Anticipation

About

Anticipation is a competitive party game where players race to guess computer-drawn images before opponents. Designed for up to four players on the Nintendo Entertainment System, it tasks participants with identifying sketches in real time across themed categories. Each round requires correct answers to advance through levels, with difficulty scaling and multiple subject areas keeping the challenge fresh. The blend of visual interpretation and speed creates a tense, group-friendly dynamic that leans heavily on quick thinking and shared knowledge. This 1988 release from Rare functioned as Nintendo’s first digital board game, merging mechanics from drawing games and trivia contests. While its pixelated art style and limited color palette feel dated, the core loop of guesswork and competition holds up for retro audiences. With no modern remasters or sequels, it remains a niche curiosity, but its four-player support and mix of creativity and memory make it a standout title for collectors of classic party games.

Storyline

Anticipation incorporated aspects of Pictionary and Trivial Pursuit. Competition involved being the first player to complete every level in the game. To complete a level, a player must guess the correct picture that is being drawn by the computer on the screen-this must be done multiple times and in different categories. Different difficulties were available in the game, and four different categories.