The Jumanji board game, stylized as Jumanji: The Game, was produced by Milton Bradley in 1995 and is loosely based on the 1995 movie of the same name. Both (movie and game) revolved around the picture book which was written by Chris Van Allsburg in 1981. Underneath the title of ‘Jumanji’ on the game box, the play is described with the film game board and original 1995 film's tagline as ‘a game for those who seek to find…a way to leave their world behind.’
The board game embraces this play. Although the game is determined by the chance roll of dice, the adventurous theme and suspenseful possibility that all players could lose if the jungle overtakes them before finishing the game, does make Jumanji fun to play. Especially, if players enjoyed the excitement in the movie or book.
Game board[]
Jumanji is recommended for ages 8 and up and for 2 to 4 players. The board consists of four winding paths with a Jumanji decoder positioned in the center. On one side of this central playing area are 10 places for ‘jungle releases’ and is called the Doomsday Grid. If these places are filled before a player wins the game (which is done by reaching the center and yelling ‘Jumanji’), all players lose. The other side marks where to set the draw and discard pile of danger cards. This side reminds players of the following:
Jumanji: A game for those who seek to find, a way to leave their world behind. Adventurers Beware: Do not begin unless you intend to Finish!
Gameplay[]
To play, each player rolls the dice and moves his piece accordingly towards the center. There are four different spaces on the jungle trail which involve special instructions to follow. A player landing on a ‘wait 5 or 8 space’ indicates he must wait for another player to roll a 5 or 8 before moving on. Landing on a ‘Rhino space’ allows a player to set the Rhino piece in front of any player. This blocks the player from moving normally. If the player rolls an even number, he can go around the Rhino. If not, he must wait until the Rhino is moved by another player landing on a ‘Rhino space.’
The two spaces which require the drawing of cards are the ‘suspenseful’ ones. Special Jungle and Blank Jungle spaces have players draw ‘danger cards.’ A player slides the danger card into the center Jumanji decoder to read the secret message, and obtain the secret symbol and number.
Players then need to attempt a rescue of that player by each rolling their own ‘Rescue die’. The card that is drawn displays the symbol that needs to be rolled by players. If the symbol revealed on the card (or the ‘wild’ symbol of the hourglass), is rolled by all players within the 8 second time limit, the player is rescued. If not, the card is placed on the Doomsday Grid. Like mentioned, if all ten Doomsday spaces are filled, before there is a winner, the game ends with all players losing where the final space reads "A card placed here brings dreadful news. The game is done, all players lose".
There are a few other details on rolls and gameplay, but these are the basic instructions.
Danger cards[]
Card | 1995 Message | 2017 Message | Secret symbol |
Spaces to get when everyone gets the symbol |
Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ants | They march and eat And march and eat; If I were you I'd watch my feet. |
They are strong creatures, For their small size. When there are many, They'll cause your demise. |
1995: Axe 2017: Rope |
1995: 3 2017: 1 |
|
Bats | At night they fly; You better run. These winged things Are not much fun. |
(Same) | Racquet | 1 | |
Collapsing Building | Splintered rafters All around; Duck them or They'll pin you down. |
The building is crumbling, You are in trouble, Hurry and escape, Or you'll be covered in rubble. |
Axe | 1 | |
Crocodile | Like a great white shark Down the Nile; Beware the 25-foot Crocodile. |
A giant reptile, Scaly and green. It moves undetected, And he's quite mean. |
Raft | 3 | |
Disease | Jungle plague germs There's a melody, You can't see them But they're deadly. |
There's a plague in the air, try not to breath. The fog is so thick And it's a thousand degrees. |
Die | 3 | |
Disintegration | Don't stop the game You realize. Or one of you May vaporize! |
A mysterious force, Conjured up by a sneer? Keep playing the game Or you may disappear. |
Die | 3 | |
Earthquake | You're almost there, With much at stake; But now the ground Begins to shake. |
(Same) | Die | 5 | |
Elephant | Elephants charging! You must confess, A freight train's damage Would be far less. |
Huge beasts on the move, Driving through like a truck. You can't outrun them. Watch out for their tusks. |
Open door | 3 | |
Hailstorm | Big as fists These balls of ice; Through umbrellas They will slice. |
A giant ice storm, Cover your knees. Quick get inside, Or you might freeze. |
Die | 3 | |
