Released in 1974 from Tomy, Nuttsy Tennis was a tabletop tennis game for 2 players.

In 1962, Ideal released Dr. Kildare, a board game based on the popular TV show of the same name. Players ages 7-14 assumed the role of the fictional physician, completing rounds in the hospital and diagnosing patients.

Frantik from Kenner (1979) saw players urgently spin a wheel to keep a marble in play through a pachinko-style peg maze on a rotating board.

Milton Bradley’s 1975 ‘The McDonald’s Game” has players scramble to correctly fulfill food orders, thwart the competition, and be first to score 25 points.

Released in 1958 by Milton Bradley, the Alfred Hitchcock Presents Why board game capitalized on the popularity of the Alfred Hitchcock Presents television anthology series that originally aired from 1955 to 1965.

It’s up to the residents of Whoville to take back Christmas in the How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Game published by University Games in 1997.

In 1965, Milton Bradley invited players to “enter the dangerous world of James Bond” with the release of the 007 game.

Released in 1968 from the Fred Bronner Corporation, the Matchbox Traffic Game challenged 2 to 4 players, ages 8 to 14, to a series of driving missions with points scored for each mile travelled. Lawfully racking up mileage is the goal.

Released in 1971 by Milton Bradley, The Partridge Family Game offers a glimpse of what life on the road was like for one of TV’s favourite fictional pop bands.

Sean Jacquemain – a lifelong game enthusiast and gaming-focused writer – shares his fondness for analog play and the connections it forges.

Nicolas Ricketts, Curator at the National Museum of Play at The Strong, details Scrabble’s route to success and game-night domination.

As we look to unplug, spend less time online, and engage face-to-face, let us remember the enduring the popularity of tabletop games.