Wheel of Fortune (board game)

Wheel of Fortune has been the subject of numerous board games since its premiere in 1975, and have given fans the opportunity to play the game at home.

Milton Bradley (1975)

Milton Bradley created the first board game based on the TV Show. They released two editions, each containing 168 puzzles. The wheel had 24 sections and the value layout was the same as a round one layout from mid-late 1975, although the color layout was different. Values ranged from $100 to $500, and had one each of Bankrupt, Lose a Turn, Free Spin, and Buy a Vowel (Milton Bradley's Wheel of Fortune games were the only Wheel of Fortune games to feature a Buy a Vowel space).

Although the game came with a list of puzzles in its instruction booklet, the puzzle board was designed so that players could make their own puzzles if desired.

Also included in the game were 20 prize cards, to simulate the "shopping" prizes of the show. The prizes' values ranged in value from $100 to $3,000, and according to the game's rules could only be won once.

Two editions of the game were issued.

Pressman (1980's)

Pressman started making their Wheel of Fortune games in 1985. They came out with five regular editions from 1985 to 1991.

In 1986, they made the first of two Deluxe Editions, featuring a replica of the Wheel with six wedges that could be placed on top of other wedges to increase values. The wedges are as follows: Bankrupt, $500, $900, $1,000, $2500, $5,000. The $2,500 (colored lavender) appeared on the Deluxe games before its 1987 premiere on the show with a blue-sequin color. The $5,000 was white instead of gray/silver color, and also had red numbering instead of black.

In 1987, Pressman came out with a Junior Edition. Values on the wheel were in mulitples of $100 instead of $50, from $100 to $700. The puzzle board's border received a rainbowish makeover. Vowels cost $200 instead of the usual $250 due to the multiples of $100.

That same year, Pressman released two Travel Editions, one a regular version, and the other a Junior Edition.

Tyco (1992)

Tyco made their first Wheel of Fortune board game in 1992, featuring over 90 puzzles. They also came out with a Second Edition and a Travel Editions soon after.

Tiger (1995)

Tiger released an LCD game in 1995 featuring 400 puzzles inside a cartridge bundled with the game. They came out with more cartridges featuring different puzzles over the next few years.

Mattel (1998)

Mattel released their version in 1998. The contents were the same as Tyco's 1992 version, only the puzzles were different.

Tiger (1999)

Tiger released a new, updated Deluxe version of their Wheel of Fortune game in 1999. The game featured a larger puzzle board, a used-letter board, and even Clue-type puzzles. A Cash Bonus wedge (available rounds 2 and 3), worked like a prize on the actual show. When it was landed on, the value would range from $500 to $3,000 in multiples of $500. Round three was the Jackpot round, but it worked differently from the actual show's version. When the Jackpot space was landed on and the player guessed a letter in the puzzle, he/she would receive $20,000, no matter how many times a consonant appeared in the puzzle.

Parker Brothers (1999)

Parker Brothers released their Wheel of Fortune game in late 1999. It featured over 90 puzzles and a 12-wedge wheel, which was spun in the style of Pressman's Deluxe spinners and the spinner from Milton Bradley's The Game of Life. Values ranged from $100 to $800, and the wheel's design also allowed players to add prize wedges.

Tiger (New Millenium)

In 2000, Tiger released Wheel of Fortune Jr. It was their first game to feature an actual spinning wheel. Instead of dollar amounts, young players played for points. The wheel had 24 wedges, one Bankrupt, one Lose a Turn, one Free Spin, one Point Doubler wedge, and the rest point values ranging from 250 to 10,000. Point Doubler had players spin again and double the value spun. Bankrupt, Lose a Turn, and Free Spin voided the Point Doubler.

The categories were suited for the younger players. The names of each one were.

AROUND THE HOUSE: An item normally used in an average household; later became a category on the actual show.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Historical People or Events.

BOOK CLUB: A title of a book or book series.

CRITTERS: Animals that are mammals, reptiles, birds, or insects.

DOWN TO A SCIENCE: Something related to the scientific community.

I'M HUNGRY: A food or drink.

IT'S MY JOB: One's occupation.

MOVIES TV AND 'TOONS: Kids' movies or television programs, or a movie or show that kids know much AbOUT.

ON THE MAP: A city, country, state, or province; later became a category on the actual show.

SCHOOL'S COOL: Something or someone related to school.

TOY CHEST: A toy product.

In 2001, Tiger released a small keychain version, in which a player played against one computer opponent. In 2002, they also released a version which worked similar to a BLEND of their 1995 and 1999 versions. That same year, they also released a pocket version which worked the same way to their 2001 keychain version.

Also in 2002, Tiger released Wheel of Fortune Crossword. It worked similar to Wheel of Fortune only each round had a puzzle with three words arranged in a crossword format. Although letters appeared simotaneously in all three words, the words had to be solved one at a time. Players who solved a word had their money kept safe while they continued to try to solve the rest of the remaining words (the other players lose their money in the meanwhile), however the player who won the most money kept safe for the round was able to permanently keep it. For example, player 2 solves one word with $2300, player 3 solves a second word with $500 and the third with $1200. Player 2 wins the round with $2300 while player 3 loses the $1700. The player with the most money won after three rounds goes on to play a bonus crossword puzzle for a chance to win up to $25,000. RSTLNE are revealed in all three words and the player chooses four consonants and two vowels. If they are able to solve all three words correctly, they win the bonus prize they selected.

In 2004, Tiger teamed with VEIL Wireless Technologies to create a game where home viewers could play along with players on the actual show. The game, titled "Wheel of Fortune Live Play," was to be released in the fall of that year, but days before its intended release, Tiger announced cancellation due to technical failures within the game.

Pressman (New Millenium)

In 2002, Pressman released an updated version of their Wheel of Fortune board game. The wheel now had a top value of $5000 compared their 80's $750. The lowest value was now $300 instead of $100. Pressman released a second edition two years later. They also released a deluxe edition in 2006, which had a replica of the wheel, but no wedges to change values.

In 2007, Pressman released a Silver Anniversary edition, along with a Silver Anniversary Deluxe Edition in honor of the show's 25th syndicated season. The Silver Deluxe edition had a replica, but still no wedges to change values.

In 2008, Pressman released a Disney Edition. The wheel was spun like the ones in the Deluxe Editions, but had a Mickey Mouse face-shaped base. Just like in the 1987 Junior Edition, the Wheel had values in multiples of $100, from $100 to $700. Three prize wedges (each worth $500) could also be placed on the wheel. This game was the first Wheel of Fortune game since 1999 to have $100 and $200 spots on the wheel.

In 2009, Pressman released a new 3rd edtiton of the game which works in the same way as the 2nd edition and original edition from 2002. They also released a 2nd Edition of the Deluxe Version.

Irwin Toys

In August 2009, Irwin Toys released their first Wheel of Fortune game, a Deluxe Edition tabletop LCD game complete with a true spinning wheel, a Million Dollar space, and over 1,000 puzzles. They plan to release a Platinum Edition similar to the Deluxe Edition sometime in the fall of 2009, the first Wheel of Fortune game to be labeled with such an edition.