Full House (1979) Board Game

Full House is a board game released in 1979 by Parker Brothers. It is designed for 2-4 players and has a runtime of about 60 minutes. The game falls under the categories of economic and humor, making it a fun and engaging choice for game nights with family and friends.

Game Components of Full House

Game Board: Features four hotel corners and various spaces for different actions.

Hotel Rooms: Each hotel has multiple rooms including suites, single, and double rooms.

Telegram Cards: These cards can be rewarding or punishing, affecting gameplay significantly.

Dice: Used for movement around the board.

Guest Cards: Representing various hotel guests with different accommodation requirements.

Money: Used for transactions between players.

How To Setup Full House

To set up Full House, each player chooses a token and places it on the starting space on the board. Each player begins with an economy hotel and a set amount of money. The telegram cards and guest cards are shuffled and placed within reach of all players. The objective is to upgrade your hotel and accommodate guests effectively.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Roll and Move: Players roll the dice to move around the board.

Guest Placement: Players draw guest cards and try to place them in their hotel according to the guests’ accommodation requirements.

Telegram Cards: Players can draw telegram cards that can either help or hinder their progress.

Upgrading Hotels: Players can upgrade their hotels from economy to higher categories.

Collecting Money: Players earn money by checking out guests and can lose money by landing on other players’ upgraded hotel spaces.

Objective: The goal is to build a fully upgraded hotel and manage it efficiently to accumulate the most money.

Player Experience

Playing Full House is a mix of strategy and luck. The game involves a lot of reading and matching guest requirements to hotel accommodations, making it educational for math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and fractions. However, the punishing nature of some telegram cards can be frustrating, especially for players who are already behind.

Pros

Educational: Helps in practicing math skills.

Strategic: Requires planning and management of resources.

Interactive: Involves interaction with other players through guest placement and telegram cards.

Fun: A fun way to learn and engage in game mechanics similar to Monopoly.

Cons

Luck-Based: Heavily influenced by dice rolls and card draws.

Punishing Cards: Some telegram cards can be very harsh, especially for players already behind.

Limited Classroom Use: Not suitable for classroom settings due to its competitive nature and length of gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Full House

Full House is a game best suited for families or casual gamers looking for a light-hearted yet engaging experience. It teaches important skills like resource management and strategic thinking while providing entertainment. However, due to its competitive and sometimes punishing nature, it may not be ideal for very young children or for use in a classroom setting. It’s a great addition to any game collection for those who enjoy games like Monopoly but with a unique hotel management twist.

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