The Enduring Legacy of the 90s Nightmare VHS Board Game
A Trip Down Memory Lane
When I decided to start a blog about 80s and 90s nostalgia, I knew that one of my first posts had to be about the Nightmare VHS board game!
I hope that you had the opportunity to play this wicked awesome game from the early 90s. It was mind-blowing at the time because it made a board game actually scary.
It was unique because it paired the tabletop gameplay with an accompanying VHS that helped progress the gameplay. The VHS also scared the crap out of you. Periodically the ticking digital clock on screen would be interrupted by a crash of thunder and the Gatekeeper would appear, commanding all players to “STOP.”
I don’t know about you, but I had a major horror movie obsession in my early teens. Knowing this, my mom gave me a copy of the horror-themed Nightmare VHS board game for one of my birthdays. Thanks mom!
The Nightmare VHS Board Game – A Game That Scared Us Silly in the 90s
It soon became my favourite game. My little brother, sister, and I would play it often. Once or twice we even convinced my mom to play it too.
It was good old fashioned family fun nights playing Nightmare. With the lights off, we’d sit in front of the TV, taking turns moving our game pieces through the graveyard, trying not to die, or get banished to the black hole.
As the clock counted down, the Gatekeeper became more and more sinister looking. So much so, that my sister could barely look at the TV screen.
My little sister was a trooper though. She was 3 years younger than me but she insisted on playing. She promised that she wouldn’t get scared or have nightmares.
I’m guessing she was 9 or max 10 years old the first time she played. It’s kinda wild that my mom was ok with her playing. Credit to my mom for understanding the fun that could be had by experiencing a few good jump scares, while deep down knowing, that we are all together in the comfort, and safety of our family home.
Rediscovering Nightmare: A Look Back
It has been a long time since I last played a round of the game. Some of the details about the actual gameplay are a little hazy. Good old google helped me remember the following important deets.
The Nightmare VHS board game was created by Aussies: Phillip Tanner and Brett Clements. It was originally released in 1991 by the creators own production company: “Couple ‘A Cowboys.”
The game was rebranded as “Atmosfear” in Europe due to some trademark issues with an existing “Nightmare” game.
This Australian export was a unique blend of board game and video experience, where players raced against time and against the game’s host, The Gatekeeper, to collect keys and conquer challenges.
It was designed for 3-6 players aged 12 and up (or 9 and up if you were as brave as my little sister!).
Nightmare was set in a fictional place called “The Other Side,” with each player adopting the persona of one of the six “Harbingers:” Gevaudan the werewolf, Hellin the poltergeist, Khufu the mummy, Baron Samedi the zombie, Anne de Chantraine the witch, and Elizabeth Bathory the vampire.
So You’d Like to Play a Game – How Nightmare was Played
The gameplay revolved around collecting six keys while trying to beat the clock as it ticked away on screen.
At random intervals, the game is interrupted by The Gatekeeper, who could taunt, reward, or penalize players in various ways.
Before starting the game, players had to write their “greatest fear” on individual slips of paper. The game is won after collecting six keys of the player’s character colour, and reaching the centre of the game board to draw a “fear”.
If the fear drawn matches another player’s, the game ends, and that player wins. If the player draws their own fear, they lose and are out of the game. Should no player succeed within 60 minutes, The Gatekeeper wins.
Each Harbinger is based on either a real person, or a myth. Except for Hellin, which was created entirely by one of the game’s creators, Brett Clements.
Each of the characters bring a mix of horror and historical intrigue into the game. They make the game more interesting than if the game pieces didn’t includ their unique horror-themed backstories.
My fave was always Baron Samedi. For some reason, I thought I remembered his name was “Baron de Samedi,” but turns out I imagined the “de.” Probably fragments of my elementary French classes influencing my recollections from back in the day.
Nightmare’s Legacy in Numbers
I know that our family loved the game. It was usually a hit with my friends if they got to play it when they came over.
I was never too sure whether the game was more broadly popular or not, given the horror niche it belonged to. Because of the game’s VHS video component, I wondered if it might be taboo amongst board game traditionalists.
From what I can suss out, Nightmare actually was fairly popular. It was particularly big in Australia, leading to sold-out events and various marketing endeavours, including a collaboration with Pepsi.
