Reuben Klamer
An American Inventor
(June 20, 1922 – September 14, 2021)
Few people in history have impacted how the world plays like inventor/creator/designer Reuben Klamer. Most widely know for his creation of the iconic Game Of Life board game, Klamer was also responsible for around 200 games and toys to market over a decades long career.
Reuben Klamer (1922–2021) was an inventor, entrepreneur, and World War II U.S. Navy officer whose six-decade career produced more than 200 products.
Born in Canton, Ohio, to Romanian immigrant parents, he studied at The Ohio State University, George Washington University, and the University of Michigan before serving with distinction in the South Pacific during World War II. Best known as the inventor of The Game of Life, Klamer also created the classic Fisher-Price Preschool Trainer Skates and pioneered the use of durable polyethylene plastics in toys. His innovations extended beyond toys and games into industries such as publishing, aviation, textiles, music, and film. Klamer was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 2005 and received numerous honors, including The Ohio State University’s Entrepreneurship Award and TAGIE’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
His signature creation, The Game of Life, is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution.
reuben klamer's
Game of life
The Game of Life was developed in 1960 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Milton Bradley Company. Invented by Reuben Klamer, the game has since been sold in 59 countries and translated into 26 languages. It is estimated that more than 70 million copies have been sold worldwide. The Japanese edition, Jinsei, has remained the country’s best-selling board game for over 50 years. In 1981, The Game of Life was added to the permanent Archives of Family Life at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and it remains one of the most popular board games of all time, second only to Monopoly.
Strong Museum Hall Of Fame
Inducted Year: 2010
Source: The Strong National Museum of Play
As 1960 approached, the Milton Bradley Company enlisted independent inventor Reuben Klamer to come up with a game that would commemorate the firm’s 100th anniversary. Klamer took the “Life” name from the 1860 predecessor but created a completely new game for a new era. The Game of Life charted fresh territory for board games with its three-dimensional board and its integral plastic spinner. To promote the game, the Milton Bradley Company hired popular radio and television personality Art Linkletter to add his “personal endorsement.” Since then, the game has been updated several times and both electronic and specially-themed versions are now widely available. One of the best-selling games of all time, Life has also been translated into at least 20 languages.
Playing The Game of Life parallels a person’s life in several ways. Players must choose between “college” and “business” early in the game. Payday comes sooner for the businessperson, but college may mean higher paychecks in the end. Marriage and children usually occur during the game. Players in 1960 could end up in the Poor Farm or land happily in Millionaire Acres. The 2010 version offers everyone more comfortable destinations, sending players to either Countryside Acres or Millionaire Estates. In any event, chance and luck play the largest part in the journey. The game has been criticized over the years for being based solely on luck and for rewarding risk-taking, but Life has stood the test of time—and family game night would not be as much fun without it.
The accurate history of Reuben Klamer's 1960 The Game Of Life
(An Important Clarification)
The 1960 Game of Life was a wholly original work created by Reuben Klamer. While the Milton Bradley 1860 Checkered Game of Life served as one historical point of inspiration, specifically the word “life” according to Reuben, it is an entirely different game than the iconic Game of Life, created by Reuben Klamer. A side by side comparison of the two games clearly illustrates this. Additionally, artist Bill Markham was hired by Reuben Klamer to help build the prototype of The Game Of Life, a role the federal courts confirmed was that of a contracted developer working at Klamer’s direction and expense. (Markham Concepts, Inc. v Hasbro, Inc., No. 19-1927 (1st Cir. 2021) The Game of Life’s creation, authorship, and commercial history are well documented through official and reputable sources including the Smithsonian Institution, The Strong National Museum of Play, and relevant legal records.
It was Reuben Klamer’s 1960 Game of Life game that became widely recognized and went on to sell tens of millions of copies worldwide and become a worldwide part of how we play!