Probe (parlor game)
| 4 different boxes for the same game | |
|---|---|
#201, #112, #200, #202 | |
| Manufacturers | Parker Brothers |
| Publication | 1964 (#112 and #200), 1974 (#201), 1976 (#202) |
| Years active | 1964 to 1982 |
| Players | Best for 3 or 4. Rule variations for 2. |
| Setup time | 5 minutes |
| Playing time | 30-60 minutes, depending on number of players |
| Chance | Low/medium (guessing) High, with optional use of random "activity" cards |
| Age range | 8 and up |
| Skills | Spelling, vocabulary |
| Website | Probe at BoardGameGeek |
Probe is a parlor game or board game introduced in the 1960s by Parker Brothers. It is reminiscent of the simple two-person game Hangman, whose object is to guess a word chosen by another player by revealing specific letters. Probe extends the number of players to a maximum of four and introduces additional game elements that increase the levels of both skill and chance. Like Hangman, each player has a secret chosen word. But unlike Hangman, the game ends when the last word, not the first word, is revealed. All players remain in the game until the end. It was created by Ted Leavitt and licensed by him to Parker Brothers.