Hippopotamus | A cavernous yawn With tusks of course, Be sure to skirt This river horse. |
The water is scary, Because of this beast. His teeth are massive, Don't intrude on his feast. |
Raft | 3 | |
Hyenas | Their boisterous laughing Does provoke; in this adventure They are no joke. |
They like to laugh, But they're not your friends, If you take them lightly, It will be your end. |
Saber | 1 | |
Jaguar | Feline spots In the jungle blend; Be cautious of her She's not your friend. |
Her spots are many, She sits in the trees. She waits for her prey And nobody flees. |
Rope | 1 | |
Leeches | Crawling and slithering Up from the flood; Come thousands of leeches To suck your blood. |
Thirsty blood-suckers, Black as the night. They'll cover your body, And give you a fright. |
Raft | 1 | |
Lion | His fangs are sharp He likes your taste; Your party better Move posthaste. |
(Same) | Open door | 3 | |
Monkeys | This will not be An easy mission; Monkeys slow The expedition. |
(Same) | Open door | 1 | |
Monsoon | Every month At the quarter moon, There is a monsoon In your lagoon. |
(Same) | Raft | 5 | |
Mosquito | A tiny bite Can make you itch, Make you sneeze, Make you twitch. |
They fly quick, Unless in a breeze. They'll bite your head, Your arms and knees. |
Racquet | 3 | |
Pelican | With six-foot wingspan, Sound of swish; It thinks the gameboard Is a fish. |
Flying in from the sky, He's in a bad mood, Oh no! He's hungry. The game is not food! |
Die | 1 | |
Piranhas | Raging waters Ebb and flow; Beware piranhas Down below. |
Thousands of teeth, Swimming around you. It's a fish feeding frenzy, And they just found you. |
Raft | 1 | |
Pod | Enormous and yellow These flowers grew; Their flesh-eating blossoms Are hungry for you! |
Hungry yellow flowers, That don't only eat flies. They're hungry for you, And might make you cry. |
Axe | 3 | |
Purple Flowers | These purple lovelies You'd want to grow, If it weren't for the Poison barbs they throw. |
Pretty flowers, But don't take a smell. Their petals are poison, That will make you swell. |
Saber | 3 | |
Python | When you see it You will shake; It's big and green And rhymes with lake. |
A slithering serpent, Disguised on the ground. It will wrap you up, And drag you down. |
Saber | 3 | |
Quicksand | You better watch Just where you stand; The floor is quicker Than quicksand. |
Beware of the ground, For which you stand. The floor is quicker Than the sand. |
Axe | 3 | |
Rhinoceros | Don't be fooled. It isn't thunder; Staying put would Be a blunder. |
(Same) | Rope | 5 | |
Spider | Need a hand? Why just you wait; We'll help you out We each have eight. |
(Same) | Racquet | 1 | |
Thunderstorm | An angry sky hurls Bolts of light; If you can't take cover You'd better take flight. |
The clouds open up, The thunder roars, Lightning cracks And down it pours. |
Die | 1 | |
Tornado | Raging and howling A gale throws its might; Hold on for dear life Or be blown out o'sight. |
It twists and turns, And tears up the ground. It swirls and twirls, And swallows up towns. |
Rope | 3 | |
Van Pelt | A hunter from The darkest wild; Makes you feel Just like a child. |
(Same) | Saber | 5 | |
Vegetation | They grow much faster Than bamboo; Take care or they'll Come after you. |
(Same) | Saber | 3 | |
Zebras | Hush now! Just listen. No complaints, no more gripes; The power belongs To the beasts with the stripes. |
Quick on their feet, Covered in stripes, It's a thundering herd Cloaked in black and white. |
Open door | 1 |
Legacy[]
- As a tie-in for the animated series, the Asian versions of the game included artwork renders of characters and animals from the series. Some Danger Cards were also replaced by exclusive ones that used artwork from the series. The generic board game tokens were also replaced by exclusive, more elaborate idol-like playing pieces.
- Jigsaw Puzzles also produced by Milton Bradley reuse the artwork of this game.
- Hasbro's LCD Game also reuses the Milton Bradley portraits of Van Pelt and a Rhinoceros on the packing leaflet.
- To coincide with the release of "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle", the board game was reproduced by Cardinal Games with new colourized artwork to capitalize on the 2017 film. Some of the riddle message texts on the danger cards were changed, especially the unique danger messages. A travel edition was also realized, along with a special wooden edition, replicating the original film's folding lid version of the board game.
External links[]
https://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/Jumanji.PDF
Books | Novel • Film novel • Zathura | |
Media | 1995 film • TV Series • Zathura: A Space Adventure • Welcome to the Jungle • The Next Level | |
Games | Board Game • Jigsaw • Trading Cards • LCD Game • PC Game • PS2 Game • Mobile Game • 2019 Game • Fluxx • Stickers • The Curse Returns |