North to Alaska (1984)

About this game

A Roll-and-Move travel boardgame that was apparently released in 1984 as a promotion for Yukon Sam Rest Stops. Up to eight players attempt to successfully navigate the Alaska-Canada Highway from Seattle, Washington to Anchorage, Alaska. The object of the game is to arrive in Anchorage with the most money, which is found through panning for gold, visiting gold mines, and other events along the way. Hazards that players encounter during game play duplicate some of the real-life problems motorists may face driving to Alaska's largest city, such as icy roads, landslides, bears, and everybody's favorite, a boarded-up gas station in the middle of nowhere. Solid production values here, with some colorful cartoon-style graphics on the Encounter Cards and game board. There's a prospector's "poke" containing some exquisite pewter playing pieces (a la "Monopoly") that include a moose, a jeep, a bush plane, and a dog sled, among others. The game has plenty of "Yukon Sam Bucks" provided in various denominations, along with a handy storage tray, and is topped off with a pair of substantial dice and a "Rainbow Road/Pan For Gold" spinner.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 6.
• Rules load. At 1.3/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 8 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.