Public Assistance (1980)

About this game

A politically-motivated roll-and-move type game where players move around the board in two different tracks: "working person's rut" and "able-bodied welfare recipient's promenade." The goal of the game is to have the most money after a pre-determined number of circuits around the board have been achieved. The spaces on the board contain various instructions on where to move your piece or how much money to receive or pay out. Players also collect "welfare benefit" and "working person's burden" cards as they progress around the board. The situations presented in the game ridicule the American welfare system and are very "politically incorrect".

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 4.
• Rules load. At 1.4/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 18 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.