil War. Gameplay consists of 10 scenarios as the 2-player game pits Union and Confederate forces upon a hexagon grid encompassing similar scenarios their historical figures endured.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6826/the-campaigns-of-robert-e-lee
Cover Up is a 2-4 player game which delivers a basic or advanced skill for the opponents. Published by Manik Games, the goal is to cover up your character’s footprints while revealing your opponent’s. As a detective, the goal is to reveal 2 hidden locations of one another’s murdered victims. The uncaught murderer or victorious detective is the winner.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19860/cover-up
Games Workshop Limited published this 1-4 player game called Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb. This 3D board game has the players each racing to the top of the Khonsu Pyramid and obtaining the Elixir of Life while encountering traps, creatures, and the mummy. A deck of cards yields the various discovered, hazards, monsters, and movements while a 12-sided die is used to start the game. Using Tana leaves to bid, the winner moves the Mummy one space with each player having 3 choice upon their turn: Heal, Move, or Pass. The object is to grasp the Elixir of Life and subsequently test 3 specific attributes, successfully, to win.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/62/curse-of-the-mummys-tomb
Dorada is a 2-4 player game published by Ravensburger where each player begins with 4 checker-like token. Movement is made as a die is rolled, however there are holes along the path. If a token falls in the hole, it is then lost. However, this now because an available space to land on. Points are gained the farther down the pathway, however the more frequent stops, the points are gathered thus it is wise not to be too quick at completing the game.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5155/dorada
Tactical Studies Rules published Dragonlance as a 2-6 player 3D game which players direct a group of dragons looking for the Dragonlance. The first player to grasp the Dragonlance from the central tower and return back through the circular, yet hex grid playboard wins. However, opponents can attach, steal, crash, ultimately intercepting the Dragonlance.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/795/dragonlance
Ea$y Money published by Milton Bradley uses stacks of money with each of the 2-4 players moving the same token along the game board in an effort to rake in the money while draining the center money pile. Each space landed directs the movement or play activity such as collecting 1 or 2 million dollars, conducting a lottery, Wall Street play, or collecting a mystery jackpot. The game play subsides when the money from center of the gameboard has emptied with the winner having the most money.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/11147/ea-dollar-y-money
Full Metal Planete appeared from Ludodelire as a sci-fi strip mining board game wherein 2-4 players land on a planet and dig for ore. Opponents use barges, boats, mining equipment, tanks, and a primary ship while using a bank of points to assign movements to various pieces as they choose. No dice is involved, rather each player goes around, turn by turn, on a timed period so rapid thinking and game play keeps the hex grid and metal figures moving.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/20/full-metal-planete
Girl Talk published by Alga utilizes a spin wheel which reveals an action or sharing gossip. This 2-10 player game entertains the players while being comical and whacky amongst the players, yet the winner is declared when the first player collects a fortune card from each of the four categories.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5717/girl-talk
Based upon the novel Tom Clancy, Tactical Studies Rules published the board game The Hunt for Red October which permits 2 players to go against the other as NATO vs the Soviets. 8 scenarios challenge the players to combinations of aircraft, submarines, and surface ships to use as they deem necessary along the gameboard. The player uses a double-sided cardboard figure to traverse all while each space displays information about detection attempts. The players enter combat when they have been detected while the winner is established by the scenario rather than last team standing or the player with the most points
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2903/the-hunt-for-red-october
Insider Dealing published by Fantasy Games Limited is a take on the stock exchange wherein the player attempts to buy and sell stocks while making a profit from one or more of the six companies. 2-6 players battle each other as the market rises and falls with insider information being revealed at key moments during game play. The first player to acquire £1 million and return to the start square wins.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25862/insider-dealing
Maloney’s Inheritance is a 3-6 player board game where players move from city-to-city using a single car. Every player has a goal of reaching a different city at varying intervals to gather the most points. While the car moves along from player’s turn to player’s turn, these moves can benefit one player while causing another to lose opportunities. After each turn, the car is auctioned off with the player paying the bank and choosing the next destination of the car. Each city contains a suitcase where the player either gains points and/or money or loses points and/or money. The winner is the player who receives 69 points first or the game ends when a player is out of cards.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1924/maloneys-inheritance
In Merchant of Venus, players enter the role of space traders exploring the solar systems to find fortune and wealth as they look to trade. Depending on modifications changes game play as well. For instance, dice are used to travel along the board, however engine upgrades allow skips or “light jumps” to the next spaceport. This game published by the Avalon Hill Game company allows 1-6 players with the winner being the first to obtain the most deeds and money.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/230/merchant-of-venus
Mertwig’s Maze depicts the 2-9 players as the heirs who work towards collecting 2 royal items, then battling Mystic Musk-Ox. This game published by Tactical Studies Rules uses a fantasy-like game story along with equipping themselves along the journey to prove to King Mertwig you’re worth.
