Game review 9: 13 Dead End Drive
Get away with murder in Milton Bradley's 90s' skullduggery-driven board game
Hi. What’s That? No, I think you’ll find that *you’re* the irresponsible parent attempting to play a game with your small daughter where you have to murder your opponent’s characters to accrue untold wealth.
For that is precisely the family-friendly premise of MB Games’ 1990s masterpiece.
Aunt Agatha has died and her closest associates, including the cat, have gathered at her house to fight to the death for her cash.
Let’s be clear, this game on first play requires a Mensa test in order to assemble. Five pages of the instructions are devoted to its construction. That’s more than some of Ikea’s furniture.
These matters become even trickier when you throw in a helpful kid who insists on joining in the build and literally brings the house down a couple of times. Plus some ageing game pieces, which refuse to get together more times than Ross and Rachel during the first few episodes of Friends.
Nineties reference for a nineties board game. Look, you’re getting this top-quality content for free, don’t complain.
But this foundation work is (almost) worth it. I mean, look at this board! Look at the detail!
You play as a number of characters and have to ensure that either you’re the last person standing, or you reach the front door first while your portrait hangs on the wall. But it’s a game filled with strategy: your opponent can move any piece, including your own, and will be aiming to guide your characters towards one of the mansion’s many traps to get them out of the game.
So what happens when you play a game of such nefarious strategy with someone so young?
Well, it ends up pretty much like this: I quickly thrash my young nemesis in a test run, by getting my character out the front door. By the second game, extra traps are set by her – such as a somewhat incongruous toy snake – with the addition of impossible-to-follow house rules.
In a couple of turns, she is demanding that I leave the game completely “so I can play it how I want to play it”. I fail to gain a good deal in the ensuing negotiations and am forced to leave the residents of this cardboard dollhouse to their fates at the hands of this tiny terror.
E’s review
What did you like best?
“All the traps. I like the ones where all the people fall down.”
Is it tricky?
“Really difficult!”
Any other thoughts?
“The game could be better if I can play it all by myself”
Marks out of 10:
“11”
My review
Set-up time
I’m an idiot, so it took me about half and hour
Advised age range
9+
Price
Just over £35 for a complete vintage set. And you’ll want one in good condition, too. Alternatively, you can get Ideal’s updated version still for about £25, but it looks like it may be going out of print soon.
Practicality
Your average 90s-sized Milton Bradley game box. But it’s not one for a quick fix when you’re at a loose end on lockdown due to the set-up time.
Fun for parents
Don’t expect to be able play by the rules with younger kids. But it’s quite fun watching them put their own spin on the game.
8/10
if playing with older children or adults.
6/10
against younger opponents.
Which vintage games should we review on this channel? Let us know in the comments below