44 Nostalgic Board Games from the 90s

Feeling nostalgic for the 90s games you played as a kid? If you’re trying to remember some of those turn-of-the-century games, we’ve got you covered. We found some forgotten gems and classic games from the decade to help jog your memory. We also spoke with board game specialist Jennifer Barone and board game expert Deon Voss for more info on how to play them!

Popular 90s Board Games

Board game specialist Jennifer Barone says some of the most popular 90s games include Crossfire, Catan, and For Sale. Here are some of the other biggies:

13 Dead End Drive: Search for cash in a haunted mansion without falling for a booby trap.
Pretty Pretty Princess: Collect the jewels and the crown to become the prettiest princess.
Mouse Trap: Build a complicated contraption to trap other players’ mice.
Don’t Wake Daddy: Sneak to the finish line without waking up Dad!
Dream Phone: Chat with cute boys on a pink phone to figure out your secret admirer.
HeroQuest: Explore and survive a dungeon on a large 3D board.
Nightmare: Play a VHS tape and defeat the Gatekeeper before it ends.

Section 1 of 7:

Classic Board Games from the 90s

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Most people remember Hungry Hungry Hippos from the conga-inspired song from the 90s commercial. Playing the game is simple: tap the lever on your hippo to eat more marbles than the other players. If you collect more than anyone else, you win!

Meet the wikiHow Experts

Jennifer Barone is a Board Game Specialist and the owner of Back Again Board Game Cafe in Middletown, CT.

Deon Voss is a Board Game Expert who runs Voss Media Board Game Cafe in Galesburg, Michigan.
Mouse Trap is one of the most memorable games because of all the plastic contraptions that you build on the board. To play the game, Barone explains, “you’re moving around the board and building pieces of the mouse trap, and at the end, you trigger it to trap the other mice.” She even notes that some people wouldn’t play the game by the rules and would just set up the mouse trap and try to make it work.^{[1]
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Jennifer Barone
Board Game Specialist

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In The Game of Life, you travel across the board and go through major life events. To play the game, Barone explains, “a spinner in the middle of the board dictates how much you move,” and you’ll move your car to different spaces that make you go to college, give you a job, buy a house, and have kids. Whoever has the most money when they reach the end of the board wins the game!^{[2]
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Jennifer Barone
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Sorry was a classic because it was a little mean, but tons of fun. Voss says that playing the game is as simple as rolling a die and moving around the board. He also notes that if you land on someone’s piece, it’s sent back to the start.^{[3]
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Deon Voss
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While many versions of the game have been released, lots of people are nostalgic for the 90s version of Monopoly they played when they were younger. To play Monopoly, move around the board and buy properties. When players land on properties you own, charge them rent to grow your wealth. If everyone else goes bankrupt and you’re the last player with money, you win!
If you want to test who has the steadiest hand, the 90s version of Operation is the perfect choice. To play the game, just draw a card and use the tweezers to remove the matching item from the cutout in Cavity Sam’s body. Just don’t hit the edges, or else his nose will light up and a loud buzzer will ring out!
If you want a tense game, Don't Break the Ice was a 90s classic. Players use little hammers to tap ice blocks out of the board. If you’re the player who knocks down the figure standing on the ice, you lose the game!
Barone says Crossfire is the game that comes to her mind immediately, although that may be partly due to the game’s epic commercial.^{[4]
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Jennifer Barone
Board Game Specialist

Expert Interview} The object of Crossfire is to score by shooting pucks into the opposing player's goal with small metal ball bearings.
Perfection is one of the most stressful games ever made because you’re racing to put all the pieces into the board. Each piece has a unique shape and only fits in one space. Try to get all the pieces on the board before it pops back up and ruins your progress!
In Guess Who, each player has to pick a character on their board, and the other player has to figure out which one. Ask each other questions like, “Does your character have red hair?” or “Is your character wearing a hat?” Flip down any characters based on the info you get, and make your final guess when you’re sure you know who it is!^{[5]
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Clue, or Cluedo, is one of the original whodunnit games where you have to find out who the killer is, what weapon they used, and what room they were in. The 90s version of the game revamped some of the art, but you still play the game exactly the same as the original release!
In a classic 2-player game of Battleship, players secretly place all their ships on their side of the map. Take turns calling out coordinates to see if you hit an enemy ship or miss. Be the first to sink all 5 of your opponent’s ships and you win the game!
In Topple, you place your discs onto a balancing board that can easily tip over. Try to place all your pieces and line them up in a row without the board falling over, and you’re the ultimate winner!
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For Sale Barone says For Sale was a popular “crunchy game” from the 90s.^{[6]
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Jennifer Barone
Board Game Specialist

Expert Interview} It’s a rapid-fire card game where players try to buy the best properties for the cheapest price, and then resell (or "flip") them for the highest profit. The game requires a lot of bidding, bluffing, and strategy, which makes it super fun!
- A “crunchy” game is a complex game that involves a lot of number crunching and strategic planning).
Barone says Through The Desert was another popular, strategy-based game from the 90s.^{[7]
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Jennifer Barone
Board Game Specialist

Expert Interview} Despite being strategy-heavy, the rules are super easy! Players compete to position cool plastic camels on a hexagon-based board to capture watering holes and reach oases, racking up points as they do so.

