The Master List - Top Ten Fictional Games

[GamemasterAnth]

So, hopefully this is alright. Since I don't have much to do until YOU KNOW WHAT goes away, I shall entertain you with something I did in a previous message board. A TOP TEN LIST! And in this case, since it's appropriate for a board of this type...let's talk games!

Many fictional worlds often include a lot of ways to show how different it is from our own. What's fun is that even the games of those worlds will often have vast differences from the games of ours. For example, take chess. Even if you include shogi (Japanese chess) and Xiangqi (Chinese chess), the basic ways of play are still pretty much the same. But then you take a look at various fictional worlds, and you begin to see the various ways a simple game of chess is anything but. From the Tridimensional version of Star Trek to the one with holographic monsters on the Millennium Falcon to whatever variant was being played in the opening of Kingdom Hearts 3, you see how the game is altered to reflect the world it comes from.

For this list, we are actually going to look at games that originated in the fictional world in question. In order to qualify, it must be different enough so it's not just a rehash of already existing games (so the chess variants I mentioned won't count) and it must have concrete rules existing somewhere, even on a Wiki page, for it to count. (So Ajimbo from that one episode of Recess won't count.)

So, without any further ado or adon't...let's get started!

RANK 10 - POOH STICKS (A. A. Milne's "Winnie the Pooh" series)

While this may only be #10 on this list, it would likely top a list of the chilliest games in existence. Basically all you need for this is a steadily moving river, two or more sticks you can tell the difference between, a starting point, and an end point. Drop the sticks at the start and the first stick to cross the end point is the winner. Definitely a bit of fun for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Funnily enough, this game actually is very popular in England. It was used for a fundraiser at first for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, but then became an annual championship event. (NO JOKE!) The event was first played on the Thames near Dorchester-On-Thames at Oxfordshire but later moved Langel Common in Witney. Granted, it WAS mocked by the "World's Dumbest" crew...but it's still fun to see something this chill be so well received.

Only way this game could be any more chill is to have some ASMR music playing while also watching a Bob Ross marathon. Actually...I think I want to do that now...

RANK 9 - BASEKETBALL ("BASE-ketball" movie)

Okay...the movie was kinda MEH but I have to admit it really was a laser guided mockery of professional sports. But then again, it WAS created by (and starred) Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of "South Park", and they know how to mock things.

Surprisingly enough, the game itself actually garnered attention. It's basically just shooting hoops, but with the added twist that where you shoot is the same as making a hit in baseball...with free throws equaling singles and third court equaling a home run. You aren't allowed to shoot from the same space twice in a row and a miss is an out. Heck, the opposing team can get the miss on the rebound and turn the out into a double play. In fact, the opposing team's job is to make sure you miss by trying to distract you...also called a 'Fake Out".

It's actually kind of interesting that the game was more popular than the movie. Especially with ball courts in parks across the country sporting the squares and home plates in chalk after the movie came out. But then again, the South Park boys seem to be good at making games if their input in "Stick of Truth" and "Fractured But Whole" are any indication.

RANK 8 - PAI SHO ("Avatar - The Last Airbender" series)

I would love to play a game of chess with Uncle Iroh, if for no other reason than to hear much of his wisdom. Though I suspect he would be willing to teach me this to play this instead.

While we never actually hear the rules, many rules have been created on various sites to show how the game may be played. The object is to place tiles as well as to move them so they create harmonies with each other and cause disharmonies between your opposing player's tiles. Interestingly enough, the game is played in one episode according to the rules to allow Iroh and a man named Fung to identify one another as members of the White Lotus Society.

Wouldn't mind trying this game for myself. While Nickelodeon does have a game you can play online, it is a far cry from the ACTUAL game from the series.

RANK 7 - DABO ("Star Trek - Deep Space Nine" series)

The popular gambling game (likely rigged) being played in Quark's Bar. You will usually see this game as a central focus in more than one episode.

Interestingly enough, rules do exist for this game if anyone is familiar with the Star Trek Online game. Turns out it's a cross between roulette and slots where your wins are not just based on how you bet but on which combination of symbols comes up. I can definitely see the appeal in something like this as luck plays a MAJOR part with that combination!

