Retro Board Games: Mini Reviews
Have you already played
games that were published before the year 2000? Say, Monopoly, Clue, Chess, Bridge?
Some haven’t held up well very well, while others are still enjoyable to this day!
In this mini-review series, you will see some classics you will recognize and some oldies but goodies you haven’t heard of just yet, but that are worth checking out.
Scotland Yard
Master Mind
Stratego
Scotland Yard
Publisher: Ravensburger
Original Publishing Year: 1982
Designer: Dorothy Garrels, Fritz Ifland, Manfred Burggraf, Werner Scheerer, Werner Schlegel, Wolf Hoermann
Player Count: 3-6 players
Play Time: 45 minutes
Mechanics: Deduction, Hidden Movement, Point-to-point Movement, Team-Based
“There is a tough case for the detectives at Scotland Yard: Mister X is on the run, and has gone to ground in London. Now it's time to reconstruct his escape route and recapture him as quickly as possible. The detectives set off on an exciting chase all around the English capital city.
The Ravensburger classic Scotland Yard unites players of all ages, and provides endless excitement and thrills. The original version of Scotland Yard was named Game of the Year in 1982, and the reissued version of 2013 promises to be just as much fun.” 1 - Description from the publisher
In Scotland Yard, one player will be playing the role of criminal mastermind Mister X and everybody else takes the role of detectives trying to chase Mister X down! Mister X moves around the board using a taxi, bus or metro. Furthermore, the detectives do not where he is exactly as his movements are concealed and he only surfaces once in a while. The detectives do know, however, what kind of transportation Mister X is using.
From there, they race to corner him and make the arrest. But wait! The detectives only have a certain amount of movement points per transportation type. They will need to use these resources wisely, or else they risk no longer being able to move around town!
Will Mister X keep his cool and escape the relentless Scotland Yard detectives? Or will they get the best of him and put him behind bars?
For whom is Scotland Yard?
If you love duping your friends and running away so you don’t get caught, you will love playing as Mister X.
If you enjoy working with others towards a common goal, being strategic with resources and deducting following moves, you will have a blast playing on the detectives' team.
Does Crunchy recommend Scotland Yard?
Scotland Yard is a game that is not commonly discussed, but it definitely should be!
Easy to learn. Quick to set up. Exciting tension. The sweat coming out of Mister X’s forehead. Laughs guaranteed. What is there not to love?
Score: 7/10
If you enjoy Scotland Yard, give this one a try
Mr. Jack
Mr. Jack is a two-player hidden movement game where one player plays Jack the Ripper and the other plays a detective trying to uncover where Mr. Jack is located among the people on the board. The detective gathers information to finally make an accusation, but be careful, they only get one guess!
Master Mind
Publisher: Hasbro
Original Publishing Year: 1971
Designer: Mordecai Meirowitz
Player Count: 2 players (new releases offer up to 5 players)
Play Time: 20 minutes
Mechanics: Deduction
“The classic code cracking game! Challenge your friends to a battle of minds!
MASTERMIND has been stylishly redesigned and features a rotating game unit, allowing up to five players to compete. You'll need all of your powers of logic and deduction to make or break a cunning sequence of colours. Prepare to engage in the ultimate contest of skill and reason!” 2 - Description from the publisher
Mastermind is a good game due to its simplicity. Easy to learn and easy to play which makes it fun for the whole family!
One player will choose a sequence of 4 colours which is hidden from the other player(s). The opposing player(s) will then try to determine what sequence was put in place. They do so by placing a colour sequence of their own, which is visible to everyone, and the player who decided the original sequence will then assist the guesser(s).
They assist by mentioning if the guessed sequence has the right colours and if they are located in the proper order.
This goes on until the sequence is discovered or if the guessing party has run out of guesses.
For whom is Master Mind?
Looking for a game that is easy to set up and quick to play? Mastermind is worth looking into. It is easy enough for any family member can play.
There isn’t much growth for strategy, but Mastermind does offer a nice entry to deduction games
CBG Mastery Score
Master Mind gets a CBG Score of:
3 / 10
Does Crunchy recommend Master Mind?
Mastermind is a classic for a reason: It has built the way for deduction games. It is a great stepping stone to more complex games but is also very approachable for the entire family and as well as anybody who is interested in growing their board game “skills”.
If you are looking for a similar game, but a little more challenge to the deduction, take a look at Codebreaker (instead of deducing 4 colours, you will try to deduce 5)
Score: 6/10
If you enjoy Master Mind, give this one a try
Turing Machine
Turing Machine is a deduction game where players are racing to discover the secret code. Players do so by questioning the analog computer which will then give clues based on the question.
The theme alone of this game fits perfectly with the gameplay which makes it a must-try!
Stratego
Publisher: Jumbo, Parker Brothers (Hasbro)
Original Publishing Year: 1946
Designer: Jacques Johan Mogendorff
Player Count: 2 players
Play Time: 45 minutes
Mechanics: Grid movement, Memory, Secret Unit Deployment
“Attack and capture the flag! Time and again, Lieutenant Jacques Cavalier attempts to conquer the Redcoats’ flag with his troops. The Bluecoat army has been significantly weakened, but the men will not give up. Are you ready to help the Lieutenant to defeat the Redcoat army? The Bluecoats are counting on a brilliant strategist like you!
The aim of this classic board game is to capture the enemy’s flag while defending your own flag. Luckily, you are not alone; you have an entire army at your disposal, along with a seductive spy and six bombs. But before the exciting battle begins, you have to come up with a secret formation for your troops. And then you must attack to capture the flag.
The ranks of the playing pieces determine whether or not you win or have to leave the battle field. But bigger dangers lurk; if one of your playing pieces touches a bomb, it’s all over for you!
Are you brave enough for endless strategic playing pleasure? If so, head off to battle with this revamped version of Stratego!” 3 - Description from the publisher
Stratego is a capture-the-flag style of game that is simple to understand but also allows a little bit of freedom on the strategy one might choose.
Players start by laying out their troops on the board. Unlike chess, players decide the location every piece will start the game. They will need to plan how they can attack, defend against any attack, as well as dupe (or at least try to) your opponent.
Once the troops are ready to fight, players will each take turns moving their troops. When a player moves within one space occupied by their opponent, they will be “fighting”. The players will then reveal their ranks (strengths) and, generally, the higher the rank will win the fight. But watch out! Some pieces might be bombs!
Players will need to be strategic with their movements as they will want to understand the formation their opponent built. They will want to find out how they will use their pieces with special abilities (bomb diffusers and spy) so they don’t lose these precious resources.
The game ends once one player has captured their opponent's flag.
For whom is Stratego?
Stratego is for those who enjoy reading their opponent's mind, pushing their luck as well as bluffing with their reactions trying to mislead their opponent's offensive strategies.
CBG Mastery Score
Stratego gets a CBG Score of:
3 / 10
Does Crunchy recommend Stratego?
Stratego is a good game for those who are looking for an entry to games that offer decision-making, deduction and interaction with their opponent.
Though it is simple, it is most likely best for families with older children who have already experimented with games such as Two of a Kind and Battleship.
Children who have already learnt the basics of Chess will love this Stratego as it is less complex in strategy, but still offers a similar feeling but with a more interesting, less abstract theme.
Score: 6/10
If you enjoy Stratego, give this one a try
Battleship
A little bit obvious, however, Battleship is a classic for a reason. It is a deduction game great for the entire family. Place your warships and then figure out how your opponent placed theirs in order to sink them.