Cranium Games Get Revamped For 25th Anniversary

In 1998 the first Cranium party game was introduced — a combination of elements that had appeared in other party games including art, trivia, language, and performance. The game took off and made its creators a mint, and also turbocharged the career of artist Curtis Baseman (who created the characters that appear on the box). Several other spinoff games were added to the market before Cranium and all that had to do with it was sold to Hasbro Games in 2008.

Now Cranium is about to turn 25 (yikes) so Hasbro is introducing new versions of four Cranium games: the original that started it all, Big Brain, Hullabaloo and Hoopla. This revamped line will start appearing in stores this June (see above pic for what they’ll look like).

Our one complaint: where is Baseman? The same characters appear on the box of the 25th Anniversary Edition, but they’re clearly drawn by someone else. Was Baseman not available? Did he get snubbed? Where has he been all these years anyway?

Below are further details on the new Craniums such as their price and included content. All four are available for preorder now.

• Cranium 25th Anniversary Edition:

The classic game for your whole brain is back with new activities and all new content! Dig into words with Word Worm. Show off your knowledge with Data Head. Bring some artistic flair with Creative Cat. And let your Star Performer shine!

Get the party started with 18 outrageously fun activities, that include classics from the entire Cranium line, and new activities that hit on all four quadrants – with hundreds of all-new cards and updated content!

• Ages 12+

• 4+ players

• MSRP: $34.99 USD

• Cranium Big Brain: Detective Game

Your brain is a REALLY big place – and if you can imagine it, it fits!  But in big places, things go missing all the time.  Explore inside the Cranium brain and help each other figure out what happened in all the mysteries, puzzles, and ‘find it’ sets of “Imagination Land!”

Play solo or cooperatively with others, with brain teasing, storytelling, and discovery exercises to educate and engage. Graduated play modes provide solo and team challenges for kids of all ages. Gameplay is focused around the massive 880 square-inch game board, richly illustrated with hundreds of mysteries to solve!

• Ages 5+

• 1 – 4 players

• MSRP: $22.99 USD

• Cranium Hullabaloo:

The beloved high-energy game from Cranium is back – with all new app-driven game modes and gameplay. Kids will listen closely and then bounce, boogie, high-five, and show what they can do along with Cranium Hullabaloo.

This TOTY award-winning game teaches kids creative problem-solving through listening, cooperation, friendly competition, and quick thinking – in ways that will keep them coming back for more. Straightforward, app-driven gameplay with thousands of game variations provides hours of fun and added game modes age up the fun as kids grow older.

• Ages 3+

• 1 – 6 players

• MSRP: $19.99 USD

• Cranium Hoopla:

Race against the clock in this hilarious cooperative party game! Use your whole brain to give hints to your fellow players – make micro-sized drawings, gesture like a T-Rex, come up with zany word clues… but be quick! You only have 15 minutes to guess them all! Hoopla features beloved classic Cranium gameplay including Cloodle, Soundstage, Tongue-Tied, and Tweener. And the new Advanced Mode with four more activities, takes it to an even more hilarious level!

Now with 900 phrases and eight ways to clue pop culture, along with 300 brand new cards for 2023, this game provides outrageous fun for tweens to adults!

• Ages 12+

• 4+ players

• MSRP: $19.99 USD