Ten Playable Classics

By Bruce Whitehill

This list covers 10 collector favorites that are both fun to play and collectible - if you can find the earliest editions. The list does not include games like Password and Family Feud that are fun to play but also easy to find and less likely to be collectible.

1. Troque, 1956, Selchow & Righter. Also spelled "Troke" and subtitled "Castle Checkers," this Chinese checkers variant consists of playing pieces divided into three sections.
2. Smess, The Ninny's Chess, 1970, Parker Brothers. This also goes under the name All the King's Men. Moves are governed by the type of pieces.
3. Nile, 1967, E.S. Lowe. Another tile game.
4. Stratego, 1961, Milton Bradley. This was one of the only military-themed strategy games embraced by the general public.
5. Operation, 1965, Milton Bradley. Hey, cut that out! Adults aren't supposed to like this game, but they do. It's not hard to find under $30.
6. Touring, since 1906, Wallie Dorr and Parker Brothers. This card game traces the history of American road travel. Prices run in the $25-$30 range.
7. Conspiracy, 1982, Milton Bradley. This spy game offers strategies, tactics and bluffing.
8. Bantu, 1955, Parker Brothers. Buy it, play it and keep it in your collection.
9. Electric Football, Tudor. Tudor's oversized vibrating metal board seems to be gaining favor among collectors, even though as a player you can't do much to affect the outcome.
10. Game of Life, 1960, Milton Bradley. Released on the 100th anniversary of the company's first game - and with the same title - this still draws interest. It's not hard to find and it's still under $50.

The preceding material was written by Bruce Whitehill. These are the opinions of the author, not the opinions of eBay, and therefore eBay does not validate the accuracy of or endorse these opinions.