'80s Games to Rediscover This Holiday Season

There's nothing that brings people together quite like a board game.

One of the greatest joys of the holiday season is gathering around the table with the ones you love to play a good old-fashioned board game. Whilst there are new releases every year and there's huge excitement in opening up a shiny new game, sometimes it's nice to go back to basics. We've selected some games which those who lived through the '80s will feel massive nostalgia for. Whether you were a word nerd, a mathematical genius, or had a natural talent for trapping plastic rodents, we've got a game on this list that will take your fancy. So, without further ado, these are our favorite games that were huge in the '80s.

Guess Who

If you're after a game that you can play with just one other, then Guess Who is a brilliant place to start. This game is good for two players only. Each of you gets a board and you'll need to stand up each of the cards on it. They'll all show you somebody's face and it's up to both players to try and work out which character their opponent has picked. You'll be able to narrow down choices by asking about attributes such as gender, hair color, eye color, and whether the person is wearing glasses. It's a simple concept but it has the potential for hilarity which is why it remains one of our '80s favorites.

Mousetrap

Next on the list is a game that brings out the big kid in anyone: Mousetrap. This game exploded onto television screens and was snapped up by anyone who could get their hands on one. It is suitable for up to four players and involves trying to navigate your way around a fiendishly tricky board without getting caught. Each of the players is given a mouse counter and the first mouse to get the cheese wins. It's definitely not a game that's intellectually challenging, but if you've got a steady hand and nerves of steel then you'll love it.

Clue

You can't go wrong with a game of Clue

This popular game around the world (known as Cluedo in Europe) is perfect if you've got a large group of guests because up to six people can play and you can team up if you've got extras. The aim of Clue is simple; you need to find the murderer. In order to do so, you'll need to move your counters from room to room looking for clues and murder weapons. If you can't be bothered with the hassle of organizing an actual murder mystery party then this is an excellent alternative that will keep guests entertained for around an hour or so.

Popeye

Nintendo's popular arcade game based on the popular comic strip was also a board game! Popeye is the perfect game to play when you want to take a walk down memory lane. The game has been repurposed into multiple versions and game types, from board games to the world of online slots, where its graphics have evolved even further. There is no doubt that we are in front of one of the great titles of the 80's, in a game where you had to get rid of the different characters that appeared on the screen in the different floors in order to get the highest score possible.

Hungry Hungry Hippos

If you're after a game that everybody can join in with then it doesn't get more easily accessible than Hungry Hungry Hippos. This game is simply a case of tapping that hippo as fast as you can so that it can swallow more of the balls than anybody else's. Whilst your mastermind aunt might prefer a game of Trivial Pursuit, after a couple of rounds with the hippos she's guaranteed to be enjoying herself. This game was incredibly popular during the 80s which means that, if you don't have a copy lying around, then somebody else will. It's super easy to find in goodwill stores, garage sales, or just on an eBay trawl - so, treat yourself!