Top 10 Retro Board Games for a Rainy Day
Reasons for playing retro board games in the 80s and 90s
Even though video games dominated a lot of my childhood, I have lots of memories of playing some awesome retro board games too.
Growing up in the 80s and 90s there were a lot of days that for whatever reason, it was best to stay indoors.
In our household, we held more than a few family game nights. On rare occasions my brother, sister, and I got along long enough to play a board game together. On even rarer occasions, those games didn’t end with someone crying, or accusing others of cheating.
During rainy days, the premise of recreating these rare harmonious moments, was a good excuse to bust out some of our favourite retro board games.
Get togethers with friends were usually all about playing road hockey or football outside. Usually followed by watching movies and playing Nintendo once we were tuckered out.
However, there were a few times that we were stuck inside and decided to kick it old school by playing a board game or two.
The following list of games were great for rainy days indoors with the fam, or with friends.
Wait, Why didn’t you just play video games?
Video games can never totally replace the experience of playing board games.
There is something special about being able to have time to think about strategy, patiently wait your turn, and not have to be frantically mashing buttons.
(Plus, mom made sure we took frequent breaks from screen time, and “gave the TV a rest” for a while.) Do you remember the myth that using TVs for gaming too often would wreck them? Or was that a real thing?
Regardless, that was only one small reason we were prompted to take a break form the TV. Parents had tonnes of good reason for us kids to turn off the tube. It was bad for our eyes, it rotted our brains, and other scientifically sound arguments. The most important reason of all was always: “because I said so.”
What about the vintage board games from before the 80s and 90s?
Some board games from my parents’ childhood were fun to play too. They gave off some cool vintage vibes and still made it to the table top from time to time.
However, there were so many awesome new board games that captured the feel of our era. It seemed more new and hip to play games with a more modern feel.
New board games were a sensory experience like no other. Do you remember the feeling of sliding the cardboard lid off of a game and getting a whiff of the plastic coated inserts? It was better than “new car smell.” (Well, maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement.)
The tactile quality of board games was something special. The smooth feel of glossy game cards, shaking dice, spinning a spinner, or even poppin’ a popper, were all things that made playing board games a sensory delight.
Chances are that you have at least a few fond memories associated with playing board games.
Fine, tell me more about these relics that you are now calling “Retro Board Games“
Board games in the 80s and 90s involved epic battles, dangerous quests, races against time, and each other.
Many games also focussed on sharing lighthearted laughs and participating in silly, or slightly embarrassing activities.
Inspired by our recent deep-dive into the history of the VHS board game Nightmare (or Atmosfear as it was known in other parts of the world), we’re taking a look back at the best retro board games.
These are the games that us 80s and 90s kids fell in love with during these exciting decades. Some of these games are so rad, the even gained favour with an older generation too.
Let’s see how many of these rainy day adventures with board games you remember playing with family and/or friends…
The Top 10 List of Retro Board Games:
10. Mall Madness
Before there was online shopping, there was Mall Madness, the game that taught us the joys of spending money we didn’t have.
I’m sure our parents loved that. Nothing screams consumer culture like a game dedicated to wasting, I mean spending, your disposable income at the mall.
Choose your character, grab your credit card, and race to buy all the things on your shopping list while avoiding the dreaded “maxed out” card. It’s like Black Friday, but with less trampling.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, Milton Bradley, focusing on the tween demographic, introduced Mall Madness, which soon added an electronic voice component to modernize the analog game.
Mall Madness was actually the subject of a bit of controversy upon its release. It portrayed tweens as frenzied shoppers, drawing criticism for its objective to spend as much money as possible.
It also was criticized for depicting tweens as “bargain-crazy, credit-happy fashion plates,” according to an Adweek article.
However, Milton Bradley’s public relations manager argued that the game actually taught players “how to judiciously spend their money.”
9. Dream Phone
The ultimate 90s sleepover game, “Dream Phone,” had players guessing which secret admirer had a crush on them.
Remember, this was a time before cell phones and texting. A time when your only way to stay connected with that special somebody was to arm wrestle the phone away from the rest of the people in your household. Then you tried to hang onto it as long as you could, before the inevitable: “GET OFF THE $%&*#@ PHONE” was hollered at you.
The premise may seem a bit cringe-worthy when reduced to its simplest form. However, this game was harmless. It was innocent enough to be played by tweens and teens who were navigating the difficult world of puberty, hormones, and crushes.
Dream Phone combined the thrill of mystery, with the excitement of receiving calls from a bunch of cardboard cutouts. It’s like Tinder, but with a giant pink phone and no ghosting.
Dream Phone was notable for being the first ever electronic dating game when it was released in 1991.
It features a bright pink cordless phone, allowing players to uncover which of the 24 possible admirers had a crush on them.
