80s-boardgames

7 Best Board Games Published In The ’80s

The 1980s was a great decade for board games, with many classic titles being published during this time. From the classic Monopoly to the more obscure titles like Trivial Pursuit, the 80s saw a wide variety of board games being released.

One of the most popular board games of the 80s was Monopoly. This classic game was first published in 1935, but it was during the 80s that it really took off. Monopoly was a great game for families to play together, as it was easy to learn and could be played for hours. It was also a great way to teach children about money and the concept of buying and selling property.

The 80s also saw the release of some more modern board games. Let’s go over a few of them:

1. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders and Other Cases (1982)

sherlock-holmes-consulting-detective

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders is a fantastic game for any fan of the classic detective stories. It is a cooperative game, meaning that all players work together to solve the mystery. The game is set in Victorian London and players take on the role of detectives, trying to solve a series of murders that have been committed in the city.

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective is played over a series of rounds, with each round representing a day in the investigation. During each round, players will visit various locations in London, gathering clues and interviewing suspects. The game also includes a newspaper, which provides players with additional information about the case. Players also have access to a variety of difficulty levels, so they can choose the level that best suits their skill level.

2. Survive: Escape From Atlantis! (1982)

survive-escape-from-atlantis

Survive: Escape from Atlantis! is a classic board game of strategy and luck, where players must work together to survive the sinking of the mythical island of Atlantis. The game is for 2-4 players, and each player takes on the role of a group of survivors trying to escape the island before it sinks.

The game board is a map of the island of Atlantis, with various terrain features such as mountains, forests, and beaches. Players must move their pieces around the board, trying to reach the safety of the four corners of the island. Along the way, they must avoid sea monsters, whirlpools, and other dangers.

Survive also includes a deck of tiles, which can be used to help players move around the board, or to hinder their opponents. The goal of the game is to be the first player to get all of their pieces off the island. Players can also win by having the most valuable pieces off the island when the island sinks. The game is fast-paced and exciting, and can be played in about an hour.

3. Civilization (1980)

civilization

Civilization by Francis Tresham is a classic strategy game that has been around since the early 1980s. It is a game of exploration, conquest, and development, and has been a favorite of strategy gamers for decades.

In the game, players take on the role of a great civilization, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, or Romans. The goal of the game is to build a great civilization by exploring the world, conquering other civilizations, and developing your own culture.

Players must manage resources, build cities, and build technology in order to achieve victory. Civilization is played on a large board that is divided into different regions. Players must explore the board, build cities, and develop technology in order to expand their civilization.

As the game progresses, players must also collect resources, build armies, and engage in diplomacy with other civilizations.

4. Scotland Yard (1983)

scotland-yard

Scotland Yard is a classic board game of cat and mouse, where one player takes on the role of the criminal mastermind, Mr. X, and the other players take on the roles of the detectives trying to catch him.

The game is set in London and the detectives must use their wits and strategy to track down Mr. X before he escapes. The game board is a map of London, with various locations marked on it. Mr. X moves around the board using a combination of taxis, buses, and underground trains.

The detectives must use their tickets to move around the board and try to catch up with Mr. X. The detectives can also use their special detective cards to gain an advantage over Mr. X.

Scotland Yard is great for families and friends, as it requires strategy and cooperation to win. It is also a great way to learn about the geography of London. The game is suitable for ages 8 and up, and can be played with 2-6 players.

5. Axis And Allies (1981)

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Axis and Allies by Larry Harris, Jr. is a strategy game of global domination, where players take on the role of one of the five major powers of the two sides of World War II: the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Germany, and Japan. Players must use their resources to build up their armies and navies, and then use those forces to conquer their opponents. The game is played on a large board that is divided into territories, and each player has a set of pieces that represent their forces. The goal of the game is to conquer all of the territories on the board and win the game.

Axis and Allies is a game of strategy and tactics, and it requires players to think carefully about their moves and how they will affect the game. Players must consider the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents, as well as their own, in order to make the best decisions. The game also requires players to think about the economic aspects of the game, as resources are limited and must be managed carefully.

Overall, Axis and Allies is a great game that has stood the test of time. It is a classic strategy game that is easy to learn, but difficult to master. It is a great game for people of all ages, and can be played with two to five players. The game also has a variety of expansions and variants, which can add new elements to the game and make it even more interesting.

6. Werewolf (1986)

werewolf

Werewolf is a fun and interactive game that can be played with a group of people. It is a game of deception, deduction, and strategy. In the game, each player is assigned a role, either a Werewolf, a Villager, or a Seer. The Werewolves are the villains of the game and their goal is to eliminate all the Villagers. The Villagers are the innocent bystanders and their goal is to identify and eliminate the Werewolves. The Seer is a special character who can use their powers to discover the identity of the Werewolves.

The game is played in rounds. During each round, the players will discuss who they think the Werewolves are. The Seer can use their powers to discover the identity of one of the players. After the discussion, the players will vote on who they think the Werewolves are. If the majority of the players vote for the same person, that person is eliminated from the game. If the majority of the players vote for different people, then the round ends without any eliminations.

The game continues until either all the Werewolves are eliminated or all the Villagers are eliminated. If all the Werewolves are eliminated, then the Villagers win the game. If all the Villagers are eliminated, then the Werewolves win the game.

7. Arkham Horror (1987)

arkham-horror

Arkham Horror is a classic board game first released in 1987 by Chaosium. It is based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft and set in the fictional town of Arkham, Massachusetts. The game is designed for 1-8 players and can take up to 3 hours to complete. Players take on the role of investigators trying to save the town from an ancient evil. The game is a cooperative board game, meaning that all players must work together to defeat the evil.

The game is divided into two phases: the Arkham phase and the Other World phase. During the Arkham phase, players explore the town of Arkham, gathering clues and items to help them in their quest. They must also battle monsters and cultists that are trying to stop them. During the Other World phase, players travel to other dimensions to battle the Ancient One, a powerful being that is trying to take over the world.

Arkham Horror is a complex game with many different elements. Players must manage their resources carefully, as they will need them to survive the game. They must also work together to solve puzzles and defeat monsters. The game also features a variety of expansions, which add new monsters, items, and other elements to the game.

Final Thoughts

All of the games in this list and many others published in the 80s are all considered as pioneers of modern board games and are still as relevant and fun today. It’s amazing how board games have developed over time, from art styles and components, to mechanics and gameplay. I hope you found this list to be useful, and you have more familiarity with board games published in the 80s. Also check out our lists of the best board games of the ’70s and the ’90s.

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