The game sold its 2 millionth copy by Christmas 1993, 2 years after its initial release, making it a bestseller in the board game category during the early 90s.
Consumers seemed to approve of the game’s innovative integration of video with board game mechanics.
Expansions and the Evolution of Fear – Can You Dig It?
Following the success of the original game, the series continued with several expansions: Nightmare II (hosted by my guy: Baron Samedi), Nightmare III (hosted by Anne de Chantraine), and Nightmare IV (hosted by Elizabeth Bathory).
These expansions introduced new VHS tapes, time and fate cards, and modifications to the rules and gameplay.
We would eventually own them all. I remember it being a lot of fun back then as we anxiously awaited each new expansion to come out.
Despite plans for further expansions, declining sales with each successive episode led to the cancellation of the fourth expansion which was slated to be based on Khufu the mummy.
It was a sad day in our household when we realized that the years of experiencing new Nightmares had come to an end. (Or so we thought.)
Gatekeepers Never Say Die
Unbeknownst to us, the series actually continued on. In 1995, the Nightmare VHS board game took a bit of a detour and “Atmosfear: The Harbingers” was released. It incorporated a number of changes and updates to the game play, based on actual player feedback.
I’m not sure how we missed this continuation of our beloved franchise because this new game apparently did well. Its success landed it on top 10 best-seller lists in the US and the UK in 1996.
A few booster tapes were released for “the Harbingers” before the franchise was once and for all banished to the black hole. (Or was it?)
In 2004, “Atmosfear: The Gatekeeper” was released after a long and expensive 9-year production period. This version of the game came with a DVD instead of a VHS. The DVD utilized ground-breaking randomization technology so that the game experience was different each time.
One more DVD iteration of Nightmare was released in 2006. This time Khufu finally got his time in the spotlight as this edition focussed on him.
After that, the game was banished to the black hole for all eternity.
A Modern Revival: Nightmare VHS board Game – 30th Anniversary Edition
Or so it seemed. (I know, this game just refuses to die). In 2019, a groundswell of supporters got together and started a Kickstarter campaign to crowd-fund a “30th Anniversary Edition” of the game.
The 30th Anniversary Edition of the game was released in 2021, breathing new life into the franchise. The modern version of the game updated the original VCR experience by including links to streaming or downloadable video content instead.
This edition aimed to recreate the original game while introducing new playing pieces, extra cards. It featured an expansion focusing on Baron Samedi. Additionally, a new backstory for The Gatekeeper was developed which no doubt enriches the game’s lore.
As soon as I ’m done writing this post, I’m going to see if I can find a copy. I’m intrigued to see how this new version stacks up against my memories of how entertaining the originals were. I wonder if I will crave the old VHS version though.
Thinking about it now, it was pretty admirable that the game could entice a bunch of teens to commit up to an hour of their time to uninterrupted gameplay. Other than Monopoly and RISK, there weren’t many other games that demanded that kind of commitment.
Could you imagine if they could still pull that off now? An hour without cell phones, social media or other distractions? Is that even doable?
Behind The Scenes: The Actor Who Played The Gatekeeper
In reading up on Nightmare, I was curious to see what information was available about the actor who played the original Gatekeeper. I bet that the game wouldn’t have been the hit it was, without his contribution.
The OG Gatekeeper was portrayed by actor Wenanty Nosul. Nosul was born in 1949 in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, (which is now Belarus). Nosul then grew up in Poland.
IMDB reports that he is still working in the entertainment industry and has acting credits listed as recently as 2022. It appears that Nosul’s portrayal of the Gatekeeper was so convincing and iconic though, that it overshadowed a lot of his other acting roles. After all these years, he is still best known for his role as The Gatekeeper.
Nosul’s Gatekeeper is known for calling players “maggots,” and demanding that they always answer him by stating “yes, my gatekeeper.”
Terrifying Nightmares and Eerie Atmosfears Engulf the World
Thankfully the Ausies didn’t keep this game all to themselves, and it was distributed into markets across the globe.
It made it all the way up to us here in Canadaland. It also found its way into other English speaking households in the US and the UK.
Nightmare was localized into several languages, including French, German, and Dutch. These versions featured dubbed voices for The Gatekeeper, adapting the game for non-English speaking audiences. The French version, known as “Le Maître des Ténèbres,” became particularly popular, showcasing the game’s widespread appeal.
