Mad Magazine, The Board Game!
Doug Larson
OCC Editor in Chief
This is Mad Magazine, The Board Game!
Originally released by Parker Brothers in 1979, this zany game plays like no other! Players navigate their way around the game board in a madcap race to empty their wallets. The first player to go broke wins! You’d think that spending all of your money would be an easy task, but Alfred E. Neuman knows how to make his fans suffer from success! Today we’re going to compare the original 1979 Parker Brothers Edition of Mad Magazine, The Board Game, to the 1988 Parker Brothers “What- Me Worry?” Edition of Mad Magazine, The Board Game. Let’s see what’s changed and what stayed the same between these two publishing runs.
Box Art
Starting with the box art of the 1979 edition, we see a vibrant representation of Alfred E. Neuman playing the game with his usual cadre of wacky friends. The entire front of the box is lovingly adorned with a delightful array of doodles and caricatures, many provided by famed Mad Magazine cover artist Jack Davis himself. The Mad Magazine title is emblazoned on the front of the box in bright red, and looks as attractive as ever. Parker Brothers made the choice to tastefully relegate their branding to the sides and back of the box, allowing the cover art to take center stage. The back of the box features a black and white partial photo of the game board and a brief description of the gameplay. There would be nothing noteworthy about the back of the game box, save for one excerpt from the game’s rules which says “Do not play this game with anyone who is not male or female.” Such a joke rule was clearly not intended to be hateful at the time it was written, but by modern standards it may be considered inappropriate by some.
The 1988 edition, also known as the “What-Me Worry?” edition, returns with a refreshed version of the original cover art featuring Alfred E. Neuman and company yet again played his classic board game. Gone are the detailed doodles of fantastic characters that once crowded the background of the cover. In this edition the background is left bare white, prominently featuring a blurb in the corner “Not new or improved!” Parker Brothers rightfully chose to seize some real estate on the sparse front cover to place their branding this time as well. The back of the box features a black and white photo of two kids enjoying the game alongside a description of the game itself. Gone are any blurbs or notions of rules that many not have aged well.
Gameplay
Players start the game with $10,000 and the goal of going bankrupt as fast as possible. Moving counterclockwise around the board, and rolling exclusively with their left hands, players race to spend all of their money in the wackiest ways possible. Players will occasionally draw and play cards with crazy effects on the game. You never know if you’ll have to switch seats with your opponent or be forced to cluck like a chicken to get ahead. The rules can also be harsh! If you accidentally roll the dice with your right hand, you may end up collecting a fortune. If you move your piece clockwise around the board, you could be declared a “Nerd Person” and barred from ever playing Mad Magazine, The Board Game again!
Game Board
The 1979 game board is an impressive work of art with game spaces reminiscent of classic Mad Magazine comic frames; each frame packed with highly detailed art and instructions to propel you recklessly across the game board. There is even one space that guarantees any player named Alfred E. Neuman is saddled with such a vast fortune that they may never have hope of exhausting it! This game board is a joy to behold and a thrill to play on.
The 1988 Game board art and rules remain unchanged from the 1979 version. The board itself now measures 20”x20” (51×51 cm) which is larger than the 18”x18” (46×46 cm) board included in the 1979 edition. The 1988 game board also folds in half vertically instead of horizontally. If you are confused about this change, you probably should be, because this is a review of Mad Magazine, The Board Game and they most likely made the change simply to be confusing.
The Verdict
Mad Magazine, The Board Game is a fast and frenetic good time. The wacky rules and crazy gameplay keep the energy high and the laughs rolling. Playing the game for the first time can feel awkward, especially if you are naturally right handed, but it’s worth it for the laughs! If you are choosing between editions of the game, I feel that either one is a great option so far as gameplay is concerned. Since rules and game board didn’t change between the two publishing runs, the choice comes down to which box art you prefer. Arguably the 1979 edition features the more attractive box art and would definitely by my choice.
Check out my video review of Mad Magazine, The Board Game for more!