Password (1962)

Based on the classic game show that began in 1961, with many editions printed starting in 1962. Each edition featured a different set of words, although later anniversary editions used words from previous sets.

The object is for one person to get their teammate to say the password given a one-word clue for 10 points. Each time a clue is given, the other player can guess the password; if they get it right, the team scores. If they get it wrong, the other team gets to try for 9 points. This goes back and forth, with the word value continuing to decrease, until A) the word is guessed; B) ten clues are given without a correct guess; or C) the password is said by a clue-giver, in which case the word is thrown out.

Hyphenated words (i.e., "lovey-dovey") are considered two words, and hence are inadmissible.

Milton Bradley sold two million copies of the first edition of Password. In contrast, it took Scrabble three years and Monopoly twenty five years to sell one million units.