Calling it now: If Vegas opens a sci-fi themed casino, this game will show up in it.

RANK 6 - SABBAC ("Star Wars" universe)

This was the game played by Han vs. Lando which allowed him to win the Millennium Falcon. It's a very popular card and dice game very popular in any retched hive of scum and villainy in the known quadrant.

The game uses a deck of 62 cards. 30 cards are valued +1 - +10 (three each), 30 valued -1 to -10 (three each), and two cards valued 0. Each player is dealt two cards and then a card is dealt from the deck and placed on the table next to the deck. Each turn, a player may draw the face up card or a card from the deck and then choose to keep it or discard a card on top of the face up. If there's no face up, a new face up is crated from the top of the deck. After everyone has a turn, a pair of dice are rolled. If they are different, play resumes as usual. If the same, everyone discards their current hand and are dealt a new hand of the same number of cards. This continues for three turns...and that final dice roll can REALLY make things tense. Object is to get a total as close to 0 as possible...and the closest wins the pot.

This card game is actually available at Games by James as the "Han Solo Card Game". HOWEVER...when it is rung up, it comes up as Sabbac on the register. I love it when a place is run by fellow geeks!

RANK 5 - BUCKBALL ("My Little Pony - Friendship is Magic" series)

Pretty sure this game was created after Three Races War to give them something to encourage them to work together. But that's just a guess based on the limited knowledge I have on the lore.

The game is played like an outdoor kick basketball game, with the Earth Pony serving as primary shooter trying to kick the ball in the basket and the Pegasus player serving as "goalie". If the ball flies out of bounds, the Unicorn player can try to catch it in their own basket to score a point for their team. Game is timed with highest score winning. Not sure if overtime rules exist, but I am sure they exist.

After first appearing in "Buckball Season", the game has appeared as a focus for several episodes since. However, I think I need to have a talk to the writers of "2, 4, 6...Greaaaaaaaat" about using the "Conscripted Saint" plot...

RANK 4 - JUMANJI (Book, Movie, and cartoon series)

So, you think the Mario Party series is a game that destroys friendships? Heheheh...that's cute. This game has the potential to kill you.

As this board game is played, various jungle menaces appear in the real world and they don't go away until someone wins the game. (I'm hearing the WOPR system in my head going "Strange game. The only winning move is not to play.") This game first appeared in a book by Chris Van Allsburg and was later turned into a movie series and hen a cartoon series based on the first movie.

There was a follow up called "Zathura" which had the same basic premise but the board game takes place in space this time. Sadly, neither the book or the movie were as popular as they were seen as just rehashes of Jumanji.

RANK 3 - FIX IT FELIX JR. ("Wreck It Ralph" movie)

I was originally going to put "Space Paranoids" here, but this game deserves a bit more attention.

A basic play on the classic 80's game formula, you play Felix as you try and fix up the building that Ralph destroyed in revenge for building it on where he lived. (Actually...should Ralph really be considered the bad guy here?) Residents can even give you pies to power up your hammer and you must dodge detritus raining down from Ralph.

This game was playable online, but for a more authentic experience actual 80's style cabinets were made! I managed to play one such cabinet at the State Fair a couple of years ago. Too bad it was only there for that year...

RANK 2 - QUIDDITCH ("Harry Potter" series)

You knew this game was going to appear. Let's face it, there's no better way to show what the wizarding world is like than to have a sport involving flying around on brooms and sentient balls of two kinds flying around.

Similar to a modified version of field soccer, the game is played with players trying to shoot a ball through one of three hoops for 10 points each. They must avoid Bludgers (sentient balls which try to knock players for a loop) and the other players. At a given point, the Golden Snitch appears and the Seeker must try to catch it. Successful capture gains 150 points for the team and ends the game.

Because of the popularity of the series, several IRL teams have actually popped up...essentially playing the game while running around using brooms like hobby horses. (Not sure how they utilize the Golden Snitch...and something tells me it's something goofy.)

RANK 1 - CALVINBALL ("Calvin and Hobbes" comic series)

The ultimate game...which JUST BARELY became good for this list due to the fact it does have one standing rule: It cannot be played the same way twice.

