Anticipation (1988). Play online

Summary

Anticipation was marketed as Nintendo’s “first video board game,” blending the quick‑draw fun of Pictionary with a trivia‑style race. Developed by Rare for the NES, it lets a single player take on computer opponents or a crew of up to four human competitors, who can share two controllers when needed (the game doesn’t work with the Four Score accessory). Players buzz in with the controller as the on‑screen picture slowly forms; a die counts down from six, and a correct guess lets the token move the shown number of spaces.

Each piece—pink high‑heeled shoes, a bugle, an ice‑cream cone or a teddy bear—travels around a colored board where categories are tied to the square’s hue. Solving all four colors on a level promotes the token to the next tier, with added “Feature” and “Drop‑Out” squares that shake up the race. The mix of drawing, timed guesses, and board‑movement keeps every turn feel fresh, making Anticipation a surprisingly strategic party game for its era.