Mystery Date (game) facts for kids
Mystery Date box cover, 1965
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| Years active | 1965, 1970, 1999, 2005 |
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| Genre(s) | Board game Dice game Card game |
| Players | 2–4 |
| Playing time | 20 minutes |
| Random chance | dice |
| Skill(s) required | probability |
Mystery Date is a super fun board game that first came out in 1965 from the Milton Bradley Company. It was created by Henry Stan and thought up by Marvin Glass. This game was made for girls aged 6 to 14, and it's been so popular that new versions were released in 1970, 1999, and 2005! You might even have seen it mentioned in TV shows and movies, as it's become a famous symbol of its time.
Contents
How to Play Mystery Date
Mystery Date can be played with 2, 3, or 4 players. The main goal of the game is to find a great date for a special event. But watch out! You also want to avoid the "dud" date.
Getting Ready for Your Date
To get a date, you need to put together the perfect outfit. Players collect three color-coded cards that match each other. These cards represent your outfit. Once you have your matching outfit, you're ready to see who's waiting for you!
Meeting Your Mystery Date
The exciting part of the game is opening the "mystery door" on the game board. You spin the door handle, and then you can open the plastic door to reveal your date! There are five possible dates you could meet:
- The "formal dance" date
- The "bowling" date
- The "beach" date
- The "skiing" date
- The "dud"
The "Dud" Date
The date you definitely want to avoid is the "dud." He's not dressed nicely at all! He wears messy clothes, his hair is all over the place, and he has a bit of a beard shadow. In the 1970s version of the game, a "picnic" date took the place of the "bowling" date.
If the outfit you collected doesn't match the date behind the door, that's okay! You just close the door, and the game continues. You'll get another chance to find your perfect match.
Modern Mystery Date
The 1999 version of Mystery Date added a cool new feature: an "electronic talking phone." This phone lets you "talk" to the dates, making the game even more interactive. A fun fact for movie fans: future Captain America actor Chris Evans was on the box for this version. He was pictured using the phone as "Tyler," the "beach" date!
