Spooky Board Games: The Bloody Inn

Bear in mind, I am not a professional board gamer, but I had this game sitting in my apartment for about half a year before I gathered a team of friends to play it - - and a word of advice, before you venture into more adult board games, study the rules first. It was like hosting an event I wasn't prepared for, and ended up sort of stumbling through the rules before we all pretty much gave up after we'd doled out our little money tokens. That being said, I highly recommend 'The Bloody Inn', and to help all of you guys out, I've decided to share a proper review by Zee Garcia so you can host a proper game without the same challenges I had. Incidentally, drinking beforehand probably didn't help.

I love the artwork of this game. The strategy is a fun aspect, too. The Bloody Inn is a murder game. Yes, you read that right, not murder mystery, murder. You want people to die, and you want to have the most money at the end of the game. Outsmart the police, earn money, bribe guests, kill people - - the end goal is to be the most horrible human being on the planet with abysmal customer service. It's a smart game. I advise anyone looking to play to study the rules beforehand, watch this review (and maybe others) then meet up with your friends who've done the same. At the end of the day if you understand how to play, it's pretty fun!

Spooky Board Games: Ask Zandar

Can it be? At long last, another board games entry? Originally marketed in 1992, this game was the kind that you'd gradually lose every piece to...except the crystal ball. That's right, the crystal ball. Sort of like how you may not have every piece for Pretty Pretty Princess, but you'd damn sure keep that black ring.

So if you're wondering why this little piece of nostalgia is classified as spooky, look at it from the perspective of a six-year-old little girl who clung to each and every prediction this pre-programmed talking doll in a plastic bubble made. I was going to get a phone call? 2 weeks later, I got one. HOW DID HE KNOW?!!!

1-4 players, not one of the larger interactive games, this one makes an excellent companion for a slumber party. Afterwards, maybe a bedtime story from the Necronomicon.

"Bad luck and extreme misfortune will infest your pathetic soul for all eternity. Next question."

Picture the 8-ball, but you draw cards to ask it, then make bets on whether Zandar will answer in the positive or negative. Your goal is to collect all of your colored gems, and you only get them by getting Zandar's answer right. You get it wrong, you lose a gem. Don't worry if he starts talking in Latin backwards, though. That just means he's happy.

Since it was made in the 90s, you're not going to see much appreciation in value for a run-down copy of the game. If it popped back on the shelves, it would probably be in the 15-20 dollar range. Still, it's fun, and it can get kids talking. That's kind of the whole point, really, just to stimulate chit-chat. Perfect for the Halloween season.

Spooky Board Games: One Day at Horrorland

So, you know those games you used to see on tv as a kid, and thought to yourself: wow, that looks fun! The kind that have all the spinning bits, the cool colors, and the fun traps? The games you play when you first unwrap them, or go to a friend's house, and then realize each time you play that there's one more piece missing? This is one of those games. I don't remember too terribly much about this one, except for a few details:

- Incredibly simple instructions
- Incredibly annoying set-up and clean-up
- Really cool-looking
- And I actually spent more time making up stories using it as a 'playground' for other dolls, than as an actual board game.

There is something incredibly trippy about the black and shades of dark green, though, which somehow manages to make me think...even as an adult...that this guy is going to pop up at any moment to take me to the real 'horrorland'...

My whole point here is that it's not a game for kids who can't pick up after themselves, and you're going to want to make sure you have extra baggies at the end of the night to pack it up, but the game looks great, and I even saw it at Walmart for about 20 bucks, so there's no danger of it popping up at an incredibly high price on Amazon any time soon. I think it's pretty much worth that amount, before the pieces go missing. Afterwards, the game parts themselves make pretty nifty shelf decorations.

Spooky Board Games: 1313 Dead End Drive

For the many of you who've had the chance to play Clue, this game is pretty much the exact opposite. Your goal isn't to accuse or catch the murderer, but to be the murderer. Picture 'Mouse Trap' meets 'Clue' meets 'Monopoly' and you'll begin to get an idea of what I'm talking about. You get to bluff and hide your identity, move other people's pieces, kill fellow players, and all for the sake of money. In your average financial game like Monopoly, the bankrupt player generally sends most of their stuff back to the bank, or gradually sells it off until they have absolutely nothing left. In 1313 Dead End Drive, the dead person's cash just goes to the next heir in line.



This was my favorite game as a kid. As dark as it is, it's also incredibly funny. Did I mention it's really colorful, and the pictures are funny too?

Spooky Board Games: Barnabas Collins Dark Shadows

 

"This is Barnabas Collins. He lives in a strange world, a world of: vampires, werewolves, and DARK SHADOWS. Now the world of Dark Shadows is yours in a strange new game by Milton Bradley. The Barnabas Collins Dark Shadows Game!"

Your goal? Be the first person to assemble a full skeleton. You draw a bone or stake from the coffin each turn, though you're going to want to avoid the stakes. Oh, and the skeleton glows in the dark. "If you win, the curse of the vampire is yours!"

That last bit kind of leaves me confused. The curse of the vampire was not a good thing in the show, and generally isn't. Imagine if they revived it today, in the world of sparkles and lackluster love interests? I bet you there'd be cherry flavored lip balm too, and everyone would get a set of fangs...just to be fair.

That kid in the corner looks eerily like David...

Apparently a lot of people have lost those fangs in their vintage boards over the years. That's the genius thing about board game companies, when they put as many small parts in a board game as possible (I'm looking at you, Mouse Trap.) But the nice thing about the fangs, is that you can actually replace them with any old plastic pair of chompers you find at the store. Score one for creativity, even if it may not really help the value of the game.

It's more of a game for older kids, I think, due to all the tiny parts. It's also kind of confusing. If you manage to get your hands on a complete copy, with no missing pieces, hold on to it. Also, maybe try playing it a few times, too. It's basically 'Pretty Pretty Princess' with a few darker elements in place of all the freaking jewelry.