The Best Board Games Based on UK Gameshows for 2024

The Best Board Games Based on UK Gameshows for 2024

Gameshows have been a mainstay of television schedules for decades. Their enduring appeal often transcends into our lives and lexicons as we adopt catchphrases and mimic moves, from Bruce Forsyth’s legendary “Thinker” pose to the three-two-one hand move by Ted Rogers and his Dusty Bin!

“Coughing Major”

As well as entertaining us, gameshows are a portal into “what if” territory. When Who Wants to be a Millionaire was launched in 1998 a new route to big money opened up, joining the lottery as a potential way to achieve financial freedom. When eventually Judith Kepple scooped the jackpot in 2000, it made front-page news; and who could forget the “coughing Major”, whose attempt to blag the million was even made into a TV drama.

Today, the UK’s terrestrial channels broadcast gameshows during the peak, teatime slot with the ever-popular The Chase presented by comedian Bradley Walsh on ITV and Pointless on the BBC hosted by Alexander Armstrong.

Armchair Competitors

Watching at home, armchair competitors are often vocal in their disdain for the lack of general knowledge displayed by contestants appearing on the TV or any ill-thought-out moves that were obvious mistakes. Forgetting the pressure of being in a studio with cameras, lights, and the thought of millions watching, it is easy to win the big prize from the comfort of a living room.

Play some TV favourites

Thankfully there is now a range of board games based on our television favourites that can be played at home so that armchair winners are able to put their wits to the test! This could even mark the first step to getting them into one of those famous studios, what better way to practice than with a mini game show set and some packets of quiz cards?

Here are ten of the best classic board games for all the family:

The Best Gameshow Board Games

• Tipping Point
• The Chase
• Catchphrase
• Blankety Blank
• Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway
• Blockbusters
• Top Gear – Fastest Lap
• In For a Penny
• The Wall: The Ultimate Game of Risk and Reward

1. Tipping Point

This ITV staple presented by Ben Shephard takes us to the fairground and those coin-pushing arcade games where a scooping jackpot of two penny pieces felt like a big win! Having recreated the experience on the big screen, there is now a board game that features a battery-powered Tipping Point machine with four drop zones.

Ideal for three players or more, aged ten and over, there are 650 quiz questions to be answered alongside the unpredictability of coin drops.

It takes more than brains to play this game, and if you have ever wondered what the strategy is behind ensuring the coin lands in the best place then this could be the way to find the answer.

Read More: The Best Big Potato Games you Need to Play this Year!

2. The Chase

Family favourite The Chase, hosted by actor and comedian Bradley Walsh has also made stars of its team of Chasers – professional quizzers, each with their own identities – The Beast, The Sinnernan, and The Menace to names just three!

A simple premise: each Chaser attempts to eliminate individual team members, reducing collective knowledge as well as their prize money. There are just three rounds: a cash builder, a head-to-head, and the final chase.

Now it is possible to play at home with a board game aimed at between three to six players, from aged eight and up.

This battery-powered game features an electronic and a board designed to look like the famous “ladder” on the show, as well as five of the Chasers including: The Destroyer, The Governess, and The Vixen.

For anyone thinking about applying to take part for real, there can be no better way to practice!

3. Catchphrase

Say what you see with the brilliant Catchphrase game. Aimed at players aged eight and upwards, this is a great game that can be brought to life with a smartphone.

First broadcast in 1986 and hosted by Northern Irish comedian Roy Walker, it featured Mr Chips as the star of animations illustrating a phrase or saying. As contestants answered questions correctly, more of the animation was revealed inviting them to hit a buzzer and call out the answer.

The board game has a buzzer as well as two sets of cards. In the first “say what you see” round, players can win 100 points if they correctly name the catchphrase on the card.

The Bonus Catch Phrase round is where things get interesting and a little bit technical. Using a smartphone connected to the internet, scan a QR code on the back of the card. This will bring up the same card-covered tiles that vanish with each correct answer – just as they do on the television version.

