12 Board Games You Forgot Existed
Board games have brought people together for decades, but some of them quietly disappeared from living rooms and toy shelves. You may have loved these games as a kid and totally forgotten they ever existed. A trip down memory lane might just remind you how fun and weird some of them were.
- Tricia Quitales
- 3 min read
Over the years, many board games have come and gone, leaving behind a mix of nostalgia and confusion. Some were massive hits in their time, while others had short bursts of popularity before vanishing. Whether they were based on TV shows, strange mechanics, or wacky ideas, these 12 games once filled family game nights. If you’ve ever said, “Wait, I used to play that,” this list is for you.
1. Dream Phone
Jacob Sierra on Pexels
This 1990s game let players call mystery boys to figure out who their crush was. The oversized pink phone made real sounds, which felt super high-tech at the time. It was like Clue for teens — but with way more drama.
2. 13 Dead End Drive
Ann H on pexels
Part mystery, part booby trap, this game involved inheriting a fortune and knocking off the competition. Players set traps like falling chandeliers and spring-loaded stairs. It was like a cartoon version of a murder mystery.
3. Don’t Wake Daddy
cottonbro studio on Pexels
In this game, players had to sneak to the fridge without waking their dad. Pressing the alarm clock would sometimes launch the plastic dad upright in bed, giving kids a jump scare. The suspense made it more fun than it had any right to be.
4. Mousetrap
Pixabay on Pexels
Half game, half engineering project, Mousetrap required you to build a crazy contraption while trying to trap your opponent. The pieces were easy to lose, and it rarely worked like it was supposed to. Still, when it did work, it was pure magic.
5. Fireball Island
Brian Michael Napoletano on Wikimedia
This adventure game came with a 3D plastic volcano that rolled marbles — “fireballs” — down winding paths. Players raced around the island while trying to avoid getting knocked off the board. It was big, bold, and impossible to store properly.
6. Electronic Mall Madness
Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels
A talking electronic board guided players through a virtual mall where they could “shop” with fake credit cards. The game was all about buying items from different stores while racing your friends. It was peak ’90s teen culture in cardboard form.
7. Mr. Bucket
Mizuno K on Pexels
Mr. Bucket was a plastic toy that spat out balls while kids tried to scoop them up and toss them back in. It wasn’t exactly a “board” game, but it did have rules and a lot of chaos. The catchy jingle is still stuck in some people’s heads.
8. Thin Ice
Ana Madeleine Uribe on Pexels
In Thin Ice, players used tweezers to balance marbles on a tissue stretched over a frame. If the ice broke, the marbles fell, and the round ended with a splash. It was like Operation, but colder and wetter.
9. Tornado Rex
Jarod Lovekamp on Pexels
This game featured a plastic winding mountain track and a spring-loaded spinning top called Tornado Rex. If released, Rex would spin down the path and knock over anything in his way. Winning meant surviving his rampage.
10. Eat at Ralph’s
Joel Alencar on Pexels
This gross-out game involved players feeding a plastic head named Ralph. When Ralph had had enough, he burped and spat the food back out. It was weird, wild, and way more popular with kids than parents.
11. Grape Escape
Pixabay on pexels
Players shaped grapes out of purple clay and moved them across an obstacle course. If you landed in the wrong spot, your grape got smashed, sliced, or squished. It was messy, silly, and completely unforgettable.
12. Crocodile Dentist
Phuong Ngo on Pexels
In this game, players took turns pulling teeth from a plastic crocodile’s mouth. One wrong move and the mouth would snap shut on your finger. It was quick, simple, and always good for a scream.