Developer: GameTek
Year: 1989
Genre: Game Show
Platform: DOS, Commodore 64, Apple II, NES

My Rating: 2

I love game shows, even the stupid ones, but it’s really hard to get on board with Hollywood Squares. Much like Match Game, the contestants are irrelevant and it’s all about watching celebrities make jokes. At least when I would catch this show, the celebrities were not near drunk enough to make it work. Not to mention that basing a game show around Tic-Tac-Toe is so basic it makes Deal or No Deal seem high concept.

Developer: Softie
Year: 1989
Genre: Game Show
Platform: DOS, Commodore 64

My Rating: 3

Despite advanced technology at their fingertips, Softie was unable to upgrade from the original Family Feud and this one is worse in pretty much every way.

Developer: Softie
Year: 1987
Genre: Game Show
Platform: DOS, Apple II, Coleco Adam, Commodore 64

My Rating: 8

A very simple game show to translate to the computer and they did a very nice job here. You don’t need a whole lot to make this one work: a ton of boards and good sound effects are about all that’s needed. This version succeeds in both ways. One can play the game for days and not see the same category twice and the sound effects when you get an answer right are brief and rewarding. About as good as one can expect from the internal sound board.

Developer: Softie
Year: 1988, 1999
Genre: Game Show
Platform: DOS, Apple II, Commodore 64, NES

My Rating: 4

Another fairly popular game show (hosted by Trebek at the time) that was published by Sharedata and received two versions for home computers (the second was identical with additional puzzles). It was never my favorite show and it doesn’t really help that this version is faithful.

Developer: Sharedata
Year: 1989
Genre: Game Show
Platform: DOS, Apple II, Commodore 64

My Rating: 7

A game show I have never seen one second of, probably because it only aired for one season. Thankfully, it aired during the time period of Sharedata licensing everything. I think it’s a pretty solid premise for a game and would also work well as a table top game.

Developer: Sharedata
Year: 1987, et al
Genre: Game Show
Platform: DOS, Apple II, Commodore 64

My Rating: 5

Sharedata also released Jeopardy! at the same time as Wheel of Fortune, and like that one spawned many sequels, all virtually identical except more boards, including a fifth follow up that was a sports edition. Also a faithful representation of the show, but bogged down by speed issues.

Developer: Sharedata
Year: 1987, 1988, 1989
Genre: Game Show
Platform: DOS, Apple II, Commodore 64

My Rating: 6

Sharedata published a lot of gameshow licenses in the 80’s and early 90’s and Wheel of Fortune was probably their most popular title, spawning three sequels for the home computer (the last one being published by GameTek).