Released in 1973 by Milton Bradley, the SeaLab 2020 board game immerses players in underwater missions to explore the depths and retrieve research samples.
The game is based on the animated series Sealab 2020 produced by Hanna-Barbera. The show followed a group of research scientists who lived and worked beneath the sea. It aired on NBC for 13 episodes between September 9 and December 2, 1972. Although it ran for only one season, the series developed a small but loyal following and later inspired a cult-favourite parody, Sealab 2021, on Cartoon Network and later Adult Swim.
GAMEPLAY
The game board was an illustrated undersea environment with the SeaLab facility sat at the centre. Around the perimeter were illustrations of divers, the SeaLab community, aquatic life, and sample sites located at each corner.
The object of the game was to be the first research team to collect four samples and return to the SeaLab.
Players chose a team colour and placed their three pawns at the centre of the board. Their four colour-matched tokens were placed on the board’s corners, each representing a different sample.
Play began from the centre. The first player rolled a single die and moved one pawn along the grid toward a chosen sample sites. To retrieve a sample, all three pawns of the team had to reach the same corner. Once acquired, the token for that sample was moved to the team’s space at the centre.
Players then continued their ocean exploration to collect the remaining samples. The first player to return with all four won the game.
IN THE BOX
A complete game included the game board, four sets of three pawns and four corresponding tokens of each colour (red, green, yellow, blue), and a die. Instructions were printed inside the box top.
COLLECTOR CONSIDERATIONS
Milton Bradley captured Hanna-Barbera charm with card and board games such as Jonny Quest Card Game (1964), The Wacky Races (1969), The Funky Phantom (1971), Scooby-Doo Where Are You! (1973), and The Jetsons (1985). These vibrantly illustrated games remain sought-after collectibles, reflecting the charm of classic television and family-friendly play that still resonates with fans and collectors today.
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