Sources: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1965/mertwigs-maze and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mertwig%27s_Maze
Ocean Trader is, as the name implies, a game based upon oceanic trading. 2-6 players journey from various, worldwide ports duking it our to arrive and receive the first 2 deliveries of commodities to receive payment. Clipper Games Limited published this dice rolled board game which moves the ships throughout the game board. To win, a player who has the majority of 10 shares and declares it, the game ends after 12 rounds upon such declaration. At the end of which, the player who has £750, the majority of the shares, and has one remaining ship is the ultimate champion.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Trader and https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/14196/ocean-trader
Ravensburger published Roller Coaster Hippo is a party-played board game in which 3-6 players roll a character drawn dice in combination with the player having to answer questions, mime, or model the object out of clay. Silly tasks are presented to add comical value.
Sources: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4587/roller-coaster-hippo and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_Coaster_Hippo
Share Mania published by Perfect Games is a board game focused on the stockmarket and primarily uses custom printed dice for game play. Two levels of game play, basic and advanced, allow this 2-8 player game to navigate buying low, selling high, put options and taking out loans to race towards achieving the first £1 Million, basic game, or £2 Million (free of loans and put options), in the advanced game.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18216/share-mania
Published by Game Designers’ Workshop, Sky Galleons of Mars takes 2-6 players through a sci-fi voyage conducted in 3 phases. An initial phase either forms or removes boarding teams and assign or change their crews. The second and third phases called the movement/fire phases is when the game truly engages by moving their ships, shoot at the opposing player with the opponent doing the same on their turn. Game play is conducted on a hex grid with various scenarios and two skill levels.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5559/sky-galleons-of-mars
Slick! is another single issue game wherein the 3-6 players purchase shares in 7 oil refining companies. Published by Rostherne Games, the game play builds upon companies which refine and establish depots in which customers purchase the oil. The winner is declared at the end of the game with the richest player who is holding the most of the assets.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9370/slick
This wargaming game centers around Northern Africa deserts as 2-4 players enjoy Targui. Published by Jumbo, allows a variable game board as each card dealt features several degrees of strategy. Targui includes several pieces and several hours of play as the person with the most economical value is declared the winner.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/202/targui
Test of Arms is a dual player wargame published by Game Designers’ Workshop wherein game play is conducted on a hex grid. Based upon post World War II engagements and the scenarios in those smaller Asia theater conflicts, each player takes a turn and performs various actions within their given turn. For instance, the player categorizes targets and rolls a die to see if air support is available, then attacks the opponent with a few or all of their unit which enables the physical movement which may be countered by the opponent, and so on.
Sources: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4935/test-of-arms and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_of_Arms
1989
Become a culinary expert with A la carte! Published by Moskito Spiele, the 2-4 player game has each contestant attempting to create a masterpiece while countering their opponent, to include stealing their recipe, adding spices - but not too much as it could ruin and restart your dish.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/217/a-la-carte
BattleTech: Battletroops published by Freedonian Aeronautics and Space Administration (FASA) is a 2 player game in which battles occur within the city and is centered in a futuristic, 31st century. Unfortunately, little else is mentioned within the research.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7943/battletech-battletroops
Published by R&D Games, Chamelquin is played upon an 8x8 colored grid. 2-4 players move a pin and accumulate colored rings along the grid, either in a single move adding the matching colored ring of the space (e.g. red ring added when landing on a red square) or removing a ring and moving 3 spaces in an effort to capture the opponent’s pieces.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/14309/chamelequin
Clubhouse Baseball published by Clubhouse Games simulates a baseball game for 1-2 players. Each player is a complete owner, manager, and coach wrapped up while utilizing the statistical data cards of 624 Major League players to recreate a play using the strategy cards to get the most runs and ultimately, the win!
