Here’s an odd one: Yaquinto’s Hero (1980). This one was sent to me by rad dude Clay Fleischer.

First thing – Hero is packaged in an LP record sleeve. I love this, it is so damn odd. The outside actually states that it is not a record, which is the best. The “board” is the gatefold, with all the bits – square chits of the sort you’d expect from the period – packed in the sleeve.

Second thing – this is essentially a competitive solo game. Up to three players explore their own identically laid out dungeon, finding treasure and killing monsters (which the player is responsible for controlling). The goal is to be the first to reach and successfully woo the princess who stands at the nexus of the three dungeons. If all three suitors make it to the princess, the glory of accumulated kills and treasure becomes a factor.

Third thing – the text describing the princess sure is something. Like Letters to Penthouse something. Settle down there, rulebook writer!

Hero is a straight forward introduction to this sort of old school tactical sort of game. I think it’d wear out its welcome after a couple playthroughs, but the cover art is SWEET and the album format means it doesn’t take up much space, so win.