Classic Games with a Fandom Twist: Board Games Based on Your Favorite TV Shows
Tabletop games get a fandom twist from TV shows and movies
There is nothing like having a game night with your friends and family. From Monopoly to Yahtzee to Clue, there is always something for everyone. These classic games in recent years have found new life by being rebranded with all of the favorite tv and movie franchises of the past 40 years. These games are an interactive way fans can experience their favorite fictional worlds and characters beyond the television screen. The combination of classic tabletop games with beloved franchises is a perfect match of nostalgia and enjoyment for all ages.
1. Monopoly
Is there a game more iconic than Monopoly? Monopoly was created in 1933 by Charles Darrow with Parker Brothers Incorporated buying the game from him in 1935. The objective of the game is to amass wealth 💰 and bankrupt your opponents through strategic property management. 🏨 There are an endless amount of different Monopoly versions depending on what your favorite fandom is. If Pawnee, Indiana is your ideal location, you’ll want to check out the Parks & Recreation version. There is even a Monopoly Junior version that features Bluey, the loving Blue Heeler family. Or maybe you just want to stick with some 90s nostalgia and grab your Friends for a never ending game of Monopoly. Dibs on the guitar! 🎸
2. Trivial Pursuit
Trivial Pursuit was created in 1979 by Scott Abbott and Chris Haney, and is known for testing players’ knowledge 🧠 in a wide range of categories. If there is one game that we love above all the rest here at rmrk*st, it is trivia, so any Trivial Pursuit branded with our favorite movies & tv shows is going to the top of our wish list. You can find versions for Harry Potter, Bob’s Burgers, Star Trek and Lord of the Rings - just to name a few. But the one that goes above and into the Upside Down is definitely the Stranger Things themed Trivial Pursuit. It will quiz you and your friends on everything that has happened in Hawkins, Indiana as well as 80s pop culture.
3. Risk
Risk is a strategic board game that has captivated players since 1957, when it was created by the French 🇫🇷 filmmaker Albert Lamorisse. The objective of the game is world domination 🗺 as players take part in battles to conquer the territories and continents. But why try and dominate the seven continents when you could dominate all of Westeros. 🐉 You can also take your world domination attempts into space 🌌 if Star Wars is more your thing. Or maybe you would rather battle for Middle-earth with the Lord of the Rings version of Risk.
4. Yahtzee
Yahtzee is the classic dice 🎲 tabletop game that has been entertaining family and friends since 1956. The game is part strategy but also a little luck. Each game comes with 5 dice, and the objective is to roll different combinations such as three of a kind, full house, or the coveted “Yahtzee” which is five of a kind. When Doctor Who celebrated its 60th anniversary this past November, we got excited that this version of Yahtzee was created. Will a Yahtzee of Daleks come tumbling out of the Tardis? Also how cool would it be just to display this as well when you aren’t playing it.
5. Uno
UNO is a fast paced card game that was created in 1971. You match up colors and numbers 🔢, hoping that you will be the first to get rid of all your cards. Don’t forget to yell “UNO!” It is fun for all ages. And why match up the boring numbers of the original game when you can look at all your favorite characters. Pick a fandom, any fandom - there’s probably an UNO game that exists for it. Friends, Trolls, Harry Potter, The Avengers…but if we had to pick one, we’re going with Schitt’s Creek. Love that journey for us!
6. The Game of Life
The Game of Life, believe it or not, was created in 1860 as the first ever board game by Milton Bradley and was called The Checkered Game of Life. The modern version as we know it was originally published 100 years after in 1960. The game simulates a person’s life from early adulthood to retirement, with college 🎓, marriage 💒 and children 👶 all as possibilities. There have been lots of different versions created based on popular TV shows & movies like Family Guy, Star Wars, The Simpsons, and Jurassic Park. But how can anyone resist the retro feel of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. In this version, players chase their dreams in 1950s New York City. 🗽 If you give up all your money and try to make it as a stand up comic, you may just instantly win the game.
7. Clue
Clue is a murder mystery game that has been intriguing players since 1949. The objective of the game is to figure out the culprit, weapon, and location. It’s always Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick. But what’s more fun than to turn your favorite show into a murder mystery experience. You could help solve the crimes in the world of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or solve the mysteries in Riverdale. Or you could figure out who killed Toby Flenderson in The Office… keeping with the mustard theme, it might just be Dwight K. Schrute in the break room with the nun-chucks. 👀
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