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12801/clubhouse-baseball
Test your espionage skills with Counter Intelligence published by Zzota Games. This 2 player game directs their team agents to capture Master Modules while avoiding the opponent’s agents. This gameset is unique as it is packaged in a leather sleeve versus the common cardboard enclosure with magnetic pieces which equally provides a portable car game as well. Winning is achieved by capturing any one of the five Master Module pieces.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/123444/counter-intelligence
How good is your memory? Published by The Great Games Company, Echelon challenges the 2-6 players on phrases from works of fiction and choosing between 2 potential answers. Points are obtained from correct answers and bonus points on a 3D echelon score board.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12644/echelon
This 2-5 player game entitled Favoriten published by Walter Müller’s Spielewerkstatt is based upon horse race betting. Gameplay consists of racing 5 horses in three complete circuits. Each player rolls a die and pushes one of the horse characters that number of spaces., however prior to the turn a player is permitted to place a bet with other players either accepting or declining the bet. Upon completion of the three races, the player who originally placed the bet on the winning horse receives the largest payout.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/593/favoriten
Jump the Queue published by Spear’s Game pits 2-4 players to grasp the best parking space at their assigned beachside hotel. As the journey ensues along a roadway, each player moves 5 vehicles while encountering traffic which interrupts or delays the player into getting that ideal parking spot with the greatest point value.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9254/jump-the-queue
Task Force Games published Liftoff! wherein the goal is to be the first of up to 4 players to land astronauts on the moon and return them back to Earth safely. Each player is on their own endeavor to purchase hardware, event scenario, hiring a team of astronauts, and engineer future space missions. Accumulating and rolling a particular die establishes the player’s success or increase challenges along with rolls for liftoff, orbital burns, space walks, and so on.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2853/liftoff
Light Division. played by 1-2 players, focuses the gameplay on the U.S. military conflicts against Iran. Published World Wide Wargames and honed in on the Strait of Hormuz, the hexagon playboard provides 5 scenarios and a 10 sided die as the course delivers several hours of gameplay.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8382/light-division
A tactical game utilizing a hex grid called MBT (Main Battle Tank) enabled the 2 players to take turns completing a set of phases as they combat the other forces. This complex game published by The Avalon Hill Game Company involves 436 counters amongst a myriad of vehicles including: airplanes, helicopters, infantry, tanks, and trucks.
Sources: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3710/mbt and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBT_(board_game)
Enjoy playing as a detective in Murphy published by Flying Turtle Games. This 2-6 player board game encourages players to search for clues as they each strive to locate the McCoin fortune’s rightful heirs. The adventures, of which, are based upon the South East Asia area of the world.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2074/murphy
Quicksand published by Parker Brothers creates a jungle-like adventure wherein the player escorts their character from start to finish. However, they need to overcome obstacles such as mudslides which may hinder you while using hanging vines to swing forward. The journey is fraught with quicksand as well as a clever alligator so the one who survives and reaches camp is the winner.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2518/quicksand
Here’s a game that allows for devious cheats and betting on the opponent. The Really Nasty Horse Racing Game published by Rascals Products Limited mimics horseracing along with the antics that are associated with the real life races. Opponents are permitted to bet for their opposition consisting of 2-6 players but the game play could be dulled if not for the fact that the cards inject the cheating tricks to ensure the game is both comical and nothing but boring.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/126/the-really-nasty-horse-racing-game
Red Storm Rising is another war minded board game published by Tactical Studies Rules. Each of the 2-4 players take their turn at moving 5-6 different units while traversing the Eurasia arena.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/image/428507/red-storm-rising
Engelmann Military Simulations published Rise and Fall in which 1-6 players battle amongst their chosen realms: Eastern Rome, Western Rome, Persia, or Barbarian Horde. Set around the medieval times, this challenging game provides hours of game play over the Mediterranean theater with over 500 counters, 5 - ten sided dice, and various scenarios.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3403/rise-and-fall
Published by BURK-Verlag, Traber Derby Spiel is a horse harness racing board games where each driver attempts to position their horse character via a combination of colored dice and ‘spurt’ cards. After 3 complete races, the player with the most accumulated points is declared the derby winner.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/20811/traber-derby-spiel
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