The summary of ‘The WORST Board Game Themes’

00:00:00

In this part of the video, the creator discusses the significance of a strong theme in board games, emphasizing that a captivating theme can greatly determine a game’s success. An example given is “Doggy Do,” a game involving collecting dog poop that surprisingly sold well and even inspired a spin-off edition. Another game highlighted is “Advertising,” a 1988 trivia game focused on matching advertising slogans to their products, noted for being an extensive marketing ploy. The segment concludes with a mention of the NBC TV news game from 1962, described as a dull and outdated trivia game themed around NBC news.

00:03:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses how themed games can become outdated if tied too closely to specific time periods or cultural contexts. They cite the example of “Power Lunch,” a 1994 game where players arrange celebrities at lunch tables, as many of the celebrities are now irrelevant. Furthermore, they explore “What Shall I Be? The Exciting Game of Career Girls” from 1966, which offers female job roles like teacher, nurse, and model, reflecting outdated gender norms. The game requires players to collect school subject and personality cards, including negative traits like “slow thinker” and “overweight,” which have aged poorly. The speaker points out that while unintentionally controversial themes can be humorous in hindsight, other games deliberately incorporate controversy.

00:06:00

In this segment, the video covers a 1979 board game called “Ove,” despite limited available information. The game involves players assuming the role of a Jewish mother aiming to get sons to become doctors and daughters married to doctors. The host briefly discusses the lack of data and promises more if they can obtain a copy. They then transition to discussing Hammerhead Enterprise, known for controversial games like “Public Assistance” and “Capital Punishment.” While “Capital Punishment” has engaging gameplay despite its theme, “Public Assistance” is criticized for being overly reliant on luck. The host notes both games were pulled from stores due to their controversial nature and hints at discussing more recent, similarly unconventional games, beginning with a card game from 2005 called “Pimp: The Backhanding.”

00:09:00

In this part of the video, the speaker explains the structure of a game that involves making money over three rounds, each consisting of three phases: the macking phase, the backhanding phase, and the money laundering phase. Players recruit employees, hamper competitors’ progress, and finally count their earnings. The game includes modifiers and dirty trick cards to enhance strategy. Additionally, the video discusses “winch,” a controversial card game with 52 cards featuring provocative images, used for both traditional card play and the more complex game of winch. Players aim to get rid of their cards while navigating various penalties, with the loser at the end declared the “winch of the evening” and subject to an agreed-upon punishment.

00:12:00

In this segment, the speaker discusses the poorly themed party game “Adultery,” created by Diplomat Sales Co. The main appeal of the game lies in its Classy artwork by Monty Michael Moore, known for his work with Magic the Gathering, DC Comics, and Lucasfilm. Despite this, Diplomat Sales Co.’s history is obscure, with no records of its operations. “Adultery,” a 1969 game, involves players pairing off with members of the opposite sex to engage in real-world adultery based on spins of a spinner and drawing names from hats. The speaker critiques the game for its unethical concept and notes that its premise makes it unappealing to the general public and impractical even for swingers. The absurdity of the game’s theme and mechanics highlights it as an example of bad game design.

00:15:00

In this part of the video, the narrator humorously critiques a series of adult-themed board games released under the Diplomat Banner. They mention that one game, “Adultery,” involves strict rules and a neutral third-party enforcement, which may not be what participants seek. They joke that catching an STD from playing board games isn’t zero, highlighting the absurdity. The next game, “Strip Tac Toe” from 1969, is described as underwhelming compared to “Adultery.” It follows similar strip rules but with a Tic-Tac-Toe format, with mentions of players stripping and placing clothing items instead of Xs and Os. The text mentions the questionable decision of someone proposing to play the game seriously. Finally, the narrator transitions to the next game, “Bumps and Grinds” from 1970, just before Diplomat vanished, implying it involves losing clothing throughout gameplay, adding to the list of quirky, potentially dangerous games.

00:18:00

In this part of the video, the speaker explains the game mechanics of “Bumps and Grinds,” where the winner is the first to lose all their clothing, adding a new strategic element. Players move around the board by rolling dice, landing on spaces with various effects like free spaces, making a player strip, moving around the board, or drawing cards from two decks. These cards have diverse effects, such as making others drink, lose clothing, or do something silly. A unique element is the candlelight requirement, which is impractical as the candle provides insufficient light, posing a fire hazard. Lastly, the speaker notes the game’s manufacturer was originally Diplomat but rebranded to Topco, likely to distance itself from controversial themes.

00:21:00

In this part of the video, the speaker, Cam Sandwich, humorously discusses the success of a board game called “Diplomat Trio” and how he’s drawing inspiration from it for his own game development. He mentions creating a naughty-themed version called “Strip the Campaign for North Africa,” jokingly suggesting it will take 15 years to set the mood. He signs off by thanking viewers, particularly his patrons, and encourages others to support by contributing funds that will go towards acquiring more games for shared play. The segment ends with a nod to his patrons and a light-hearted comment about persistence through multiple attempts.