Halloween is a great time to get together with friends and family and celebrate with some spooky fun. One of the best ways to do that is with a game night! And we’ve got the perfect game for your next Halloween party – OUIJA® from Winning Moves Games.
OUIJA® is a classic board game that has been around for decades, and it’s perfect for getting everyone in the Halloween spirit. The premise of the game is simple – players take turns asking questions of the spirits, and using the OUIJA® board to get answers. But beware, not all of the answers will be what you are hoping to hear!
About Winning Moves Games
Since Winning Moves USA (WMUSA) first year of operation in 1995, the company has developed a strong relationship with the largest game companies, Hasbro, Inc., owner of Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley. This relationship has allowed for many of the long-lived Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley games to continue on being marketed by WMUSA making them a one of the largest makers of board games, card games, and puzzles.
Winning Moves USA (WMUSA) mission is to provide happiness to consumers by offering Classic, Retro, Cool, and Fun games for play with friends and family.
Why OUIJA® is the Perfect Halloween Party Game
OUIJA® is one of those classic games that is perfect for any occasion, but it really shines at Halloween parties. There are a few reasons why:
It’s a great icebreaker
When you’re playing OUIJA®, there’s no need to worry about awkward silences or having to make small talk. The game will take care of that for you! Just sit down at the board and let the spirits do the talking.
Lots of spooky fun
What could be more fun than pretending to summon ghosts or talking with the dead? OUIJA® is the perfect way to get everyone in the Halloween spirit!
It’s easy to learn
OUIJA® is a very simple game to learn, which means even younger kids can join in on the fun. And who doesn’t love seeing kids interact with ghosts?
There are lots of other great reasons to play OUIJA®, but these are just a few of our favorites. So if you’re looking for a fun, spooky game to play at your next Halloween party, look no further than OUIJA® from Winning Moves Games!
OUIJA® Classic Board Game
Whether you call it Wee-Gee or Wee-Ja, this timeless Halloween party game board spells fun! Simply ask it a question and wait to see how the answer is revealed to you.
What is in the game
The game is based on a “spirit or talking board”. The surface of the board is marked with the letters of the Latin alphabet, the numbers 0–9, the words “yes”, “no”, occasionally “hello” and “goodbye”, along with various symbols and graphics. The only moving part is the planchette (small heart-shaped piece) that slides around the board surface spelling the responses to questions.
How do Ouija boards work?
Ouija boards are not, scientists say, powered by spirits or demons. Disappointing? Maybe, but comforting to know that the game is actually powered by the players, even when they protest against doing it. Ouija boards work on a principle known to those studying the mind for more than 160 years: the ideomotor effect.
What allows the game to work?
Movement is based on the ideomotor effect, which is unconscious, involuntary physical movement. All this means is that we move when we’re not trying to move. If you’ve ever jerked awake from a deep sleep (known as the hypnic jerk), this is a version of the ideomotor effect: your brain signaling your body to move without your conscious awareness. The obvious difference here is that the ideomotor effect happens when you’re awake, making the reflexive movements your hand makes much smaller.
In the case of the Ouija board, your brain may unconsciously pull up memories or create images when you ask your questions. Your body responds to you the signals from your brain without you consciously “telling” it to do so. This reaction causes the muscles in your hands and arms to move the pointer to the answers that you, unconsciously, want to receive.
History of talking boards
The real history of the talking board is just about as mysterious and amazing to understanding how it works. Robert Murch, a researcher who has been studying this topic since 1992 says no one really knew anything about its origins which struck him odd because “For such an iconic thing that strikes both fear and wonder in American culture…how can we be missing so much information?”
The Ouija board, in fact, came straight out of the American 19th century obsession with spiritualism, which had been around forever in Europe. It hit America hard in the 1840’s with the Fox sisters from New York. The Fox sisters claimed to receive messages from spirits who rapped on the walls in answer to questions. Channeling parlors quickly became popular across the states. This movement offered comfort in a time when the average lifespan was less than 50 years, and women were likely to die in childbirth, and children died of diseases, and so many men died in war.
How do you play Ouija?
It uses a planchette (small heart-shaped piece of wood or plastic) as a movable indicator to spell out messages. Players place their fingers on the planchette, and it is moved about the board to spell out words.
Ouija boards rely on the power of your own body
If you’ve never used a Ouija board, the concept is pretty simple. Alone or with a group, everyone places their hands lightly on the triangular pointer called a planchette. The planchette rests on the board and will slide around answering the questions posed to the board.
With Halloween right around the corner, it’s time to start planning your party! If you’re looking for a great game to play at your Halloween party, we highly recommend OUIJA® from Winning Moves Games. It’s a classic board game that is perfect for getting everyone in the Halloween spirit. So go ahead and add it to your cart – your guests will thank you!