The Christmas Game (1983) Board Game

The Christmas Game was released in 1983 by Family Pastimes, a company known for creating cooperative board games for families to enjoy together. The game was designed with children in mind, making it a fun and festive activity for the holiday season. With a focus on cooperation and strategy, The Christmas Game brings players together to experience the joy of Christmas in a unique way.

Game Components of The Christmas Game

Game board

Player pieces

Dice

Gift tokens ($1, $5, $25, $50, $100, $200)

Reindeer, Santa, and Scrooge cards

Money ($1, $5, $10, $50 bills)

How To Setup The Christmas Game

Each player starts with $280, including 5 $1, 5 $5, 5 $10, and 4 $50 bills. A $50 bill is placed on the Christmas Club square. Players put their pieces on the start space.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Be the first player to purchase one gift of each value ($1, $5, $25, $50, $100, $200).

Gameplay: Players roll the dice and move clockwise around the board. Landing on a gift space allows a player to purchase the gift if they don’t already own one of the same value.

Special Spaces:

Super Shopper: Win the game by rolling two ones or a twelve on this space.

Traffic Jam: Roll a seven or doubles to leave this space (exempt for players 15 or younger).

Christmas Club: Collect all money from this space, with a $50 bill replenished from the bank.

Start: Collect $50 from the bank when passing or landing on this space.

Sales Tax: Lose half of your money to the bank.

Player Experience

The Christmas Game feels like a typical roll-and-move game but lacks significant decision-making and strategy. Players primarily roll the dice and follow the instructions on the spaces they land on. The game can be quite luck-dependent, with wins often resulting from fortunate rolls rather than strategic play.

Pros

Charm and Cheesiness: The game has a certain holiday charm that can make it enjoyable for those looking for a light-hearted experience.

Easy to Learn: Simple mechanics make it accessible to a wide range of players.

Cons

Lack of Strategy: The game is heavily reliant on luck rather than player decisions.

Bland Gameplay: Players have minimal control over their progress.

Broken Mechanics: Some rules, such as the traffic jam and sales tax spaces, can be frustrating and feel unfair.

Personal Thoughts on The Christmas Game

The Christmas Game is for those who enjoy light-hearted, easy-to-play games and are not looking for deep strategy or complex gameplay. It might appeal to families or groups seeking a casual, holiday-themed game. However, due to its rarity and moderate to high price, it may not be the best value for most players. If you have fond memories of the game or are collecting vintage board games, it might be worth considering, but for most, there are better alternatives available.

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