Before smartphones and gaming consoles dominated our leisure time, families gathered around tables for hours of entertainment with classic board games that created lasting memories and occasional sibling rivalries.
The Games That Defined Generations
While household names like Monopoly and Scrabble have stood the test of time, numerous other games that once captivated British families have faded into obscurity. These forgotten gems from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s provided countless hours of fun, though some have aged better than others in our collective memory.
From one of the noisiest games ever created to another that gave young players genuine nightmares, these classics represent different eras of family entertainment. How many do you recall playing during your childhood?
Standout Classics from Decades Past
Rebound (1971)
Released by Ideal in 1971, Rebound combined elements of shove ha'penny with miniature curling using ball bearings. This two-player challenge required contestants to slide their coloured balls along the board, bouncing them off rubber bands into scoring zones. Going too far meant landing in the pit for zero points, while strategic players could knock opponents' pieces into the same fate.
Many recall polishing the track and replacing rubber bands during marathon sessions on rainy days. One enthusiast noted: "Excellent game. Had to keep the track polished and change rubber bands occasionally."
Nightmare the Video Board Game (1990s)
Revolutionary for its time, Nightmare (also known as Atmosfear) genuinely terrified 90s children with its accompanying VHS cassette featuring the menacing Gatekeeper. This spectral figure would suddenly shout commands like 'stop, maggot!' while doling out punishments and rewards throughout the 60-minute gameplay.
Players aimed to collect six coloured keys while avoiding their self-written 'greatest fear' cards. If no one succeeded within the hour, the Gatekeeper claimed victory, leaving many young players with sleepless nights.
Bed Bugs (1980s)
Often described as Operation on speed, this chaotic 80s game featured a vibrating bed where coloured bugs hopped erratically while players attempted to capture them with tweezers. The overwhelming noise and stress made it memorable, with some branding it the 'noisiest game ever'.
One player reflected: "This was fun as a kid. Twenty years later, my roommate gave me bed bugs and now it just unlocks my PTSD."
Downfall (1970)
First released in 1970 by the Milton Bradley Company, Downfall presented an ingenious but frustrating vertical board experience. Two players twisted five dials to guide their coloured counters into the bottom tray, unable to see how their actions affected their opponent's side.
This design inevitably caused sibling disputes, though one fan declared it 'one of the greatest games of the 80s' despite its potential for accidental assistance or sabotage.
Dream Phone (1990s)
A sleepover staple for 90s teenagers, Dream Phone challenged players to identify which mystery boy harboured a crush using clues delivered through a distinctive pink telephone. The voice provided hints like 'he likes most sports, except volleyball' and 'he'll eat almost anything, but not hotdogs'.
Many developed attachments to specific Dream Phone boys, with some recalling their chosen character's phone number decades later. One nostalgic player shared: "I can still remember how giddy and giggly I was playing this game with my sister! So fun!"
Frustration (1960s)
This 60s knockout hit featured two players racing through identical mazes with steel marbles. The game dramatically concluded when column lights illuminated in the winner's colour as their marbles completed the course and dropped into finishing holes.
The game gained celebrity endorsement when British boxer Henry Cooper was photographed playing Frustration with his family in 1971.
Chartbuster (1970s)
This popular 70s board game entered the market with glowing praise from fresh-faced DJ Tony Blackburn, who called it: "A smash hit. Super for pop fans." Players received £100 to navigate the glamorous world of pop music, competing to climb the charts by selling records.
The winner became the first player to achieve the then-impressive milestone of selling one million records, reflecting an era when physical sales determined chart success.
The aMAZEing Labyrinth (1986)
Despite its initially questionable pun (later dropped from subsequent editions), Labyrinth became an instant classic upon its 1986 release by Ravensburger. The game featured a customizable maze where players shifted cards to create new paths while collecting treasures before returning to their starting positions.
The simple yet compelling gameplay captivated children, with many recalling obsession-level engagement with this innovative board game.
Ulcers (1969)
Waddingtons' 1969 release Ulcers plunged players into the stressful corporate world with its unusual concept. Competitors managed companies by hiring staff, determining salaries, and surviving the business year without losing key employees to rivals.
The game balanced financial risk against personnel management - underpay staff and they might leave, overpay them and face bankruptcy. Ulcer cards added unexpected disasters, described in period-appropriate language as 'the game of manipulating company personnel'.
Why These Games Matter
These forgotten games represent more than mere entertainment; they capture evolving social dynamics, technological limitations, and cultural trends across four decades. From the corporate anxiety reflected in Ulcers to the teenage romance fantasies of Dream Phone, each game reveals what captivated British families during their respective eras.
While some mechanics feel dated today, the memories created around these games continue to resonate with those who experienced them firsthand. They remind us of simpler times when family entertainment required physical components, imagination, and occasional tolerance for noise-induced headaches.
