Released by Milton Bradley in 1968, Dynamite Shack tested players’ dexterity and nerves as bundles of dynamite were loaded into a shack that was destined to explode.
GAMEPLAY
The goal of the game was to be the first player to dispose of their explosive inventory down the chimney of the dynamite shack.
Players were given three bundles of dynamite in each of the three colours. A series of cards was distributed facedown among the players. The cards were illustrated with actions that prompted players to use bundles of their own dynamite or those of their opponent(s). Players used plastic oversized thumbs that slid onto their own thumbs when handling the bundles of dynamite — this element made handling the dynamite trickier and added a level of comic relief to the game.
Each player turned over the top card of their deck. The shack’s timer was turned, and the countdown began. The objective was for a player to quickly load the shack with the dynamite represented on the card and then pass the thumbs to the next player to action their top card as the timer continued to tick. The player who was loading the shack when the timer went off — triggering the spring-loaded mechanism inside the shack to pop off the roof of the shack — took possession of the shack’s dynamite. This made winning the game a long-shot aspiration for that player.
The game continued until one player successfully discarded all of their dynamite sticks, winning the game.
IN THE BOX
A complete game included a red shack with black roof, 36 dynamite sticks (12 each in red, blue, and green), 24 cards, and two sets of plastic thumbs. Instructions were printed inside the box top.
COLLECTOR CONSIDERATIONS
Dynamite Shack is a good example of a game that emphasized dexterity, anticipation, and a nerve-wracking event. Operation from Milton Bradley (1965) and Perfection from Lakeside (1973) are also examples of games designed to keep players on edge. Elements of surprise made these games thrillingly nerve-wracking for players of all ages.
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