Every decade has a few special board games. Sadly, some of them are popular for a bit, then disappear without much fuss, never making it to legend status like Monopoly or Clue. But they had their own charm. Let’s look at some classic board games that vanished without explanation. Which forgotten game do you miss the most?
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Voice of the Mummy (1971)
In the early ’70s, Milton Bradley sold a pyramid that actually talked. You’d pop open the box & there it was, a molded tomb with a tiny record player tucked inside. The game was called “Voice of the Mummy,” and it told players where to move or what treasures to grab. The goal? To collect jewels while a scratchy voice from the sarcophagus gave instructions.
Bermuda Triangle (1975)
“Bermuda Triangle” came with little ships & a spinner, as well as a dark plastic “storm.” This slid around the board. In this game, you moved your fleet between ports while trying not to get caught under that storm cloud, or else your ships would vanish. It was all done through the hidden magnets underneath the board.
Which Witch? (1970)
“Which Witch?” was a game made from a cardboard haunted house with four rooms & a steel ball waiting to drop from a chimney. Each turn, you’d roll and move as you hoped that the whammy ball didn’t send your pawn flying back. Kids loved the suspense. But best of all, the rooms had names like Bat’s Ballroom & everything fit together.
Green Ghost (1965)
The “Green Ghost” board glowed. Literally. After turning off the lights & spinning a big plastic ghost, players moved their pieces through trapdoors to dig up hidden ghost kids. These were buried in piles of feathers or rubber snakes, sometimes even tiny bones. Honestly, it was the perfect game for Halloween.
It from the Pit (1992)
‘90s kids might remember a green monster arm swinging out of a swampy hole. That was “It from the Pit.” The board had a motor that powered the creature, and it would randomly swipe at explorers racing for treasure. Dice rolls decided how far you moved. However, the real excitement came from watching the monster snatch pawns & drag them down.
Séance (1972)
No, “Séance” didn’t summon real ghosts. The game involved using a talking desk that played short audio clips, which was Uncle Everett’s “ghost” giving out clues. Everyone started with pretend money & bid on his stuff, then later, the voice revealed how much each item was worth. Sometimes, taxes were thrown in, making for a game that was like a spooky version of Monopoly.
Mystery Mansion (1984)
Instead of a single board, Mystery Mansion allowed you to build a house room by room. Each tile added a new space to explore & you’d move around, looking inside plastic furniture for treasure chests. You’d open them if you had the right key. By the end of the game, the board had completely transformed into a proper house.
King Oil (1974)
Who would’ve thought you could squeeze a whole oil field onto a board? Underneath the King Oil board, three hidden discs changed the location of wells each time you set it up. Players drilled with little rigs & checked for strikes. Then, they’d build pipelines to connect their finds. A single wrong drill spot could cost thousands.
Tornado Rex (1991)
Tornado Rex came with a plastic mountain & a wind-up top that was the tornado. Hikers climbed the track toward the summit, and the playing cards controlled their steps. At random points, someone launched the top, sending it spinning down the path to hit pawns. Those that did would go tumbling back down, and even though the games were short, they were so much fun.
The Omega Virus (1992)
Everything in “The Omega Virus” revolved around a talking electronic base in the center. Each player had a color and moved through sectors, trying to gather items & shut down the virus, with the base calling out moves. It’d also open doors, and occasionally taunt players. But that’s not all, as the built-in timer made everyone rush & kept players on edge.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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