Game of Life Review

Skills: How to earn and spend money.

Overview of the Game: Make decisions about your career and other life moves in the Game of Life. The decisions you make affect the income you receive and how you spend your money.

Game Twist: Each time you play, the game will be different based on the different paths in life.

Originally created in 1860, "Life" is a simulation of a persons life including getting married and retiring. Players earn and lose money as they play and must have a specific amount of money at the end of the game to get the best possible ending.

Two to six players can play the game. Players spin a numbered wheel to advance on the board. Each player has a small plastic car with a small peg. Players can choose a blue peg for boys and a pink peg for girls. Players add extra pegs to the car when they get married or have children. Each space on the board has a player performing a different action that relates to important life issues. The game is appropriate for kids from 9 years old to adults.

The most important lessons children learn while playing the game is the fleeting nature of money. Children will learn how all great things in life cost plenty of money. Players have the opportunity to spend money on things they don't need. Children will learn important lessons about what happens if you spend too frivolously on things they don't need. Kids will also learn how to count money. This practical skill is important for children to understand.

Pros: "Life" has many pros that make it a good game for the family. It is a very easy game to set up and play. The board takes up to 10 minutes to set up after purchase but can take much less time after you initially play. The games rules are simple and spelled out in each square. The large size of the board helps avoid repeating the same game twice. The game will only take about an hour or so to finish, much shorter than other games like Monopoly. The game also appeals to adults due to its challenge.

Cons: There are some cons to "Life." The length of game play is largely dependent on the number of players as well as their focus on the game. With younger children, focus can wander and the game can stretch out. Some children may get bored while playing with more than a few players. Another problem is the luck based game play. A player can be completely derailed by a few unfortunate rolls. This may discourage some younger players.

"Life" is a game that has a lot of serious themes. Players can actually lose children while playing the game, something that usually doesn't happen in other family board games. Although the game is essentially luck based, there are some very serious decisions to make. For example, players can decide to go to college for the chance to get a better job. They can also save their money and simply work a less serious job. It can be a tough decision in a game based so heavily on luck, but it's also the reason that so many people like the game, because it reflects on those aspects of real life.

Other Versions of the Game Various versions of the game have expanded the rule set and focus of the game beyond its original roots. For example, the 1991 version added rewards for "good behavior." The 2005 edition has added more elements of strategy and has tried to minimize the reliance on luck.

There was also a 1998 CD-ROM version of the game which allowed players to play online. "Super Famicom" video game versions were released in Japan, as was a "Sailor Moon" board game version. "Star Wars" "Pirates of the Carribean" "The Simpsons" "Indiana Jones" and even "Family Guy" versions have all been released.