Top 14+ Popular Board Games from the ’60s That Ended Friendships Faster Than Monopoly

Hey there, fellow baby boomers! Before video games took over our living rooms, we had some seriously intense board game battles that could make or break friendships. While Monopoly might be the most famous friendship-ender, the 1960s gave us plenty of other games that could turn family game night into family drama night. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and revisit some of these classic tabletop troublemakers!

1. Risk (1959-1960s)

Ah, Risk – the game that taught us about world domination before we even understood geography! First published by Parker Brothers in 1959, this strategy game could last for hours, sometimes days, as alliances formed and crumbled faster than your aunt’s Christmas cookies. Nothing ended a friendship quite like breaking a promise to protect Australia, only to invade it on your next turn.

2. Sorry! (1960s Edition)

Nothing stung quite like being sent back to start when you were just a space away from home. This game, based on Pachisi, was published by Parker Brothers and became wildly popular in the 1960s with its colorful board and pieces. Heated debates erupted over the loss of those iconic plastic pawns under the couch!

3. Aggravation (1962)

Talk about truth in advertising! Created by CO-5 Corporation in 1962, this marble-based game lived up to its name, especially when someone would “accidentally” bump the board just as you were about to win. The satisfaction of knocking someone’s marble out of their safe spot was matched only by the fury of being on the receiving end.

4. Mystery Date (1965)

Released by Milton Bradley in 1965, this game caused plenty of teenage drama! Arguments would break out over who got the “dud” date card, and sisters would stop speaking to each other for days after one claimed the “formal dance” date card that the other had been collecting outfits for all game.

5. Stratego (1961 Milton Bradley Version)

This military strategy game turned brothers into bitter enemies. Released by Milton Bradley in 1961, the devastation of losing your flag to a spy, or watching your marshal get taken out by a lowly miner, could lead to accusations of cheating and board-flipping tantrums that would echo through the neighborhood.

6. Operation (1965)

The original steady-hand test that caused more anxiety than a real medical procedure! Initially produced by Milton Bradley in 1965, friendships were tested when someone would “accidentally” bump your elbow during a delicate extraction, or when debates erupted over whether the tweezers had actually touched the sides or not.

7. Mouse Trap (1963)

This Rube Goldberg-inspired game, released by Ideal in 1963, was as frustrating to set up as it was to play. Arguments would break out over who broke the contraption, who had to fix it, and whether the cage actually “caught” the mouse or just grazed it. Many a playdate ended with pieces scattered across the floor in frustration.

8. Tip-It (1965)

Released by Ideal in 1965, this balancing game led to countless accusations of table-bumping and “breathing too hard.” The tension would build with each move until someone inevitably caused the whole thing to crash, leading to heated debates about whose fault it really was.

9. King Oil (1974)

While technically from the early ’70s, this game’s roots were in the ’60s oil boom. Released by Milton Bradley in 1974, players would fight over prime drilling spots and accuse each other of peeking at the oil deposit cards. The game’s complexity often led to rule disputes that could turn a friendly game into a heated debate about petroleum economics!

10. Hands Down! (1964)

Released by Ideal in 1964, this fast-paced card game with its plastic “slammer” hands led to many bruised fingers and heated arguments. Players would accuse each other of slapping too hard or too early, and the noise would drive parents crazy. More than one game ended with the slammer hands being confiscated!

11. Battleship (1967 Milton Bradley Edition)

The classic game of naval warfare that turned trust into suspicion! Adapted by Milton Bradley in 1967 from a pencil-and-paper game, the plastic version with its signature pegs and ships led to endless accusations of “peeking” over the divider. Nothing ended a game faster than catching your opponent moving their ships around when they thought you weren’t looking.

12. Voice of the Mummy (1971)

Released by Milton Bradley in 1971, this spooky electronic board game featured a battery-powered record player that directed players during the game. The temperamental voice box would often malfunction, leading to heated debates about whether someone had actually won. Accusations of tampering with the electronic mummy voice during crucial moments were commonplace!

13. Green Ghost (1965)

First published by Transogram in 1965, this glow-in-the-dark game was the first designed to be played in the dark. Its unique mechanics of feeling around for pieces in the dark led to constant arguments about cheating and whether someone had secretly turned on a light. Many a sleepover was ruined by Green Ghost disputes.

14. Ka-Bala (1967)

Released by the Transogram Company in 1967, this mystical decision-making game, featuring a “magical” floating sphere, sparked endless arguments about whether someone was manipulating the answers. It was marketed as “The Mysterious Game that Foretells the Future,” and its mysterious nature only added fuel to the competitive fire!