Quicksand (board game)

Quicksand is a board game published by Lakeside Games in 1966. It is a children's game designed for 2-4 players, typically aged 5 and up. The game involves players moving their explorer pawns across a game board representing a dangerous jungle, fraught with patches of quicksand.

The objective of Quicksand is to be the first player to successfully navigate their explorer pawn to the "Safety Zone" located at the opposite end of the board.

Gameplay revolves around rolling a die and moving the corresponding number of spaces. Certain spaces on the board are marked as quicksand. When a player lands on a quicksand space, they become stuck and must use a “rope” to pull themselves free. The rope is represented by a small plastic hook that players must carefully maneuver to dislodge their pawn. Successfully extracting the pawn from the quicksand allows the player to continue their journey. Failure to extract the pawn on a turn may require the player to miss their next turn or experience another penalty as outlined in the game's rules.

The game utilizes elements of chance and manual dexterity. The roll of the die determines movement, while the quicksand spaces introduce a challenge that requires players to possess a steady hand and careful coordination. Quicksand is often cited as a classic children's game due to its simple rules, engaging gameplay, and suspenseful moments. The game’s components typically include a game board, explorer pawns in different colors, a die, and small plastic rope hooks.