The Godfather Game (1971)

About this game

The Godfather Game puts players in the roles of mob bosses vying for control of rackets in several neighborhoods. The game plays like Go, except that stones are bought for varying prices based on the area of the board they will be deployed to. Three decks of cards provide monetary income for buying more stones and also good and bad events that must be dealt with. Think of the game as Go combined with some aspects of Monopoly, notably the money and the Chance and Community Chest cards. The game was issued in at least two editions - a standard rectangular box set, and a set packaged in a plastic violin case.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 4.
• Rules load. At 2.3/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 12 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.