Ghost Castle

Race out of a haunted house while a whammy ball sets the witch's broom and secret doors in motion.

Designers: Geoffrey Hayes, Marvin Glass
Published by: Milton Bradley
Editions by: 999 Games, Broadway Toys LTD, Schmidt Spiele, HABA, Alga, MB Spiele, MB Spellen, Editrice Giochi, Goliath Games, MB Jeux, MB Juegos, MB Giochi, GP Games, Nilco S.A., El Greco, MB spel, Crown & Andrews Ltd., MB peli, Toltoys, Buffalo Games, Denys Fisher Toys, Flair Games, Formatex, Grandi Giochi, EPEE, John Adams (IDEAL), Lansay, Ooba Games

Ghost Castle is a three-dimensional haunted-house race from 1970, sold elsewhere as Which Witch. Each player moves a pawn through the spooky house, trying to be the first to escape. Your turn brings a card, and cards are where the fun is: one can turn you into a rat who cannot move, another turns a rat back into a child, and a third has you drop the whammy ball down the chimney. The ball rolls out in one of four quadrants and sets something moving, like a witch's broom or a secret door. If it hits your pawn, you are sent back to a safe spot. It is a clattering, tactile kids' game for ages six to twelve, with grown-ups welcome as chimney operators.

Three-dimensional haunted house boardWhammy ball sets moving parts in motionCards turn you into a rat and back

Who it's for

You have kids around six to ten, or you like vintage seventies toys, and want a game that physically does something on the table.

Not for you if…

You want depth, or you dislike luck and being knocked backwards. This is a children's race, not a puzzle.

Vibe's take

Rattly, mechanical and theatrical. Dropping the ball down the chimney is the main event, and the groan when it hits someone's pawn is part of the show.