The game is designed to be played at sleepovers, offering a mix of mystery, excitement, and the thrill of teenage romance without the real-life awkwardness.
It provides players with clues about their secret admirer’s identity, making each playthrough a unique experience.
8. Omega Virus
The year is 2051, and a sassy AI virus is threatening to take over a space station.
In Omega Virus, you race against time (and your friends), to collect the tools needed to defeat the virus.
The catch? The virus mocks you the entire time. It’s like Siri or Alexa, but with a bad attitude and a plan for world domination.
A fascinating aspect of the game is how integral the electronic component is to the gameplay.
Unlike many board games that include electronic features as mere gimmicks, Omega Virus truly depends on its electronic component for nearly all aspects of play.
This includes randomizing the game setup, managing combat, and tracking player items. This electronic element not only enhances gameplay but also significantly contributes to the game’s immersive theme.
7. Key to the Kingdom
Key to the Kingdom might look like your standard fantasy adventure game, but with its whirlpool that could swallow you whole and send you to another dimension, it was anything but.
The game debuted in 1990 and introduced a novel feature not seen before or since: a giant, folding, double board.
This innovative design allows players to traverse through the realm on a quest to find three pieces of a magical key needed to defeat the Demon King.
The game board’s ability to unfold and reveal new lands adds an element of surprise and discovery, enhancing the adventurous spirit of the game.
Players take on the role of characters like a Unique Unicorn or a Gnarled Gnome.
It’s a game of risk, reward, and trying not to get eaten by monsters. Basically, it’s like adulting but with more dragons.
6. Pictionary
The classic game of drawing and guessing. “Pictionary,” proves that you don’t need to be an artist to have fun drawing. You just need to be creative with how you interpret what you see.
If acting wasn’t your thing, or charades was too challenging (or boring), then Pictionary might be more your thing.
It’s a game that’s as hilarious as it is challenging. It also teaches us that effective communication doesn’t always have to include words.
This game was so popular that people went to dramatic lengths to secure a copy. In 1988, Pictionary’s popularity led to a fistfight over the last copy in a California store. Another copy was stolen from a shopper’s cart in Minneapolis due to inventory shortages. Yikes.
5. Fireball Island
The floor is lava (and so is everything else).
Fireball Island is an action-packed adventure where you dodge fireballs, steal treasures, and push your friends into the path of danger.
It’s the ultimate lesson in “look before you leap” and “don’t trust anyone.”
This game was fairly light in terms of time commitment and strategy, but it was tonnes of fun. The M.O. is simply to try to outlast your pals, to be crowned the winner.
The game featured a molded 3-D mountain. Part of the fun was setting up the idol, bridges, fireballs, and the jewel on the mountain.
Did anyone else think this game was part of the Indiana Jones franchise? I thought it was, but I googled it and found it that it wasn’t. Rewatching this old commercial for Fireball Island, I see now that the game was totally unique and nothing like Indiana Jones at all…
4. Balderdash
Imagine a game where your ability to concoct believable fibs is the key to victory. That’s Balderdash in a nutshell.
Players take turns reading out obscure words, laws, movies, and dates, while everyone else writes down their best guess—or most convincing bluff—about what they mean.
The real answers are often as bizarre as the fabrications, leading to rounds filled with laughter, astonishment, and the occasional “I can’t believe you fell for that!”
It’s a brilliant exercise in creativity and deception, proving that sometimes, the truth really is stranger than fiction.
Balderdash teaches us the power of persuasion, the art of a good poker face, and that knowledge of obscure facts can be unexpectedly handy.
Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn new words and facts, even if half of what you remember from the game is hilariously untrue. Not to mention, it’s one of the only situations where lying doesn’t get you grounded.
Balderdash was created by Laura Robinson and Paul Toyne in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. First released in 1984 by Canada Games, it later became a property of Mattel.
Balderdash has sold over 15 million copies globally and is particularly popular among word game enthusiasts.
3. Kings Court (Super Checkers)
The ultimate game of strategy and cunning, Kings Court (Super Checkers), is like chess on ‘roids.
With its unique checkerboard that expands and contracts, it’s the perfect game to sharpen your tactical skills and learn that sometimes, being a king means running away from your problems (or strategically retreating, as we like to call it).
This game was introduced to me in Grade 5 when my teacher Mr Parker brought a copy into our class. I was instantly hooked.
At the time, we often played King’s court in gym class, so the name already had a connection to good times.
Mr Parker was one of my favourite teachers, so anything he endorsed automatically was a-ok in my books.
I didn’t own a copy of the game, but my best buds had a copy of the game. Whenever I was at their house, I begged them to play it.
In my later years, I went on a hunt to try to purchase my own copy and was shocked to find that the only copies available were being sold on eBay for exorbitant prices.
