This Classic ‘Indiana Jones’ Board Game Belongs in a Museum
The Indiana Jones board game might not be a great representation of Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it is a great collector’s item.
While I certainly hope I don’t have to explain who Indiana Jones is, I’m pretty well jaded with those darn kids today! So, who can even tell anymore?
But, for the sake of inclusion, Indiana Jones had a series of movies back in the 80s. There were only 3 of them, which is perfectly fine because they were all so good that attempting to make another would not only besmirch his good name. So, it’s a good thing they didn’t make a fourth for fifth. That would be totally crazy.
But we’re here today to talk about the game based on one of the three Indiana Jones movies, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Released in 1982 by Parker Brothers, I especially like the title of the game, Indiana Jones from Raiders of The Lost Ark. This implies that the game isn’t about the movie, but rather about the main character, who happens to be in that movie.
Indiana Jones Board Game Overview
Indiana Jones From Raiders of The Lost Ark is a competitive roll-to-move game. The goal of each player is to be the first player to collect four cards of the same color. The cards are supplied in the four corners of the board. The player draws a card of that type but of a random color.
Landing on the various spaces around the board will force different effects.
- Trap – Choose a player. Both players spin. Higher number steals a card from the other.
- Hazard – Spin again. 1-3: Lose a card, place it on the hazard space. 4-6: Nothing happens or take a card, if available.
- Safe – Look at 1 card anywhere on the board.
- Go Anywhere – Do that.
- Corner Space – Take 1 card there or peek at 1 card of the same type in an opponent’s hand or from around the board.
- Landing on another player – Those players “fight” and spin-off. The winner steals a random card from the loser.
The last quirk of the Indiana Jones board game is the Raid spaces, which are a little more complicated. When a player lands on a Raid space, they can either peek at any 1 card from anywhere or they can go on a raid.
The raiding player announces the color for which they are raiding. Then, they choose cards from around the board or from an opponent’s hand. If they flip over a card of any color other than the one announced, they stop. However, so long as they continue to flip over cards of the raiding color, they keep going. Whenever they wish to stop or reach four revealed cards, they collect all revealed cards.
Once a player has four cards of the same color, they win!
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Indiana Jones board game gameplay is pretty decent. Nothing highly strategic, but there is certainly a decent memory component to it and a mild amount of deduction, in the same realm as Clue. But the box art and board art are certainly worth it, for the collector.
Overall, it is a great way to commemorate all three of the Indiana Jones films.