Section 2 of 7:

Kids Games from the 90s

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Along with the 90s movie featuring Robin Williams, the official Jumanji board game was released in stores too. Roll the dice, move around the board, and read the challenge cards with the secret decoder glasses. Be the first to reach the finish and say “Jumanji!” and you’ll win the game. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about getting sucked into the game or anything coming out of it either!
Don’t Wake Daddy was one of the original jump scares in board games. To play Don't Wake Daddy, spin the wheel and press the alarm the number of times listed on the space you land on. If you’re lucky, Daddy will keep sleeping. If you’re not, he’ll pop up and send you back to the start.^{[8]
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Eat at Ralph’s has you and your friends feeding pieces of food into Ralph’s mouth on a billboard. But be careful–if he eats too much, he may throw up all the food, and you have to take all the food back. Be the first to get rid of all your food, and you’ll win the game!^{[9]
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Loopin’ Louie had the titular character flying an airplane around the center of the board. When his airplane gets close to your chickens, hit your paddle to knock him out of the way and into your opponents. If you’re the last person left with chickens in your barn, you win.^{[10]
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If you wanted a game that got you moving around, Mr. Bucket was the perfect choice. Mr. Bucket spins around and shoots out colored balls, and you have to use your shovel to scoop them up. Race with the other players to get all 3 of your balls in Mr. Bucket the fastest, and lift him up by the handle to win.^{[11]
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If you want a kid’s game with a little bite, Crocodile Dentist was a classic game of luck. On your turn, just push down one of the crocodile’s teeth. You’re safe if the crocodile keeps its mouth open, but you’re out if it chomps down on your finger!^{[12]
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Section 3 of 7:

Forgotten 90s Board Games

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The Grape Escape was similar to Mouse Trap, but you played as grapes made out of clay trying to escape getting squashed. As you move through the board, you trigger traps that squish you and force you back to the start. If you make it all the way to the end without getting smashed, you win the game!^{[13]
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In 13 Dead End Drive, you and other players secretly choose characters and have to escape a haunted mansion. On your turn, you can move any pieces around the board, even if they aren’t your character. But watch out, because other players will try to spring booby traps to remove your pieces from the board.^{[14]
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This 90s adventure game has players crossing a three-dimensional bridge to bring 2 jewels to the finish line. However, roll the angry idol on the die, and it could shake you off the bridge and make you lose the jewels you collected.^{[15]
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In a game of Pay Day, players move through the days on a calendar, trying to collect as much money as they can. Spaces you land on may give you prize money, make you pay bills, or offer deals for different items. When you reach the “Pay Day” space, settle any debts you have and win the game if you’re the richest!^{[16]
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Section 4 of 7:

90s Board Games for Girls

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In a game of Pretty Pretty Princess, be the first player to get all the princess jewelry and the crown. Landing on a space lets you take one of the jewelry pieces for you to wear, but some spaces make you put your jewelry back. Once you’re dressed like the prettiest princess, you win!^{[17]
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Dream Phone came with a chunky pink phone and a game board filled with pictures of cute boys. When you play a card, dial the number on their card to talk to the boy and get clues about your secret admirer. Once you have enough clues, call the boy you think is your secret admirer, and win if you guess correctly!^{[18]
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Sealed with a Kiss comes with a ton of pictures of hunky guys and a stamper that looks like a tube of lipstick. Make your way around the board and use the stamper to leave kisses on the pictures. If you get 5 kisses from the man of your dreams, you win the game!^{[19]
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Girl Talk is a fun twist on truth or dare, and it was the perfect sleepover game in the 90s. Spin the wheel and draw a card from the matching deck. If you complete the truth or dare challenge on the card, you earn points and move closer to the finish. If you don’t, other players can steal the challenge and points from you.^{[20]
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Enchanted Palace has a large plastic castle and a magic wand that makes noises when you wave it over the board. On your turn, use the wand to search for hidden items in the castle that will free the good queen. If you’re the first person to climb the tower and banish the evil witch, you become the princess of the kingdom!^{[21]
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Section 5 of 7:

