To play the board game Life, you spin the wheel, move your car along the path, make choices about career, education, family, and finances, and collect Life tiles.
Ever wondered how to play board game Life? This classic game simulates the journey of life, from college to retirement. It’s all about making choices and seeing where they take you.
You start by choosing your path: college or career. Then, you navigate through milestones like getting a job, marriage, and starting a family. Money comes and goes, just like real life, and the player with the most cash at the end wins.
How to Play Board Game Life: A Complete Guide
Let’s dive into the fun world of The Game of Life! This classic board game takes you on a journey through life’s big moments, from starting a career to retirement. It’s a game that’s easy to learn but offers a lot of choices, making each playthrough a unique adventure. This guide will teach you everything you need to know to enjoy playing Life.
Setting Up Your Life Adventure
Before you start spinning the wheel, it’s important to get the game ready. Let’s see what you need to do:
The Game Board
First, place the game board in the middle of the table. You’ll see a colorful path with different spaces that represent life events like college, getting married, and having kids. The path is your journey in the game. Make sure everyone can easily see and reach the board.
The Play Money
Sort the play money by denomination and place it in the bank. This will be the source of funds for the whole game. You will start with some money, and you will earn or lose money through your adventures in life. The bank will also hold money from taxes and other events.
The Cars and Pegs
Each player chooses a colored car and takes a matching set of pegs. These pegs represent you and your family. Place one peg in the car at the start of the game. This is you, on your first adventure in life.
The Career and College Cards
Separate the Career cards and the College Career cards into two piles. Place them face down on the designated spots on the board. Career cards decide your job in the game and the job decides your salary. College career cards allow you to pursue higher paying jobs but require the college route.
The House Deeds
Place all house deeds in a pile. House deeds will be used during the game when you buy a home. Owning a house can provide benefits or require some payments.
The Life Tiles
Shuffle the life tiles and place them face down on their designated spot on the board. Life tiles are used throughout the game for big events, or opportunities.
Spin to See Who Goes First
Each player spins the wheel. The player who spins the highest number goes first. If there is a tie, those players spin again.
Choosing Your Path: College or Career?
The first big choice in the Game of Life is whether to go to college or directly start your career. This decision will impact the rest of your game. Let’s explore each path:
Going to College
Choosing the college path means you’ll spend time and money to get a higher paying job later. Here’s what happens:
- You pay the bank $50,000 for tuition. It’s a big chunk, but it is an investment in your future.
- You move your car to the designated college spaces on the board.
- You will collect your college career card once you finish college. These cards are usually for higher paying jobs.
Starting a Career Right Away
If you choose to skip college, you jump directly into your career. Here’s what this entails:
- You do not pay tuition costs. This is a huge benefit, and you can use the savings for the other life expenses.
- You move your car directly onto the path to the career space and pick your regular career card.
- Regular career cards will typically offer lower salaries than college career cards.
The decision is yours: Do you risk the money for a higher payout, or get started faster with a lower salary?
Navigating the Game Board
Once your career choice is made, it’s time to move around the board. Here’s how:
Spinning the Wheel
On each turn, you spin the spinner and move your car that many spaces along the game path. The path is clearly marked with different color-coded spaces. Let’s break down what these spaces mean.
Different Spaces on the Board
The game board is designed with many different events and actions. Let’s take a look at the different types:
- Pay Day: When you land on a Pay Day space, you collect your salary from the bank. Make sure you keep track of all your earnings.
- Action Spaces:These are usually red spaces, or spaces that have an image of an action on them, and they may require you to make a purchase, pay a bill, or draw a card.
- Stop Spaces: These spaces force you to stop your car regardless of your spin number. They represent major life events. You must take the appropriate action for the space.
- Spin to Win Spaces: These spaces let you test your luck and spin the wheel for additional money.
- House Spaces: When you land on these spaces you may choose to purchase a house.
