Nostalgia is contagious these days as people seem to be longing for “the good old days” more and more, including the games they played as kids. To bring your favourite game night oldies into the 21st century, toy expert Maddie Michalik stopped by The Social to show us some modern twists on classic games! (We even asked The Social staff to weigh in for a blast from the past with some of their favourites!)
Check them out in the gallery below.
12 games will make you feel really nostalgic
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BLINDFOLDED TWISTER
For those who want more of a challenge with a classic feel try Blindfolded Twister. The mat is the same layout as you know and love, but with added textures and blindfolds it takes it to a whole new level. Whether you’re playing, or watching the craziness unfold, this is bound to be a dinner party hit!
Get it here.STAFF PICK: BATTLESHIP
“I had so much fun playing Battleship that I think I even tried playing it by myself once.” – Elvis (Segment Producer)
Battleship is played by two people and your goal is to sink the opponent’s battleship. Sitting opposite each other, players call squares which correspond to the opponent’s board. Each time they say a square where a ship is anchored, you put a red peg on that ship and announce that you’ve been hit. If they say a square that is open, then you place a white peg and announce a miss. First to sink the other’s battleship wins! This game can be a classic at any party by upping the stakes and adding alcohol shots for each ship that gets sunk.
Get it here.STAFF PICK: SNAKES & LADDERS
“I used to play Snakes & Ladders ALL the time as a kid.” – Amber (Producer)
If you and your partner are looking for a game to play just the two of you then Snakes & Ladders will be your jam. It’s simple enough: roll the dice, move your player and see where you land. If you land on a square with a snake then you slide back down to a previous row, but if you land on a ladder, you advance to a row above. First to the finish line wins!
Get it here.Otrio
Are brain games more you speed? Then check out Otrio, a one-on-one board game that tests your strategic skills. To win, you need to get three pieces of your colour in a row based on similar size; sounds easy but it takes some critical thinking and major problem solving. Save this one for a date night in!
Get it here.STAFF PICK: CANDY LAND
"Candy Land was my life." - Caitlin (Digital Content Producer
For the little ones, Candy Land is the perfect game for a rainy day. Each player draws a card that corresponds to the ones on the board, moving your player however many blocks indicated on the card. Some blocks have shortcuts ahead, and have some have drawbacks like losing a turn. Follow the path through Candy Land and whoever reaches the Candy Castle at the end first, wins!
Get it here.MONOPOLY: CHEATERS EDITION
Monopoly is one of the best, and most argumentative, games around. Though with this edition cheating is welcome! There are crazy card suggestions, fake dice rolls, stealing bills and more funny business then you can imagine. For those friends that can’t seem to follow the rules this is the perfect twist on an iconic game.
Get it here.STAFF PICK: Ker-Plunk
“One word: Ker-Plunk.” – Derek (Audience Coordinator)
Ker-Plunk is simple: insert plastic sticks through a plastic tube, and add marbles. Then, pull out the sticks one-by-one trying not to let the marbles fall. If they do fall, the player who caused it collects those marbles. The one with the least marbles collected when all of the sticks are free wins. This may seem simple but can provide hours of concentration and fun!
Get it here.Table Top Shuffle Board
Bars these days can be busy and loud, making playing games like shuffleboard difficult. Front Porch Classics has you covered though: introducing the pub-style table top shuffle board! It can be placed on any table top measuring more than 5 feet long and has adjustable legs to ensure balance, so it can handle any party foul like a champ.
Get it here.STAFF PICK: MOUSE TRAP
“I was obsessed with Mouse Trap!” – Gillian (Director)
To win this game you take turns to build the trap and then try to spring it on your opponent’s mouse without yours getting caught! This is fun for the whole family, and will have you anticipating every move you make to stay out of trouble.
Get it here.Arcade1Up Cabinets
Looking for that arcade feeling in your own home? Arcade1Up cabinets are the perfect fit for you! Each cabinet can be installed in your home with coinless operation, and features original artwork from iconic games that will keep you entertained for hours. You’ll feel like you’re back under the neon lights of your childhood in no time.
Get it here.STAFF PICK: THE GAME OF LIFE
The Game of Life is played by 2-6 people making it the perfect game to wind-down after Thanksgiving dinner. The aim of the game is to travel the board and hit all of life’s major goals: getting an education, finding a job with a salary, getting married and having kids, purchasing a home, retiring and even participating in the stock exchange. Players have choices such as going to college or start working, have kids or get a promotion instead, and each choice a player makes has a consequence which could be good or bad. This is a great game to start teaching your kids about the realities of the adult world, and have fun while doing it!
Get it here.STAFF PICK: MALL MADNESS
“I loved video games for the ColecoVision (shoutout to the Cabbage Patch game), but my favourite board game was Mall Madness.” – Angela (Production Manager)
The coolest part of Mall Madness is the board: a 3D two-story miniature shopping mall! The aim of the game is to move around the board and collect all of the items on your shopping list. If you make it to the parking lot first then you win! Players receive credit cards and cash money to pay for items, even having to use the ATM occasionally, with cards that change up the game by announcing a sale or clearance at specific stores.