Looking In

 Hey gang!

Today I'm going to share a game that I've never played, don't remember from when I was a kid, and don't even know where I got it! I literally just noticed it on the top of a shelf and thought, "Whaaaa????"

Now, no one broke into my house and gifted me a vintage game. I've obviously had it for years, but completely ignored it on that top shelf for a decade or so. I'm sure I picked it up with some more exciting items and while focused on those, shoved it up on that lonely shelf and literally forgot about it. 

Well, today that injustice will be corrected! Let me introduce you to Inner Circle from 1981 by Milton Bradley (insert trumpets)!

There is a little foxing on the cardboard parts and box, but overall the game is in great shape.

Looking at the back, we can get a little better idea of what this game is all about. It's kind of a cross between a board game and those little golf tee jumping puzzles on the tables at Cracker Barrel (do they still have those?)

Here's the inside of the box! 

...and all the parts laid out. At first I thought I was missing some pawns, but as it turns out the more people that play, the fewer pawns you use. Therefore, they're all there!

Here are the instructions. They're actually very easy, although it took some studying for me to make sense of them, probably due to the game being so unconventional.

And here's yellow as the winner, surrounded by his fallen fellow players! 

Inner Circle was released in 1981 and was designed by game designer hot shots Virginia Charves and Wayne J. Lee. I haven't heard of them either, but apparently they're well respected in the game board world. It was an instant hit and was named one of Games Magaxine's Top Ten Games of 1981! 

And, no, I never heard of it. 

Maybe it was because in 1981, I was focused on graduating from high school, Dungeons and Dragons, and girls (not in that order). There is really no reason this game would have shown up on my radar. Oh well, it seems to be a decent game. I actually found a good overview on it while looking for a period commercial. Here ya go!

How to Play Inner Circle

So, there you have it! I may actually play this game some time, or maybe not. It seems to take a lot of strategy and thoughtfulness that my daily Wa-Hoo board doesn't require. Still, maybe...

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!