11 games 1980s S'porean babies grew up playing because no Internet

Coupled with the wonders of imagination, we didn't have to fear we might die of boredom then.

Alden Tan| May 31, 05:00 PM

Remember the good old days -- approximately 20 years ago -- where you had to partake in real, physical activities that made you interact with other people your age?

And not only did you have a lot of fun, you were so passionate and into it, you end up fighting one another over some game.

Here are 11 of those games you used to play with while growing up that kept you occupied for hours on end last time:

 

1. Rummy-O

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It made you feel like you were playing Mahjong, just like the adults.

 

2. Subbuteo tabletop soccer game

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Flick like a pro.

 

3. Mighty Max

It was Polly Pocket for dudes! And the cartoon was pretty sweet as well.

 

4. Polly Pocket

And for the ladies.

 

5. An actual playground with sand

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We were pretty much Spartans. Jumping from high places, having sand in our mouths and digging holes and setting up booby traps.

Who needs that new soft, padded ground?

 

6. Monster in My Pocket

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Buy one Slurpee and you get a pack of three cards. I remember the Great Beast being labelled "No.1", hence, we assumed it was the most rare card in the world.

 

7. Caps

Slam those bad boys. Whichever turns facing up, you win them if you were playing for keeps. It felt like real gambling.

We were bad boys.

 

8. Country erasers

Fact 1: They were not used as actual erasers.

Fact 2: They were used for that game. You know, where we took turns flipping these bad boys to see who got on top of the other.

Fact 3: We actually called them Country Rubber, not country erasers.

Fact 4: The bookshop uncle at school must have made a fortune from selling these.

 

9. Plasticine

Arts and craft?! More like, rolling them into random balls to throw at each other.

 

10. Hungry Hungry Hippos

This game encourages the sort of mentality that really appeals to kiasu Singaporeans and rubs them the right way.

 

11. This totally nameless pencil/ pen-paper game

It was kind of like Subbuteo but on a budget. You take turns to launch your pencil or pen across the paper to make skid marks.

You'd take off again from where the last skid mark ended and, eventually, you try to get as many skid marks as possible to cross your opponent's end or into their "net" to "score" a goal.

So simple, yet so fun.

 

Top photo from here

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