Family Feud (board game): How the classic home version works

The Family Feud board game, first published by Milton Bradley in 1977, adapts the TV show's survey-based gameplay for home play. Two teams answer ranked survey questions over several rounds; three strikes give control to opponents who may attempt a steal. The third round is typically worth double. Winners play a Fast Money bonus round for a top prize (often $5,000 in older editions), though specific components and Fast Money mechanics vary between printings.

Origins and publisher

Family Feud board game is a home version of the long-running TV game show. Milton Bradley first published a Family Feud board game in 1977; Milton Bradley is now a Hasbro brand. The boxed game was designed to recreate the survey-style gameplay families watched on television.

Components and editions

Early printings shipped with a game board, cards with survey questions, play money, strike indicators, Fast Money tally sheets and instructions. Some descriptions of early sets list about 60 question cards; specific contents and the number of printings varied by edition and region.

Main-game play (survey rounds)

Two teams compete across multiple survey rounds. Each round begins with a survey question that has a ranked list of popular answers gathered from a poll. Teams try to guess the most popular answers.

Teams alternate control by winning a face-off: the player who gives the higher-ranked answer can choose to play the round or pass it to the opponents. The team in control tries to list all answers remaining on the board. A wrong answer or a failure to respond earns a "strike." Three strikes hand control to the other team, who then has one chance to steal by guessing any unrevealed answer.

Most versions use three main rounds, with the third round scored at double value (a 1x - 1x - 2x scoring format). The team with the most money after the main rounds wins and advances to Fast Money to play for the top bonus.

Fast Money (board-game variant)

The board-game Fast Money round adapts the TV show's bonus round. Traditionally Fast Money challenges two teammates to reach a point target by answering five survey questions each. Some home editions simplified or altered this format - for example, presenting revealed answers or using different scoring - so exact rules vary by printing. The board-game top bonus is often listed as $5,000 in older editions, but prize details may differ between releases. ¹

What changed from the show

The board game preserves the survey-and-strike core of the TV show but compresses timing, answer reveal mechanics and scoring for home play. Later printings and licensed editions adjusted the number of answers and question sets to fit component limits and family play sessions. ²

Play tips

• Use a neutral judge for ambiguous answers.

• Agree on category-specific synonyms (e.g., "soda" vs. "pop") before play.

• If you have multiple editions, compare Fast Money rules before starting.

1. Confirm the exact contents (e.g., number of question cards) of the original 1977 Milton Bradley Family Feud boxed set.
2. Verify the claim that Milton Bradley produced eight different ABC-version editions in 1977.
3. Confirm which editions limited front-round questions to five answers versus the standard ten, and when that change occurred.
4. Verify the board-game Fast Money mechanics and whether the $5,000 bonus applies to all early editions or only specific printings.