Halloweenland: THe Game
Halloweenland is a yard-sized board game where trick or treaters roll a giant die and progress through worlds of Halloween. The first player to make it to the end “wins” the game, but alas, in Halloweenland all players ultimately meet their doom.
Materials to build the game:
50 cement stepping stones
4 cans of spray paint -one each of orange, green, purple and black
Paint pens
Scrap wood for signs
Cardboard boxes for dice
Assorted Halloween decorations
Game play time:
approximately 15 minutes
The dice
To create the dice, we spray painted cube-shaped cardboard boxes in matte black. The “dots” were applied using skeleton stamps with contrasting white ink. Although the game play only requires one die, multiple dice are helpful in the event players get spaced too far apart in the course of game play.
The Signage
Each new section of Halloweenland was announced with a hand-painted sign to set the stage. As game play progressed from the open meadow toward the edge of the woods, the scenes became scarier (although they were never without our trademark homegrown farmhouse kitsch).
The Tiles
In total, the game includes 50 concrete pavers that were painted in varying Halloween hues. Some tiles includes game instructions etched on with paint pens prompting tricks or treats along the trail. More below on the details of the board!
Halloweenland Section I : The Pumpkin Patch
A friendly scarecrow greets players at the start of Halloweenland beckoning them to play without knowing the perils awaiting them on the trail.
Décor:
Scarecrow
Crows
Mums
Pumpkins
Hay bales
Game play tiles:
Attacked by crows. Go back to start.
Meet a helpful scarecrow. Move up two spaces.
Halloweenland Section II : Witch’s lair
Through the narrow pass of withering wildflowers, our witch awaits unsuspecting travelers.
Décor:
Animated witch prop
Bubbling cauldron
Giant frogs
Witch legs
Broomstick
Game play tiles:
Witch turns you into a frog. Hop back one space.
Witch gives you a magic potion. Roll again.
Halloweenland Section III : Treat Land
In Treat Land, both tricks and treats can be uncovered. Roll the right number to win a sweet prize!
Décor:
Paper lanterns
Jumbo sized lollipops
Bucket of cotton candy
Game play tiles:
Stuck in taffy. Lose one turn.
Sugar fairy grants a wish. Take a treat.
Halloweenland Section IV : HAUNTED FOREST
Beware the real creepy crawlies and the specters that haunt these parts of the trail. These woods are filled with menaces to up the fear factor.
Décor:
Bats
Snakes
Trees with faces
Headless horseman animated prop
Werewolf animated prop
Game play tiles:
Fall into a pit of snakes. Lose a turn.
Get lost in the woods. Go back two spaces.
Find an enchanted compass. Roll again.
Halloweenland Section V : ZOMBIE YARD
The undead lurk in this section of the trail hoping to locate some brains as the weary players carry through to the darkest part of the path.
Décor:
Bones
Skeleton
Animated zombie props
Bucket of treats
Game play tiles:
Skeleton lends a hand. Take a gift from bucket.
Chased by a zombie. Go back two spaces.
Halloweenland Section VI : Graveyard
In Halloweenland, everyone perishes. A detour at the Dead End may have delayed the players’ demise, but there’s always a vacancy in this cemetery.
Décor:
Coffin
Gravestones
Ghost props
Game play tiles:
DEAD. Once players reach the graveryard, they roll one final time to determine how they met their demise:
1=brains eaten by a zombie
2=scared off a cliff by a ghost
3=ate a poisoned apple
4=blood sucked by a vampire
5=massacred by a horror movie villain
6=natural causes
