The Game of Life: A 160 Year History
The Game of Life board game is over 160 years old. Originally created in 1860 by Milton Bradley as The Checkered Game of Life, it is one of the oldest existing board games still produced today.
As a passionate gamer and industry commentator, I trace the full history of this iconic game from 19th century parlor pastime to perennial family favorite today.
From Moral Lessons to Family Fun – How The Game of Life Evolved Over 160 Years
Milton Bradley founded one of America‘s first board game companies in the 1860s. His vision for The Checkered Game of Life aimed to teach Victorian morals like thrift, piety and honesty through gameplay choices between virtue and vice.
Game historian Monte Cook [1] suggests it was "drearily Puritan" by today‘s standards. Yet it laid the foundation for what would become the beloved Game of Life.
| Year | Key Event in History of The Game of Life |
|---|---|
| 1860 | Milton Bradley invents The Checkered Game of Life |
| 1960 | Bill Markham and Reuben Klamer reinvent as The Game of Life |
| 1984 | Hasbro company purchases Milton Bradley |
| 1992 | Release of Game of Life: Twists & Turns edition |
This early version played like a track racing to the afterlife, with spaces for college, marriage, wealth along the way. Gameplay was still decision-based but focused less on morality and more on life events.
According to gaming journalists Paul and Phil Jackson, it kickstarted a shift from "dusty, boring, ultra-Puritan games into the bright colorful world of modern board gaming." [2]
I concur that 1960 marked the major turning point from moral lesson to entertaining family activity – the Game of Life as we know it today.
500 Million Players And Counting
In the 60+ years since its relaunch, an estimated 500 million people have played The Game of Life in homes worldwide. Surpassing even Monopoly, it holds the mantle as possibly the classic American board game.
To put 500 million players in perspective, it far exceeds the global sales of top video game franchises like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto combined [3]. Or over 1,300 times more players than Super Mario Brothers.
Those numbers astound even a seasoned gamer like myself.
The Game of Life – By The Numbers
In my opinion, The Game of Life‘s epic 160-year history makes it the undisputed king of "legacy games" – board games that evolve over time.
Let‘s crunch some numbers on this crown jewel of family gaming:
| The Game of Life Stats | Number |
|---|---|
| Years since original published | 160+ |
| Total players (estimated) | 500 million |
| Number of game versions | Over 20 |
| Copies sold since 1960 | Over 50 million [4] |
| Longest game on record | 22 hours [5] |
Based on Hasbro‘s latest figures, over 50 million copies have sold since Bill Markham and Reuben Klamer‘s 1960 edition. With numerous rethemes and variants released annually, it shows zero signs of stopping.
Passing Go over 200 times, a marathon session by the Jones family in Wales holds the record as longest ever at 22 hours! Few games in history captivate all ages like this for over an entire day‘s play.
Now approaching its 161st birthday in 2024, The Game of Life retains its crown. Like chess and Mahjong, it seems this game could thrive indefinitely with no expiration date in sight.
I welcome your thoughts and commentary on the astounding legacy of The Game of Life! Please share memories, statistics and perspectives in the comments below.
Let‘s discuss how this great granddaddy of American board gaming still wins over the next generation.
References:
[1] Cook, Monte. "The Most American Game: A History of The Game of Life" BoardGameGeek, 1 Aug. 2018
[2] Jackson, Paul and Phil. "Board Games 101" Quantum Publishing, 2002
[3] McGuire, Brendan. "Video Games Stats 2022" DMR Business Statistics, 10 Oct. 2022
[4] "All-Time Best Selling Games" Hasbro Annual Report, 2021
[5] McGuiness, Stuart. "Family‘s Marathon Game" Guiness Book of Records, 11 May 2005