The game essentially has one basic goal: Pure unadulterated fun. With the rules constantly changing at Calvin's (and Hobbes') whim, the game is frenetic and clearly meant to just give those two a reason to mess around and enjoy themselves. It was first shown after Calvin saw what a pain organized sports can be and wanted to play an unorganized sport instead.

Oddly enough, people HAVE been trying to make an organized sport out of this. But...doesn't that defeat the purpose?

So...there's the list. If there are any other fictional games you think should be given an honorable mention, leave a comment! Until next time...I'll see you on the other side of the fourth wall.

[The Glyphstone]

What about Jumanji the video game, as portrayed in the 21st century sequel movies? Basically 100% full-immersion VR that can still kill you if you lose.

[GamemasterAnth]

Well...I kind of included that in mentioning the movies with #4. Technically, the board game is more well known due to the various ways it was presented in the original book, movies, and cartoon series.

One thing I should add is there is an IRL version of the board game that was made as a tie in to the movie, but...thankfully we don't have to REALLY deal with critters appearing in real life. I do have to raise a stink over a minor immersion gooflump though. We roll a D8 instead of two D6's? You bring shame to your house, Cardinal Games.

[Brother Oni]

Triple Triad from FF8 and FFXIV.

Gwent, derived from a game of the same name from The Witcher Novels.

Pro-Bending from The Legend of Korra. Full contact sport, where the aim of the game is to knock your opponents out of the arena or capture all their territory. The arena is divided up into 2 halves, with each half split into 3 zones and each team has to either knock their opponents back towards their final zone or out of bounds of the arena. Each team is composed of three members who can (basically) use one of fire, water or earth magic.

[GamemasterAnth]

I almost have to wonder how Pro Bending changed when the Airbenders came back...

I also find it funny how Triple Triad actually became more popular than the game it came from.

[Brother Oni]

I almost have to wonder how Pro Bending changed when the Airbenders came back...

Not at all, since it's unlikely that any of the neophyte Airbenders would be good enough at airbending to compete at a professional level for a long time, even assuming that the arena is still in a functional state after the spirits came back.

Tenzin and his immediately family would most certainly be skilled enough, but even with his new-found appreciation of the sport, there simply aren't enough of them to be added to every team in the whole league.

They might try scoping it out with an exhibition match with one of Tenzin's children on each side, but since airbending is effectively invisible (it's visible for the benefit of we viewers), it wouldn't be particularly interesting to watch for the audience in the arena, plus the commentators would be hard pressed to keep track of that was going on for the radio audience.

[danzibr]

I almost have to wonder how Pro Bending changed when the Airbenders came back...

I also find it funny how Triple Triad actually became more popular than the game it came from.

I recall buying poster board when I was young and cutting it up, coloring it, reproducing Triple Triad. Didn’t work so well since the cards have 3 sides.

[Cespenar]

Star Wars: KotOR (and maybe other SW works) had Pazaak, which was basically Blackjack but with plus/minus cards to affect the result.

Might and Magic 7 (and on?) had Arcomage, a pretty sweet Magic the Gathering/resource gathering type card game, in which you could win by any of your choosing: getting your tower up to a certain height, bringing the opponent's tower to zero, or getting one of your resources up to a certain value.

Fallout New Vegas had Caravan.

Shovel Knight: King of Cards had Joustus, probably a salute to Triple Triad, but somewhat more tactical and interesting in my opinion.

FFX had that underwater football thing, which played very similarly to old NES football games.

[GamemasterAnth]

FFX had that underwater football thing, which played very similarly to old NES football games.

Ah, yes...Blitzball. I actually consider that an honorable mention.

I also wonder how the drek the players can hold their breath for that long. I did see a fanfic where someone thought they used rebreathers (in fact one was handed to Tidus by the Al Bhed before he was told to go diving for them), but I don't know...

[tyckspoon]

Ah, yes...Blitzball. I actually consider that an honorable mention.

I also wonder how the drek the players can hold their breath for that long. I did see a fanfic where someone thought they used rebreathers (in fact one was handed to Tidus by the Al Bhed before he was told to go diving for them), but I don't know...

