Released in 1975 from Milton Bradley, Land of the Lost board game was adapted from the Sid and Marty Krofft science-fantasy television series that ran from 1974-1976.
The TV show featured the Marshalls, a modern family that had been accidentally trapped in an alternate universe filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric inhabitants. The plot of most episodes focused on the family’s efforts to return home and survive in their unpredictable, hazardous environment.
The board game followed this storyline, challenging players to navigate from a starting position to the safety of a cave.
GAMEPLAY
The Land of the Lost game board featured a yellow playing surface surrounded by photos of the show’s first two seasons.
To start, each player chose a coloured marker. The red and yellow markers began in the circle at the lower left of the board, while the green and blue markers took their starting positions in the lower right.
Each turn required the player to spin the integrated spinner and move one dot in the direction indicated by where the spinner stopped. Directional prompts from the spinner included right, left, straight ahead, diagonal, and player’s choice.
With each spin, players moved from their starting location toward the top of the board where their cave was located. Gameplay was primarily driven by luck with minimal obstacles and strategy with two exceptions. Unintentionally spinning one’s way into the Pit in the middle of the board forced a player back to their starting location. And, only one marker at a time was allowed to occupy a dot on the board, so any player landing on an opponent’s marker was forced to return to the start.
IN THE BOX
A complete game included a game board, four multi-coloured player markers, and a spinner attached to the box insert. Instructions were printed on the underside of the box top.
COLLECTOR CONSIDERATIONS
Used copies of Land of the Lost can be found on third-party auction sites like eBay and Etsy. Like most games from the time, the cardboard insert was vulnerable to environmental factors.
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