10 interesting and fun vintage board games you’ll love playing
The vintage board games collection boasts a variety of games that millions of people can enjoy playing. Win-A-Card, released in the late 1960s, Scrabble, redesigned by James Brunot, and Monopoly, one of the most iconic strategy games of the 20th century, are among the vintage titles ranked for their gameplay experience, historical significance, and collectibility.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Win-A-Card and James Brunot’s redesigned Scrabble are considered top vintage board games.
- The Shadow Game stands out among vintage board games for being simple to learn and play.
- Boggle is a quick-thinking word search challenge that works perfectly for almost any number of players, including just one.
Top 10 fun vintage board games
We used data from top-rated games blogs like Reader's Digest and Board Game Geek to create this list of the top 10 vintage board games. However, the information provided may not be exhaustive, as selections are subjective and may vary based on different factors such as nostalgia, personal preference, and market value.
| Vintage board game | Year of release |
| Win-A-Card | 1969 |
| Monopoly | 1935 |
| Scrabble | 1948 |
| The Shadow Game | 1940 |
| Trivial Pursuit | 1981 |
| Swift Meats Major League Baseball F162 | 1957 |
| Boggle | 1972 |
| The Elvis Presley Game | 1957 |
| Clue | 1949 |
| Sleuth | 1971 |
1. Win-A-Card
Source: UGC
- Year of release: 1969
- Redesigned/published by: Milton Bradley
One of the most challenging games to find in mint condition is the 60's vintage book board game of Win-A-Card, which largely has a lot to do with how it was designed. This vintage board game differs from others because of its inclusion of a large quantity of 1968 Topps baseball cards.
While these cards are similar to regular Topps releases, they feature a distinctive bright yellow back instead of the standard orange. This popular game holds considerable worth across nearly all collector’s market categories, even those entirely unrelated to board games. According to Austin Woman Club, the complete set of this game costs $1800.
2. Monopoly
Source: UGC
- Year of release: 1935
- Redesigned/published by: Parker Brothers
The classic board games list would be incomplete without Monopoly. It is a two-to-six player game which was published by Parker Brothers approximately 90 years ago, It has now been updated with character art that fits the 21st century.
For instance, to keep up with modern sensibilities and values, Hasbro has introduced new character designs and themes on Monopoly. However, its core gameplay and classic imagery have remained similar to the original.
3. Scrabble
Source: Getty Images
- Year of release: 1948
- Redesigned/published by: James Brunot
Scrabble is a classic word-based board game that has been enjoyed by families for decades. Players take turns in placing letter tiles to form words, either vertically or horizontally, and each new word placed must connect to words already on the board.
Strategic word placement, blocking opponents while opening or closing scoring opportunities, adds spice and interest while playing this game. The winner in a Scrabble game is always the player with the highest score at the end of the game. According to The Guardian, Nigel Richards, a New Zealand national, is one of the world's best Scrabble player.
4. The Shadow Game
- Year of release: 1940
- Redesigned/published by: Whitman
Although Whitman's The Shadow Game is a relatively simple game to learn to play, it has value due to its rarity and connection to a popular radio character from the 1930s and 40s. In this game, one player is given a lantern then designated as the seeker, and a glow-in-the-dark die. The other players who choose hiding places are known as shadowlings.
5. Trivial Pursuit
Source: UGC
- Year of release: 1981
- Redesigned/published by: Hasbro
Trivial Pursuit is an ideal vintage board game for adults, as it spark conversation and test knowledge in an engaging way among players. It's a game where players answer questions from various categories to collect coloured wedges and win.
According to Britannica, Trivial Pursuit's resounding success led to spinoffs, such as games themed around Baby Boomers, Star Wars, and Harry Potter. Additionally, the game has evolved to align with the new technological formats of the times, including video gaming platforms and CD-ROM such as Nintendo and PlayStation.
6. Swift Meats Major League Baseball F162
Source: UGC
- Year of release: 1957
- Redesigned/published: Swift Meats
Swift Meats Major League Baseball F162 is among the classic board games available online. It differs from other sports games because it has 18 collectible perforated cards with baseball players on them that can be punched out and reassembled. The game was inconvenient to acquire and assemble due to its unusual distribution method.
7. Boggle
Source: UGC
- Year of release: 1972
- Redesigned/published by: Parker Brothers
The classic version of this iconic game includes a timer, a grid, a scorepad, and 16 letter cubes. This board game is a quick-thinking word search challenge that works perfectly for almost any number of players, including just one. For you to win, you just need to mix up the letters and race to find the most words before the timer runs out.
8. The Elvis Presley Game
Source: UGC
- Year of release: 1957
- Redesigned/published by: Teen-Age Games
Copies of The Elvis Presley Game are not easy to stumble upon, and it is even harder to locate one that is complete and in good condition. The Elvis Presley Game is one of those that is difficult to find because of the small number of copies that were initially produced. Currently, fewer than six copies are known to have been spotted in good shape.
9. Clue
Source: UGC
- Year of release: 1949
- Redesigned/published by: Parker Brothers and Waddingtons
Clue is among the best classic board games for adults. Its enduring appeal and engaging mystery format have inspired many different editions, books, and even a cult classic film. At the moment, there is the game's Star Wars version that is set on the Empire’s Death Star, and players can choose to be C-3PO, R2-D2, Leia, Luke, Chewbacca, and Han.
Clue is a board game where players use deduction to identify the killer, the murder weapon, and the room where the crime occurred while investigating a murder within a mansion.
10. Sleuth
Source: UGC
- Year of release: 1971
- Redesigned/published by: 3M Gamette Series
Sleuth is another original deduction board game played with 36 Gem Cards, and every card features a type (solitaire, pair, or cluster), a gem (diamond, pearl, or opal), and colour (red, blue, green, or yellow).
Additionally, the game includes a deck of 54 Search Cards, each depicting either a single element, a combination of two elements, or a free choice.
The player who first identifies the missing gem correctly is declared the winner. The players do this by carefully questioning their opponents and gathering information about the gem cards they possess.
Are there any free classic board games online?
Several classic board games are available to play online for free. On the Pogo Games website, you can register and access titles like Wheel of Fortune, Mahjong Safari, and Poppit! HD directly in your browser
What is the Oldest Board Game in the World?
The oldest board game in the world is Mancala/Wari. This board game was played in Egypt, Jordan, and Roman settlements in 2500-1500 BCE, 7000-5000 BCE, and 200-800 CE, respectively.
Some of the interesting and fun vintage board games you’ll love playing include Swift Meats Major League Baseball F162, The Elvis Presley Game, and Trivial Pursuit. These games are ranked based on nostalgia value, personal preference, and market value.
Yen.com.gh recently published an article on the fun long-distance online games. For couples in long-distance relationships, online games offer an engaging and fun way to stay in touch.
Navigating long-distance relationships can be challenging, especially when building intimacy and maintaining a strong emotional bond. Read this article to discover more about long-distance online games which are ideal for long distant lovers.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
