What's In The Box?

Remember the excitement of tearing open a box of cereal? Those highly-processed, sugary breakfasts used to come with all kinds of fun stuff. Back in the heyday of CD-ROM, you might even be lucky enough to find a new game in your cereal! While many of these games are objectively bad, there's no denying they were once the highlight of our mornings. So let’s take a trip back to when breakfast used to be a lot more exciting.

1. Chex Quest

Chex Quest was a first-person shooter that came as a surprise inside boxes of Chex cereal. It was created in 1996 as a non-violent version of Doom, replacing the usual monsters with green, gooey creatures called Flemoids. Instead of using weapons, players used a device that teleported enemies back to their home dimension.

2. RollerCoaster Tycoon (Cereal Edition)

In the early 2000s, RollerCoaster Tycoon allowed kids to build their own amusement parks. This special edition was included in select cereal boxes, introducing a broader audience to the game's addictive simulation experience. Its widespread availability through this promotion contributed to its popularity.

3. Kellogg’s Racing

Kellogg’s Racing was a promotional game that put players behind the wheel, racing through various tracks inspired by Kellogg's branding. Featuring beloved cereal mascots as characters, this game combined the thrill of racing with familiar faces from the breakfast table.

4. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (Cereal Demo)

One morning cereal enthusiasts discovered demo versions of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater within their breakfast. This iconic skateboarding game offered exhilarating gameplay, allowing you to perform tricks and explore urban areas. The demo's inclusion in cereals played a role in the game's widespread acclaim and subsequent franchise success.

5. Age Of Empires II (Cereal Edition)

Age of Empires II, a real-time strategy game set in the Middle Ages, was distributed via cereal promotions during the early 2000s. Participants could lead civilizations to glory, engaging in epic battles and strategic planning. This unique distribution method helped the game reach households nationwide.

6. Corn Pops Wild West Shootout

Kellogg's Corn Pops introduced the Wild West Shootout, a game that transported explorers to the rugged terrains of the Wild West. Children could engage in cowboy-themed fights as sheriffs or outlaws in thrilling shootouts. This interactive experience added a layer of excitement to the breakfast routine

7. Amazon Trail: 3rd Edition

Released by The Learning Company, Amazon Trail: 3rd Edition is an educational adventure game where players journey through the Amazon Rainforest with the help of guides who have specific qualities. This installment improved upon its predecessors with updated graphics and bug fixes.

8. Backyard Baseball

Backyard Baseball by Humongous Entertainment is a children's sports game that features kid versions of professional baseball players. Kids could create teams and compete in neighborhood ballparks with athletes from different backgrounds, making it a fun and accessible introduction to baseball for younger audiences.

9. Clue: Murder At Boddy Mansion

General Mills released Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion in collaboration with Hasbro Interactive. Young players explored Boddy Mansion, collecting clues to deduce the murderer, weapon, and crime scene. The game's immersive graphics and engaging gameplay offered a fresh take on the traditional whodunit.

10. Atari: 80 Classic Games In One!

This compilation offers a nostalgic trip back to the golden age of gaming, featuring 80 classic Atari games such as Asteroids, Centipede, and Pong. Released in 2003, it provided both seasoned gamers and newcomers a chance to experience these timeless titles on modern platforms.

11. Sorry!

Box of Cheerios cereals offered a digitized version of the classic board game, Sorry! In this game, four opponents battle to get back to their colors while preventing others from reaching theirs. It was a fun game for the younger and older audiences.

12. Mission Nutrition

Mission Nutrition was a game that focused on teaching kids about healthy eating and making good food choices. It was included in select Kellogg’s cereals, and children were encouraged to complete challenges related to nutrition and exercise. The game used colorful graphics and a fun storyline to make learning about health more exciting.

13. Lucky Luke: Western Fever

As part of Kellogg's promotion, Lucky Luke: Western Fever was released as a third-person action game where children play as the titular cowboy, Lucky Luke, on a quest to thwart the Dalton gang's mischievous plans. Set against a vibrant Western backdrop, the game combines shooting sequences with puzzle-solving elements.

14. Bionicle

Bionicle: The Game was an action-adventure platformer available on multiple platforms, including GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. A cutscene was included in cereal boxes where kids controlled the characters to harness elemental powers and combat the sinister Makuta and his minions.

15. Crayola Arcade

In 2003, General Mills included a free version of Crayola Arcade in some of its cereal boxes. The pack included four simple versions inspired by the original games in addition to craft ideas that kids can make with Crayola products.

16. Froot Loops Adventures With Toucan Sam

This was a colorful game featuring Toucan Sam, the mascot of Froot Loops. The story usually involved following his nose through different levels while collecting Froot Loops and avoiding obstacles. Toucan Sam had been a recognizable mascot for decades, so kids were eager to jump into an escapade with him.

17. Cap’n Crunch’s Crunchling Adventure

For the 1999 Cap’n Crunch’s Crunchling Adventure, participants raised and trained small creatures called Crunchlings to compete in different challenges. The goal was to make the Crunchlings strong enough to defeat Sogmaster, who was trying to steal Cap’n Crunch cereal. The game had a mix of action and training activities, which kept the children engaged.

18. Monopoly Junior

As a digital version of the classic Monopoly board game, this was simplified for young participants and was easier to understand. Monopoly had already been a family favorite for generations, and the cereal box edition was a welcome addition to many households.

19. Clue Jr.

Clue Jr. was a kid-friendly version of the famous mystery board game Clue. Young players had to solve simple mysteries by gathering clues and figuring out what happened. The digital version made the mystery-solving gameplay more interactive and engaging.

20. Candy Land Adventure

This was an interactive version of the classic Candy Land board game. It featured bright, colorful graphics and simple gameplay that matched the fun and imaginative world of the original game. Kids could move through the different candy-themed locations while meeting characters along the way.