Marketing a Nightmare
Nightmare’s marketing department were some out-of-the-box thinkers. The Nightmare collaboration with Pepsi included a “Challenge.” It gave players the opportunity to win hundreds of prizes worth $1000s of dollars.
Nightmare’s marketing strategies also included unique promotions such as sleepover events in toy stores, and interactive VHS tapes sent to retail stores to demonstrate the game’s mechanics.
MTV spots and commercials shown in movie theatres were also lucrative advertising investments. These were perfect places to reach the game’s target demographic of teens and young adults.
These efforts contributed significantly to the game’s cult status and commercial success. The good folks down under at Couple ‘A Cowboys enlisted the expertise of a few other production, advertising and distribution companies over the years. They also partnered with the likes of Mattel as they aggressively marketed their unique product.
Smart and strategic, the game makers were able to ensure that copies of their games made it into a number of households across the globe between the early 90s up to the mid 2000s. Returning again in 2022.
The game also had a music videos and hit song. The music videos were featured at dance parties in places like “Austalia’s Wonderland,” and other large venues across the globe. Only in the 90s!
What Could Have Been: Movie Spin-Offs and Missed Opportunities
As the game’s popularity grew, and after it infiltrated MTV and the 90s music scene, there was brief talk of a movie spinoff. Sadly, the game’s popularity started to decline before the concept for a movie could really come together.
With the most recent reboot of the franchise, who knows though. If we’ve learned anything about the Nightmare franchise, it’s that it refuses to die.
For those who fondly remember the peak popularity of Nightmare/Atmosfear, a movie adaptation would be welcome news.
Given some of the less impressive 90s spinoffs that have been turned into movies, a Nightmare movie wouldn’t be the worst idea out there.
The Enduring Appeal of the Nightmare VHS Board Game
Nightmare’s legacy as a pioneering blend of video and board game mechanics, coupled with its engaging horror theme, continues to captivate audiences.
Its commercial success, innovative marketing, and the passionate community that grew around it highlight its significance in board game history.
Remember, this game hit just before the internet became a big thing, and pretty much at the peak of VHS rentals and sales. I think timing had a lot to do with its success.
You have to give credit to its creators for attempting to adapt and update their game to keep up with the times.
I’m pumped that the game didn’t die back in the mid 90s like I had always assumed it had. The 30th Anniversary Edition might have to go on my list for Santa this year.
My daughter is 13 now and is also interested in the horror genre. She might get a kick out of Nightmare too.
Let’s talk about Nightmare and Atmosfear
Did you grow up with Nightmare/Atmosfear?
Would you play an updated version like the 30th Anniversary Edition?
Do you remember what you would’ve written down as your deepest fears?
Share your memories or thoughts on this iconic game in the comments below.
Thanks for stopping by to remember this creepy 90s game.
Writing about it brought back a lot of great memories.
Have a rad rest of your day.
FAQs
When was Nightmare originally released?
Nightmare was originally released in 1991.
Who is The Gatekeeper?
The Gatekeeper is the host of the game, portrayed by actor Wenanty Nosul, who interrupts the gameplay with challenges.
How many expansions of the Nightmare VHS board game were released?
Three expansions were released to the original game, each hosted by different characters from the series.
What happened after the initial 3 expansions?
Declining sales and a shift towards digital gaming led to the cancellation of further expansions to the original game. However, an update to the gameplay and structure of the game was released title “the Harbingers” which included a few supplemental tapes/ a decade later. The game was updated again, this time making it available via DVD under its Atmosfear title and included one expansion.
How does the 30th Anniversary Edition differ from the original?
The 30th Anniversary Edition updates the original VCR experience with streaming or downloadable video. It includes new playing pieces, extra cards, and an expansion focusing on Baron Samedi, along with a new backstory for The Gatekeeper.
Were there other VHS board games released in this era?
Yes, lots. The ones that first come to mind are Star Trek the Next Generation, Wayne’s World and VCR Hockey Night in Canada but there were many more.
Craig is a partner, and proud father of a teenage daughter, and two dogs. He's an avid blogger who loves researching and discussing 80s and 90s nostalgia. When not working on his website or hanging with his fam, Craig enjoys playing guitar, watching lacrosse, and being near water.