The game can be played equally well without internet access as there’s a clever “reveal sleeve” that provides a peek and an opportunity to guess at the catchphrase its covering.

Simple, fast, and wholesome family fun.

4. Blankety Blank

Remember the brilliant Les Dawson and his marvellous prize of a Blankety Blank chequebook and pen? In this board game version, a special card replaces the glistening silver ornament along with a prize spinner and six dry wipe boards for writing out the answers.

There are three rounds inviting three to six players to complete the missing blanks – the Blankety Blank round; head to head, and final, Supermatch Game.

Players need to take it in turn being a contestant or a panellist, with panellists writing their answers on the dry wipe board. If a contestant guesses the same answer as the panellist, and is correct, then that contestant takes the points.

Question is: will younger players know what a Chequebook is??

5. Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway

This epic board game version of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway promises a highly entertaining evening for up to six players.

The objective of the game is to scoop Ad Prize tokens, accumulating as many as possible by winning challenges against the clock. There’s even the opportunity to gain bonus points by impressing your “judges” (fellow contestants) with an “End of Show” challenge.

Avoid the Little Ant and Dec forfeits though, or this could result in landing back at the start.

For fans of the kings of light entertainment, or exhibitionists wanting to show off and have some fun, this is a fantastic game that can’t fail to generate laughter. Who knows, it may even uncover a hidden talent and encourage a budding star to think about auditioning for one of Ant and Dec’s talent shows!

This would make a great gift and is a really useful game to have in the cupboard ready for some post-takeaway fun!  Without doubt, one of the best family board games for all ages.

6. Blockbusters

For anyone of a certain age, the theme tune to this gameshow is etched firmly on their memory – “can I have a P please Bob”.

The brilliant Blockbusters was a teatime staple, where students relied on general knowledge to forge either a blue or white path across an iconic board.

Just like the game itself, this is a simple classic with a grid and set of questions, and as this is very compact it’s easy to transport.

7. Top Gear – Fastest Lap

Some may argue that the controversial departure of Jeremy Clarkson and his crew left the BBC version of this show poorer but for fans of the OG lineup, there’s an opportunity to play Top Gear – Fastest Lap.

Race around a track using one of six vehicles. A digital element to this game brings some added fun, along with challenges, upgrades, and hazards. There’s even a trophy for the player who makes it around the track in the fastest time, and naturally a caravan makes an appearance!

Not strictly a game show but too good not to include in this list!

8. In For a Penny

Based on the hit show from ITV presented by Stephen Mulhern, In For a Penny is a fantastic translation of the TV version featuring a compilation of games that should keep everyone amused and entertained.

There is a range of props so that fans can play their favourite rounds, including: Pump It Up, Check It Out, Whatever The Weather and the ever-popular Stopwatch Challenge!

Props include a petrol pump sleeve; thirty challenge cards; twenty charade cards, 20 golden challenge cards, and a pack of cheques!

9. The Wall: The Ultimate Game of Risk and Reward

The nation’s favourite cockney, Danny Dyer, presents the Saturday night staple that is now an exciting board game, The Wall: The Ultimate Game of Risk and Reward features a well-produced tabletop replica of The Wall used in the BBC hit.

Players start building their prize fund by answering questions and releasing balls from the drop slots at the top of The Wall. Correct answers build cash and wrong ones reduce it.

At the end of Round 1, do players take their money and run or go further and risk it all?

Conclusion

The incredible appeal of board games based on game shows is clear. They offer an engaging medium that enables you to relive the exhilarating moments from your favourite shows. Each game we’ve discussed has a unique flavour, ensuring that there’s something for everyone, regardless of their preferences.

These board games do more than just replicate the excitement of game shows; they encourage interaction and camaraderie, transforming a typical night at home into a lively event. The joy of these games isn’t just about winning or losing, but rather the laughter, tension, and shared experiences that they inspire.

Above all, these games have the power to bridge the gap between our screens and our living rooms, making us active participants in the shows we love. They provide a platform for creating memories, facilitating friendly competition, and fostering a strong sense of community.