The verdict is in: films about possessed board games sell a lot of movie tickets. The Michael Bay-produced horror movie Ouija, about a group of friends who confront a dark supernatural force after playing with an ancient spirit board, topped the box office this weekend. As anyone who has frequented slumber parties or had a lonely high school goth existence knows, the Hasbro game — which uses a plastic planchette to spell out messages from the afterlife — has scared curious players since it was first introduced in 1890. In the spirit of all things spooky and vintage, here are other horror-themed board games to satisfy your inner Halloween geek.
Green Ghost, 1965
“The exciting game of mystery that glows in the dark.”
Which Witch?, 1970
Shaped like a haunted house.
Séance, 1972
Visit this fan page to learn how to play and hear the “voice from the great beyond.”
Shrieks & Creaks, 1988
A cassette-based game, featuring a talking tombstone. Yes, please.
The Wolfman Mystery Game, 1963
There were several classic monster “mystery games,” but we’re fond of Lon Chaney Jr.’s mug on this version.
Haunted House, 1962
This one came with a giant 3-D haunted house, with multiple rooms. It was basically a dollhouse for spooky kids.
Mostly Ghostly, 1975
Another glow-in-the-dark game that allowed players to build their own skeleton.
Dark Shadows, 1968
Worth buying for the cover art alone. Based on the popular TV series of the same name.
There was another version of the game in 1969, centered on the lead vamp Barnabas Collins.
Goosebumps Terror in the Graveyard, 1995
For fans of the Goosebumps book series.
Bats in your Belfry, 1964
Oh. My. Goth.
Alien, 1979
Get your plastic astronauts to the escape pod before you’re devoured by the alien… and good gravy Kenner what were you thinking? This is the same company that made a terrifying Alien action figure, so we shouldn’t be surprised.
Slime Monster, 1977
The kid with the glasses is not messing around.
Nightmare, 1991
VHS kids will remember laughing at Nightmare, but then secretly sobbing in their beds at night.