Following Instructions
When you land on a space, carefully read the instructions. You must follow the rules for the space you land on. Sometimes you’ll receive money, sometimes you’ll pay it out, and sometimes you’ll make choices.
Life Events: Marriage, Family, and More
Life is not just about work. There are many big events and choices you encounter as you travel around the board. Here’s what they entail:
Getting Married
If you land on a marriage space, you’re getting hitched! Here’s how it works:
- Place a peg in your car to represent your spouse. Now you’re two!
- Sometimes the marriage space may come with an action to draw a life card or take some other form of action.
Starting a Family
Having kids is a big part of Life. Here’s what you need to know:
- When you land on a space indicating you’re having a child, you place a peg in your car to represent your child.
- You may have one or more children in the game.
- You may also have to pay a specific cost to have a child.
- Keep track of how many kids you have as it impacts end game bonuses and opportunities.
Buying a House
Houses are important milestones in life. Here’s how to buy one in the game:
- If you land on the right space, you can buy a house by paying the cost on the deed.
- Each house offers different rewards and might affect your taxes.
- You may sell your house for a cost if you choose, and potentially buy a bigger home.
Other Milestones
There are other life events you might encounter such as:
- Changing Careers: You may have the opportunity to switch careers for higher income or personal satisfaction. You might also have to take out an extra loan.
- Investing: You may invest in things such as stocks and bonds that may result in a big payout, or potential losses.
- Other life events: Throughout the game, you will pick up various life cards that provide opportunities or challenges. These events could be things such as lawsuits or inheritances. Make sure to read the instructions of each card.
Managing Your Money
Money is important in the Game of Life. Here’s how to manage it effectively:
Tracking Your Salary
- Each time you pass a payday space, collect your salary from the bank.
- Remember, your salary will be different based on the job card you choose.
Paying Your Bills
- Some spaces require you to pay the bank. Keep track of these expenses carefully.
- These expenses might be the cost to have children or to invest in a business opportunity.
Taking Out Loans
Sometimes you might need to take out a loan. Here’s how it works:
- When you need extra money, you can take out a loan from the bank. The loan will be worth a certain amount of money.
- Be sure to pay your loans back before the end of the game as you will incur penalties.
Investing
Some spaces may allow you to invest money for a potential payout down the road, but be careful as some investments might not work out as planned. Make sure you are mindful of the amount of money you are investing and the potential risks associated with your investment.
Reaching Retirement
The goal of the game is to reach retirement and have the most money at the end. Here’s how to get there:
Reaching the End of the Board
The game board is a circular loop, so once you reach the end, you begin going around again. The game stops when all players reach retirement. Keep playing until all your friends arrive to retirement.
Retirement Spaces
Once you reach a retirement space, you stop playing and start your retirement. Let’s find out how to score.
Scoring and Winning the Game
At the end of the game, the player with the most money wins! Here’s how to calculate your score:
Counting Your Cash
First, count all the cash you have on hand. This includes all your earnings and any investment that may have paid out well.
Paying Back Loans
Subtract any outstanding loans you still owe to the bank. This is very important because they can significantly reduce your final total.
Adding Bonus Points
- Some life tiles provide bonuses at the end of the game. Add these to your total.
- Houses also provide a payout value at the end of the game.
- If you have multiple children, you might receive some extra money from the bank at the end.
Determining the Winner
The player with the most money after adding bonus points and subtracting loans is the winner of the Game of Life! Congratulations on living a great life!
Playing the Game of Life is all about making choices, having fun, and enjoying the ride. Each game is different, and that’s part of what makes it so much fun. Remember to pay attention to the rules, manage your money wisely, and enjoy all the twists and turns this life throws at you. Have a great time playing!
How to play The Game of Life
Final Thoughts
To play board game life, you must first navigate the spinner carefully. Choose your career and start accumulating money. Manage your finances and family carefully.
Buy houses and invest wisely to reach retirement. Be mindful of unexpected events that can impact your progress. This is the key for how to play board game life. Winning requires planning and a bit of good fortune.
