Monster Madness Board Game (1990)

I picked this up a few years ago when I was on a kick for monster/horror themed board games. At the time, there weren't a lot of games using these themes so I had to settle for older games. I still have yet to find a board game with a solid Halloween theme.

 

 Despite the images you're going to see, Monster Madness was published in 1990. It definitely has the look of something that might have come out in the 70s/80s. Also, it should not be confused with Mall Madness, which let's face it, could only be better with monsters on the loose!

It was published by American Publishing Corp. (who?) which put out 21 games between 1962 and 1990. This was their last game. Other notable ones include The Hobbit Game (1977), The Gong Show Game (1977) and KISS on Tour (1978).

 

 

In the game, 2-4 players become one of the Big Four (Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolfman, or the Mummy) and race from the dungeon to the lab where they hope to get hit by lightning to become a Super Monster! I have no idea what that means. Do they get a cape and a mask?

The character art is passable but the colors are kind of washed out. Maybe they were trying to go for an old school B&W vibe?

The game is pretty much a roll the die and move situation. There are special spaces that may have you move ahead or back spaces. One side of the die has a lightning bolt, if you roll it, you go back to the last lightning bolt space you passed. I guess it's only good to get hit by lightning while you're strapped to the lab slab.

If you happen to land on the same space as another monster, you fight! Each player is dealt 5 power cards at the start of the game. Each monster plays one face down and then flips it, the higher number wins. The loser gets bumped down one level.

 

The backs of the power cards have this epic battle on them.  Honestly, I don't think the Mummy has a shot here. Drac's going to turn him into toilet paper, right?

The board has some funny spaces on it, like finding yummy rats or worms to move you ahead a few spaces. Each monster has a special space that will send them 12 spaces ahead if they can land on it.

I checked Ebay listings and the least expensive copy sold for $76 and an unused/unpunched one sold for $160! I don't remember what I paid for mine but I know it wouldn't have been anywhere over $20.

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