After a bit of “web sleuthing” (is that a real thing?), I was able to find out that King’s Court was produced by Golden from 1987 to 1989. It was eventually purchased by Hasbro, who decided not to continue its production.
Despite selling 250,000 units, it’s no longer available in stores, and can only be found through secondary markets like eBay and Amazon.
2. HeroQuest
HeroQuest isn’t as in depth as Dungeons and Dragons, but it was engaging enough to hold my attention for a couple hours at a time.
This RPG-inspired adventure game involved shorter campaigns and had a lot less street cred than D&D. Nevertheless, my friends and I all thought this game was pretty sweet.
In HeroQuest a group of friends embark on a quest filled with danger, monsters, and, most importantly, loot! HeroQuest is the game where you can be a barbarian, wizard, elf, or dwarf, exploring dark shadowy caverns and fighting the forces of evil.
HeroQuest was created by Milton Bradley in collaboration with Games Workshop in 1989.
The game distinguished itself by allowing the game master, referred to as “Morcar” in the UK, and “Zargon” in North America, to design dungeons using the provided board, tiles, furnishings, and figures. This aspect made HeroQuest a versatile game system, enhancing its appeal and longevity in the gaming community.
1. Nightmare (Atmosfear)
Who needs a peaceful games night when you can have a Nightmare?
This VHS-powered game (yes, VHS, kids) pits you against the Gatekeeper, a character so delightfully creepy he makes your weird uncle seem normal. Hurry up and finish your tasks before he appears on the screen to give you a serious jump scare.
This game was a blast, and its success inspired a few worthy sequels and reboots.
If you didn’t mind being called a maggot, and were brave enough to play through to the bitter end, this game was an hour of frights and fun.
We have a whole article dedicated to the game and it’s cult like following if you’re interested in learning more about its storied past: Revisiting the Other Side: The Enduring Legacy of the Nightmare VHS Board Game from the 90s.
Honourable Mention:
Here’s 2 more retro board games that I couldn’t squeeze into my Top 10, but felt that they were worth mentioning:
Dark Tower
In an age before smartphones and the internet, there was Dark Tower. The game that combined board gameplay with an electronic tower that guided your quest.
With its blend of adventure, strategy, and random electronic noises, it was the closest thing to magic we had. Plus, who doesn’t love pressing buttons and making things light up?
It was one of those dreaded games that we loved to play, but detested searching for AA batteries to make sure it actually worked when we sat down to play it.
Dark Tower was the subject of a notable litigation case in 1985. Independent game developers Robert Burton and Allen Coleman had presented a game titled “Triumph” to Milton Bradley, which featured an electronic tower similar to Dark Tower’s.
After their idea was rejected and Dark Tower was subsequently released, they sued Milton Bradley for misappropriation of trade secrets and initially won a jury verdict of over $700,000.
However, the trial judge later vacated this judgment. The case then went through further legal scrutiny before the appeals court reinstated the damage award. The saga highlights the complexities of intellectual property rights in the gaming industry.
Mystery Mansion
This game turned us into detectives, searching a 3D mansion for hidden treasure.
3D was a novelty in the realm of board games back then, and no doubt increased this game’s coolness factor exponentially. Especially since this kind of 3D didn’t rely on wearing cardboard frame 3D glasses with blue and red lenses.
“Mystery Mansion” was all about exploration, deduction, and a bit of luck. It’s like a souped up PG version of “Clue”, with more searching and less murder.
In Summary – Retro Board Games Round Up
From strategic conquests and fantastical adventures to the sheer joy of drawing, guessing, and bluffing, these 13 board games from the 80s and 90s offer a delightful blend of nostalgia, laughter, and learning.
Each game, with its unique charm and challenges, invites us to disconnect from our screens, gather around the table, and engage in the timeless tradition of storytelling, competition, and camaraderie.
The magic of board gaming lies in their ability to bring people together, creating moments and memories that last a lifetime.
What was your favourite board game? Do you remember playing any of these sweet games? Did anyone play all 12? Let us know by dropping a comment below.
Thanks for stopping by.
Have a rad rest of your day!
FAQs
Can I still buy these retro board games today?
Yes, many of these games have been reissued or can be found on auction sites and vintage stores. Just be prepared for some to be collector’s items with prices to match.
Are there modern equivalents to these retro board games?
Absolutely! Many board games today are inspired by these classics, with updated mechanics and themes to appeal to a new generation of gamers.
What’s the best way to learn how to play these old games?
YouTube is a treasure trove of tutorials and playthroughs for retro games. Plus, many games come with instructions or have them available online.
Why do these retro board games remain so popular?
Nostalgia plays a big part, but it’s also the timeless appeal of gathering around a table, sharing laughs, and making memories with friends and family.
Can these games be played solo?
While some games are best enjoyed with a group, others have solo play options or can be adapted for one player. Perfect for those nights when you want to save the world all by yourself.
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.