Adult Strategy Games from the 90s

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Catan Catan has become one of the most popular games in the world, but it originally came out in the 90s! To play the game, players earn resources and build settlements throughout the island. Since its initial release, it’s gotten tons of expansions that add new rules, maps, and resources to keep the game interesting.
- Voss says, “When Catan kind of broke out, people realized you can do a lot more than just roll the dice and move around the board” when you play a board game.^{[22]
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  Deon Voss
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- Barone says, “Catan really helped connect classic gamers with modern gaming.”^{[23]
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El Grande Barone says El Grande is another popular “crunchy” game (strategy-heavy game) from the 90s.^{[24]
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Jennifer Barone
Board Game Specialist

Expert Interview} The game is based in medieval Spain (circa 15th century) in which players compete with each other to control regions and become the ruler of the land. It’s a well-respected strategy game that still gets played often (despite its age).
In RoboRally, you program robots with cards to move them throughout an obstacle course. Play your cards in the right order to avoid hazards on the board and other players, and win the game if you’re the first robot to cross the finish line.^{[25]
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HeroQuest has you and your friends take on the roles of fantasy adventurers exploring an underground maze. The game felt like a mix of a board game and a role-playing game like Dungeons & Dragons, and the 3D map made it even more immersive so you really felt like the characters. Defeat the evil wizard and escape the dungeon with your friends to win!^{[26]
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Battle Masters is a 90s miniatures game that has you pit your army against your opponent. Each player has different units, and the cards you draw from the deck determine who takes their turn and which units can attack. Defeat all of the enemy pieces, and you’re the true Battle Master!^{[27]
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Dragon Strike brought all the fun of Dungeons & Dragons into a single board game without the need for a dungeon master. Players work together to navigate through a maze that’s filled with multiple traps and enemies. Survive long enough to find and defeat the Dragon Master so you and your party can win the game!^{[28]
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Section 6 of 7:

Party Games from the 90s

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Cranium Cranium was the classic game that tested all parts of your brain. All you had to do was roll the dice and reach the finish line, but the space you landed on gave you new creative challenges. You may have to draw, make something from clay, solve riddles, answer trivia, act out a scene, or unscramble words.
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Mad Gab Mad Gab cards had random words that seem like gibberish at first, but read them out loud and they sound like another phrase. One person reads the card, and their teammates try to guess the phrase they’re hearing. Some example cards from the game include:
- Bat Tree Snot Ink Looted = “Batteries not included”
- Toe Stand Gel He = “Toast and jelly”
- Ace Tray Taste Who Dent = “A straight-A student”
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Twister Twister was a huge hit during 90s parties for kids and adults. To play, all you had to do was spin the wheel and put your hand or foot on the matching color. After a few spins, you’re all tangled up with your friends and balancing in wacky positions. Last one standing, and you win!

Section 7 of 7:

Electronic Board Games from the 90s

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Mall Madness Mall Madness has you and your friends racing to finish your shopping list the fastest. Each round, the electronic speaker tells you which stores are having sales and where you can move your pieces. Rush to the stores with the lowest prices, and be the first to collect all the items you need!^{[29]
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Mystery Mansion Even though the original Mystery Mansion came out in the 80s, a new electronic version came out in the 90s. During the game, you’ll search different rooms and furniture for a hidden stash of money. When you look for clues, the electronic helper will let you know if you have the right cards or are in the correct area. If you’re the first to find the million dollars, you’re the winner!^{[30]
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Nightmare Nightmare comes with a spooky VHS that you watch while you play the game. Throughout the game, you’ll move around the board collecting keys in your color, but the evil Gatekeeper will stop the game and give you tasks to complete. If you get all the keys in your color, make it to the Gatekeeper’s space, and turn off the VHS before it ends, you win!^{[31]
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Ask Zandar Ask Zandar features the titular wizard inside an electronic snowglobe that talks when you wave your hand over it. On your turn, you draw a card with a question, and you have to guess how Zandar will respond. If you get it right, you place a gem on the board. Win the game, and get more detailed answers to your questions, once you place 5 gems!^{[32]
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- Some fortune questions include “Will ____ ask me out?” or “Will aliens kidnap me and make me their queen?”
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Omega Virus In The Omega Virus, each player controls a commando on a space station trying to destroy the evil Omega computer virus. Move around the board exploring different rooms while trying to find computer parts and the virus’s location. Players use the electronic command center on the board to check the rooms, take down shields, attack other players, and eventually defeat the virus.^{[33]
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While not a board game, per se, Barone also mentions the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering, which took the 90s by storm!^{[34]
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Jennifer Barone
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Expert Interview} In MTG, players strategically build decks to duel with opponents. Definitely check it out if you enjoy collecting cards!

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