The Key to the Kingdom | Board Game History
Вставка
- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- In 1990 Waddingtons released a fantasy family board game that aimed to provide young gamers with their first taste of tabletop adventure. Featuring an array of monsters and hazards The Key to the Kingdom delivered that adventure in spades!
It’s unique selling point was the amazing transforming gameboard - a two panelled board that unfolded during the game to reveal even more of the magical kingdom to explore!
This is the history of the game featuring new details from the designer Paul Bennett.
_____________________________
Support My Work:
DOWNLOAD MY FANTASY BATTLE SCENARIO DEAD KING WENCESLAS:
jordansorcery....
ELEMENT GAMES AFFILIATE LINK:
elementgames.c...
PATREON:
/ jordansorcery
KO-FI:
ko-fi.com/jord...
INSTAGRAM:
/ jordansorcery
BLUESKY:
bsky.app/profi...
WEBSITE:
jordansorcery....
DISCORD:
My Discord is now open to exclusively to Patreon supporters & by invitation only
#TheKeyToTheKingdom #KTTK #tabletop #boardgames #RPG #wargames #Fantasy #dungeonsanddragons #dnd
_____________________________
References, Sources, and Links:
[Paul Bennett’s Key to the Kingdom Site]
classicmemorie...
[My Interview with Paul Bennett]
jordansorcery....
[Key to the Kingdom UK Advert]
• The Key to the Kingdom...
_____________________________
Art, Music, and Copyright:
Images used belong to their respective copyright owners
Jordan Sorcery Theme by Joylin Music
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry by Becka Moor
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry and Theme copyright @jordansorcery
Loved this. Though I'd asked for Hero Quest and was initially mortified at my parents' betrayal.
I spent more time staring at the board and imagining possibilities than I did actually playing it. I still occasionally play with the idea of using it as a D&D setting.
As a Yank, I can let you know we managed all right without knowing it was THE key to the kingdom. My younger brother LOVED this game so I played it quite a bit as a youth. But I think he spent more time poring over it than we ever did playing it.
The reprint by restoration games is pretty fun!
This was amazing. I played it to death. When I was a teen, someone left a window open and all the monster cards blew away on the wind. Heartbreaking.
I adored this game growing up - while I had HeroQuest and Dragon Strike, THIS was the game that really sparked my interest in the hobby at a young age! I still have it!
The real Key to the Kingdom is the friends we made along the way.
Ain’t that the truth!
It was my mum who pushed me into the fantasy board games - it first started with "The Lost Valley of the Dinosaurs" then TSR's "Legend of Heroes" then Heroquest 😂
Aaaah yes the Fur Beast is more terrifying than the main villain of the game - an unstoppable force of nature, fur and claws 😂
Lost Valley of the Dinosaurs was my jam as a kid. Lost the original over the years, but my mum managed to find me another copy a few years ago for only $2.
@@jasonnewell7036 yeah mine got lost over the years - never got a replacement just keep hoping they or someone remake it again. $2 that's a bargain lol was everything present or things missing?
@@jasonnewell7036 was it complete or missing parts?
Still remember the advert jingle for this one…
I don't just remember it - I still have it in my cupboard, right next to HeroQuest!
Didn't know the game growing up, but it certainly sounds fun. Another thing I wish I'd known about as a lad!
Excellent! Just bought an original - looking forward to playing it!
Fun review! I'd somehow never heard of this! Looks like a one of those great games that straddled the line between the board game and TTRPG worlds. Also "The Martha Scene" was some real cinema verite :D
It was a great little introduction to fantasy gaming for sure! Martha loves a camera!
I have never heard of this game, and that's a bummer, it sounds amazing! Really loved this video, Jordan. My own first tentative step into the realms of fantasy gaming was a board game called Dungeon! from TSR...my nostalgia claims it's worth looking into.
I’ve never played Dungeon! but it looks like some fantastic fun!
This reminds me of The Game of Dracula, which was a huge hit in my family!
I bloody loved Key to the Kingdom. I very nearly got a copy during lockdown ut couldn't find one in decent enough condition.
Weirdly, I'm actually selling one!
OMG I had this game. I remember the advert for it too. 😅
That ad would rattle around in my brain for days at a time!
I still have my copy from childhood here as well! We tried playing it a few years ago and it seemed a little janky; and the entire end sequence felt like it needed to be sped up somehow. But nothing a few house rules can't fix and that whirlpool mechanic is still absolutely fantastic.
Wow, hadn't thought of this for a long Time. I won a copy of this in a competition on one of the children's channels on Sky at the time (can't remember which). Always liked the opening boards/teleporting mechanic. Blast from the past indeed!
I'm loving these classic board game histories, Mr. Sorcery! Many of these games were foundational to my own gaming journey. Of course, I still greatly enjoy your deep dives into all things Games Workshop. Thank you, sir!
I’m glad!
I’m glad! Now that I look back I find it fascinating how all these different games and experiences each played a role in developing my hobby. Hoping to uncover more of my own origin story as we go!
Just received my copy.
Very horrible box conditions but still in very good condition of components inside. Complete, prestine with instruction booklet.
This could be pricy at 500 Philippine Peso (10 USD) including delivery to my far flung Town.
STILL a good deal to have this vintage board game.
Your channel is like going through my childhood Jordan!
Yes!
I picked up the Restoration Games version recently. Let me know if you’d like to see any of the components in closer detail.
From what I’ve seen it looks quite lovely. How did the de-randomisation tweaks feel?
A nice bit of history for a game I didn't know about.
wow thats a trip down memory lane, if your wanting recommendations i'd love you to cover the Waddingtons "Darkworld" Series ... Darkworld, The village of fear and Dragons gate they were cool and a bit "heroquesty"
I never got the chance to play Darkworld, but it always looked fun!
@@jordansorcery it’s ok, not as good as heroquest I’ve got all 3 you can link them all up but I’ve not tried yet
Great video, never had this as a kid but wish I had! Great advert too.
Gotta love Catzillah! 😁👍
Yep, still in my attic underneath TSR's Legend of Heroes. Does anyone remember that one?
Great game. The board opening up was a magical moment every time
It really was!
Had another game think it was called village of fear that had 3 or 4 buildings and you could change ordinary weapons to gold plated ones,only played it a few time and is now up the loft,must have bought it around 1990.
I loved this game as a kid so much. Now I need a copy!
Ah man, loved me some Key to the Kingdom. I've been meaning to track down a copy
ooooh I still have this
Some classic nostalgia in that box!
It's Martha's Kingdom we're just living in it.
This was one of those games that I was aware of through TV ad and the Argos catalogue no doubt, but I don’t recall ever playing it. Great video.
Sounds like a great game. Thanks for sharing.
Have you played spy ring? That's a brilliant game. One of my dad's favourites. Another of his favourites is kingmaker a game about the war of the roses- do you know that one? Feel you would like it.
Do we know who that original cover art was done by, I cannot find out anywhere!
Hi Martha!
This is why I didn’t recognise the tempting picture that was posted previously, I think Hero Quest was my first experience of fantasy board gaming, this game looks great but no personal experience of playing this, although I have played Cluedo and Monopoly although I didn’t like the idea of playing a capitalist game perhaps because I have always been bad with money. Hero Quest is my favourite from my pre-GW games…
Strangely I do remember that advert, the cartoon of the board being opened but I never played it at home or at any of my friends’ homes.
What did you think of the re-release?
suppose you'd have to have been there. personally i have a fondness for escape from atlantis