Mouse Trap
The classic chain-reaction game! Mouse Trap is a riot of anticipation, suspense, and slapstick fun. It’s the only board game where building a crazy contraption is half the battle—and the other half is catching your friends’ mice! Whether you remember the original or have seen the revamped 'easy set-up' versions, Mouse Trap is a must for parties and family nights.
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Read the rules for Mouse Trap
What is Mouse Trap?
Mouse Trap is the zany, build-as-you-play board game where 2–4 players race around the board collecting cheese and avoiding capture. It's all about teamwork, competition, and that legendary Rube Goldberg machine. The anticipation builds as you snap together the pieces—one turn at a time—until someone finally sets off the trap. Will it work? Will it fail? That’s half the fun!
Fun Fact: In the original TV commercials, the exciting chain-reaction ending was always shown—but not the 20+ minutes of set-up!
History of Mouse Trap
- Invented in the early 1960s by Marvin Glass and Gordon Barlow in Chicago.
- The first patent for Mouse Trap was granted in 1967, with publication by Ideal Toy Company a few years later.
- Originally famed for its elaborate set-up, modern Mouse Trap editions now feature “easy set-up” to get to the action faster.
- Hasbro currently manufactures the game, and it's been a family favourite for decades.
How to Play Mouse Trap – Rules
- 2–4 players take turns rolling dice to move their mouse tokens around the board, collecting cheese.
- As you move, players work together (and against each other!) to build the Mouse Trap contraption, piece by piece.
- When the trap is fully built, the chase begins—land on the right spaces to try to trap an opponent’s mouse!
- If the trap works, you catch the mouse. If not, the tension continues!
- Last mouse left uncaptured wins the game!
Who Invented Mouse Trap?
The Mouse Trap board game was devised by two Chicago-based inventors: Marvin Glass and Gordon Barlow. Their vision brought the wild, Rube Goldberg-style contraption into living rooms everywhere.
When Was Mouse Trap Invented?
The first patent for Mouse Trap was granted in 1967, but the game hit shelves in 1963 thanks to the Ideal Toy Company. Since then, it's undergone a few tweaks, but the excitement remains the same!
Strategy & Tips
- Try to avoid the cheese wheel and boot spaces if you’re at risk of being trapped.
- Save your cheese cards for the perfect moment—they can get you out of trouble or help you win!
- Keep an eye on your opponents’ movements. Timing is everything in Mouse Trap!
- If you’re building the trap, make sure each piece is set correctly—nobody likes a failed chain reaction.
- Most important: enjoy the chaos, the anticipation, and the laughs—even if the trap misses!
Retro Tip: For extra fun, “race” to see who can assemble the Mouse Trap fastest—just for bragging rights!
Why We Love Mouse Trap
Mouse Trap is a unique blend of luck, skill, and spectacle. There’s nothing quite like the anticipation as the boot swings, the ball rolls, and (hopefully!) the trap comes crashing down. It’s a retro classic that still brings families together in fits of giggles.