A Skill-and-Action Game (S&A) is a boxed game requiring the player to engage in a specific physical activity and/or do something requiring dexterity or eye-hand coordination. This includes games in which something is rolled, thrown, tossed, tiddled, toppled, shot, spun, slid, bounced, balanced, carried, hooked, and so forth. The most common skill-and-action games are ring toss, tiddly winks, indoor target games, skittles (bowling games), and some marble games. Games with tops are usually just action games, since the player has no control over the movement or direction of the top — though I’m sure your top-throwing experts will disagree with me. Often called dexterity games, S&A games not only require certain skills on the part of the player, but they often help in developing those skills as well.
Watch this space for more on skill and action games.
Brist, 1914, The Brist Mfg. Co., Topeka, Kansas; outdoor boomerang catching with nets; litho is from inside the cover
Brist game components
Harry Potter and the Sorcererâs Stone, 2001, Mattel
Laurel and Hardy Party Pie Toss, 1970s±, Transogram
Put It in the Bank: 1940s-1950s, Gabriel; pop-up board
Hook A Crook: 1954, Alabe Crafts
Humpty Dumpty, 1971, Schaper
