This year Cora and I revisited stock market board games as holiday gifts, and we found a few new games and an anniversary edition of an old game. We also discovered what seems to be a newfound interest in stock market board games, because some companies already sold out of these games at least once this season. Alternately, some companies overstocked, so their prices are lower than average. Shop around before you make your decision. While it may seem rather short notice to order online, you can bet that many Internet stores will bend over backwards to get these games to your door on time (especially if you pay extra for postage, which in some cases is cheaper than gas this year).

Cora and I still haven't played many of these games, so we'll list them in alphabetical order since we have no preference. The descriptions are provided by the companies, which may be worth a look into as real-time investments themselves, so we named them this year. Additionally, our reviews are based on other reviews and actual images. We ignored a few games based on promotional web site impressions and appropriateness for kids and family entertainment:

Bull Market (The Great Canadian Game Company) is a "Parents' Choice 2003 Recommended" award winner. This game teaches players about stocks splits, IPO, money management, Bull Markets, decision-making, bookkeeping, and math skills. Stocks are accumulated at low prices with the anticipation that the market will become bullish and the stock price will skyrocket. This game simulates market panics too, so that might be fun. This game just came on the market in 2002, and involves 2 to 6 players, ages 12+, and about two hours of time to play. It's doing well, as many online stores have already sold out of this board game at least once this season.

NEW - BuyWord (Face 2 face Games) While this game isn't a stock market game, it's a great way to teach spelling and the value of money at the same time. Of course, you must love word games like Scrabble or Boggle to become addicted to this game. "You pay good hard cash to buy your letters, then form a word to sell at a profit, if you can. Your payoff depends on the quantity and the quality of the letters in your word. BuyWord mixes basic mathematics, money management, and good old-fashioned word-building in a simple, yet elegant blend that keeps every player involved in every turn until the very end." Additionally, it's brand-new (2004), so your kids might be the first on the block to own this game, and it's already GAMES Magazine Game of the Year 2005. 1-4 players from age 8+, but you might find younger players who want to do the "dog" and "cat" gig. If so, don't discourage them - my daughter honed her spelling skills with Scrabble.

NEW - Gavit's Stock Exchange (Out of the Box Publishing) originally arrived in 1903, which would make it the oldest stock market game, but it was retired. It's now offered again and seems to be a hit. This is more of a card game than a board game, where cards are traded to corner the railway stock market. "Be the first to get all the cards of one railway line, call out "Topeka" and you'll win the hand!" That's Topeka, KS, we believe?This reproduction of the original game includes the original rules and marketing literature, and it's geared for 3-6 players age 7+. This game takes about 30 minutes to play, so this game could be a great diversion for trips and boring moments at your uncle's house.

Pit (Parker Brothers, Hasbro, Winning Moves) is the oldest continuously-selling game on the market, first produced in 1904. This year you can purchase the "100th Year Anniversary Edition" for 2004, which "includes two decks of commodities cards - one featuring the classic 1904 suits like Hay, Wheat and Barley and the other, an all new 2004 deck featuring modern commodities like Cocoa, Gold, Oil and Platinum. Also includes special Pit 100th booklet with the fascinating story of Pit." This is a fast-paced card game where the cards are dealt, the bell sounds, and the player trades like a maniac. The first person to corner a market with nine cards of the same suit rings the closing bell. The game can be altered by adding Bull and Bear cards. Although this sounds like fun, it may be more than granny can handle, especially the heavy-duty metal bell "that's great for slamming." This game replicates old-fashioned trading on the stock market floor before the computer age. For 3 - 8 players, age 7+. Game ends when granny complains. This year, however, you can remind her that you're playing a Collector's Item, and maybe she'll concede.

We'll cover a few more games next week. If you feel we missed something, try a web search for "stock market board game." If you want to see more about any game above, just type the board game's name into a search engine for results, and you'll probably find more games under various listings. All games are offered for sale by several companies, and it may not be too late to order for the holidays.

One warning: A board game may teach our children about various stock market strategies and even about how money works in today's society. However, games are not real life, and sometimes these games promote a short-term investor mentality. Additionally, some games like Rags to Riches, which we talk about next week, determine stock prices on the roll of the dice. Gambling? Sounds like it?so if you really want to keep the long-term mentality rolling on something other than dice, be sure to remind your kids that a game is a game, and the stock market is for real.

Until Next Week,
Linda Goin

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