So, 1973 was the year that board game designers and publishers seemed to really pick up their game, during the 70’s (all 70’s board games).
SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.) really got active in 1973 with wargame publications. Strat-O-Matic produced the Pro Basketball game and the Europa series kicked off, and the Hare and Tortoise won the first ever Spiel des Jahres award.
Buying Collectables – We have tried and continue to try our best to find places selling the games listed online for those interested in the collectables (see each game if it has an available @ link).
Alien Space Battle Manual
Designed by Lou Zocchi and published by Gamescience in 1973, Alien Space Battle Manual was a revamped version of the Star Trek Battle Manual. This science fiction game involved using a lot of skill so the more avid gamers got along very well with it. A game was fun and would play out for about 2 hours.
Anti-Monopoly
A game that brought about a 10 year trademark lawsuit over the use of the word Monopoly which ended in a settlement and the name could be used. Looks just like a Monopoly board and plays in similar ways. It’s still on the market today, although most people do not rate it highly at all.
Atlanta Civil War Campaign
Atlanta Civil War Campaign published in 1973 by Guidon Games simulates the battle of Atlanta during the American Civil War. Defense and attack cards was used alongside dice rolling among other mechanisms. Wargame enthusiasts certainly got along very well with the board game Atlanta.
Bowl Bound
The American football board game Bowl Bound was first published by Time Inc. and then Avalon Hill took over marketing it during 1978. Within the game players selected teams from the 1960’s to 1970’s and used statistical grids based on team strengths with smart decision making winning the game. This was a great thematic game that came on the market during the 70’s.
Conspiracy
Conspiracy is a board game with a spy theme of bluffing and betrayal published by Milton Bradley. About time a game came along without a war theme and more family orientated. Players have 8 greedy spies to control and if one player is heading to victory the other remaining players must work together to prevent them from winning. A fun family spy themed game of the 70’s.
Drang Nach Osten
Drang Nach Osten was the first of the Europa series of wargames produced to cover the whole of WWII within Europe beginning with this 1st edition in 1973. This edition covered the German invasion of the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941. There was many avid followers of the Europa series. Complexity is high n this game and it plays on for quite some time. A serious wargamers game and series.
Hare and Tortoise
Hare and Tortoise was the first ever board game to win the Spiel des Jahres award when the awards began in 1979, although this version was published in 1973. As you might have guessed this is a race game, and an extremely popular and highly rated board game for families. Get fueled up with lettuce and carrots to win the race. An excellent classic!
Hue
Hue is a wargame first published by SDC (Simulations Design Corporation) and then in 1977, names Battle of Hue. Based on the Vietnamese war, specifically 1968 where Hue was the name of the site where a battle took place. This was a two player only game and was a great intro into the world of wargames as the complexity and time of play was within the sweet spot.
Nato Operational Combat in Europe 1970’s
Published by SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.) the hypothetical wargame Nato Operational Combat in Europe 1970’s was introduced in 1973. Based on Western Europe being invaded by the Warsaw Pact forces. A decent alternate history game of its time!
NORAD
NORAD was created based on a hypothetical nuclear war between the USA and Russia. It was later published in 1977 with some changes made, although much of it remained the same from the 1973 version. This was a solitaire and two person game which had a lot of luck involved for the winner. Simple, easy and great time filler game.
Panzer Armee Afrika
Panzer Armee Afrika is a wargame based on a North African Campaign between April 1941 and November 1942 which represents forces that took part in the battle. This was another 2 player warfare game of the 1973 that got a lot of attention from gamers. SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.) first published the game in 1973 then it was republished by Avalon Hill in the 80’s.
Perfection
Just about everyone from the 60’s – 80’s will surely remember the kids game Perfection. It was a simple dexterity and shape recognition game created to provide children with an hour of fun with the family. Fast and fun!
Railway Rivals
A game that was created to educate people on the railway system as well as to be fun to play. The first edition was just made up of hexagon sheets with coloring instructions and rules. Once the designer realized it was popular and had demand it was further developed. A 1986 edition and then Dampfross both came about from the 1973 introduction of Railway Rivals.
Sniper! first edition
The first edition of Sniper was published in 1973 by SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.) which was a two player wargame. It was then reimplemented with Patrol in 1974, the second edition in 1986 by TSR and others. Another wargame publication success for SPI followers and fans!
Space Hop
Space Hop: A game of the Planets was introduced in part to educate children about the planets. It was an excellent theme and should have taken off much better than it did. It seemed to lack enough of the fun side, although it was enjoyed by many families. The publisher was Teaching Concepts.
Strat-O-Matic Pro Basketball
The game company Strat-O-Matic became a game company in 1961 and the Pro Basketball followed the Football then Baseball board games. Pro Basketball was a huge hit within the US market for obvious reasons for the love of basketball. Strat-O-Matic games are great collectables!
Triplanetary
Triplanetary: The Classic Game of Space Combat was published by Game Designers’ Workshop which was a science fiction hexagon grid game. This was quite a gem for sci-fi gamers with six excellent scenarios that could be played out so the replay value was very high. Definitely one of the great 1970’s science fiction board games.
Unentschieden
Unentschieden (Europa II) followed the superb WWII game Drang Nach Osten (Europa I) and expanded it within the same year. This was a must have for those that played Drang Nach Osten as Unentschieden continued the campaign through 1944-45, making the whole campaign timescale total 1941-45. The was still just the start of the Europa series.
See all Board Games Published in the 70’s Here.