Well, it's only played in the special arena, so.. magically hyper-oxygenated liquid that only looks like water, but allows for oxygen exchange? They actually just use rebreathers/SCUBA-type equipment, but they didn't want to go through the trouble of drawing them onto the couple hundred characters that could potentially become Blitzball players? It really is just water and all Blitzball players are super-humanly good at holding their breath? (It is possible for humans to hold their breath that long, but I doubt anybody in reality could do it while also engaging in a physical contact sport..)

[danzibr]

From what I recall, they (blitzball players) just hold their breath for a super long time. Between X and X-2 Yuna talks about practicing holding her breath.

[Brother Oni]

From what I recall, they (blitzball players) just hold their breath for a super long time. Between X and X-2 Yuna talks about practicing holding her breath.

I know if you talk to one of Wakka's team mates in FFX, they mention the captain being so tough, he doesn't even bother coming up for the half time breath.

[KillianHawkeye]

Triple Triad from FF8 and FFXIV.

I personally preferred the card game from FF9 (I forget the name), primarily because I didn't like how the rules of Triple Triad kept changing from place to place as well as over time during the game.

Also, +1 to Blitzball.

[The Glyphstone]

What about Urban Brawl from Shadowrun?

[GamemasterAnth]

I personally preferred the card game from FF9 (I forget the name), primarily because I didn't like how the rules of Triple Triad kept changing from place to place as well as over time during the game.

Tetra Attack? Yeah...and it was interesting how the cards can actually "level up" as you play with them.

[Brother Oni]

There's Blood Bowl, which is a satire fantasy version of American Football in a spin-off universe of the Warhammer Fantasy world.

You'll have to go back to the 2nd ED Blood Bowl Companion for rules that are playable as a real game (as far as I can tell, it was basically NFL rules at the time, with lines of scrimmage and downs, etc); standard rules are basically a wargame and 3rd ED / Living Rulebook is very much a boardgame.

[Continental Op]

What about the card game from Firefly with the "tall card"? Something like poker? I know they have made at least one version of it for sale.

And kudos on putting "Calvin Ball" first on your list. Although having had one or two roleplaying session feel like they devolved into this wasn't the best...

[ForzaFiori]

Dragon Poker, from Robert Asprin's Myth Adventure's book has got to be my favorite fictional game, though I'm not sure if it's "different" enough from regular poker to count for your list.

It's stud poker (the suits have different names - dragons, ogres, unicorns, and elves - but it's a standard 52 card deck) except the game has countless "conditional modifiers" that change the game based on things like what seat your in, the day of the week, the season, the time of day, etc. Examples from the books include:

Red dragons are wild on even-numbered hands.
Once a night, a player can change the suit of one of his cards.
Every five hands, the sequence of cards is reversed, so the low cards are high and vice versa.
Once a four-of-a-kind is played, that card value is dead and treated as a blank card.
If there's a ten showing in the first two face-up cards in each hand, then sevens will be dead (Unless there is a second ten showing, then it cancels the first).
If the first card turned face up in a round is an Ogre, the round will be played with an extra hole card, four face up and five face down.

The author has never released a full rule set (the game is almost more of a running gag at this point) but fans have put one together as best as they can (Dragon Poker Rules) which currently includes about 230 modifiers, not all from the books afaik.

[GamemasterAnth]

Sadly, Dragon Poker would NOT qualify as it is basically poker with a crapton of variants.

Though, looking at some of the variants...were some of these based on when Kirk was trying to BS the bad guys when trying to explain Fizzbin?

[PopeLinus1]

Those games are nothing.

[Brother Oni]

The comments in that Kosho video reminded me of two more games:

The Game from Salute of the Jugger. Essentially 5 on 5 American football, except only one person is allowed the carry the ball (or more accurately, the dog skull) and the other 4 have fixed weaponry and armour, much on par with Roman gladiators.

Rollerball from the film of the same name. Sort of like a full contact roller derby, except you have motorcycles that the skaters can grab on to to speed up. Oh and a solid steel ball which is fired into the arena at high speed, which then must be recovered to score.