Halloween Town comes to your table

The Nightmare Before Christmas Board Games and Monopoly Editions

By Updated

Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly sits beside Clue, Operation, Yahtzee and Trivial Pursuit, and each Nightmare Before Christmas board game below lists its players, age and play time. Two card games and an Oogie Boogie expansion for Disney Villainous complete the list.

  • 11 games
  • 2021 to 2023
  • 1 to 12+ players
  • 6 classic editions

Jack would approve of this shelf. Pick a game below, then check out the details.

Most games here come from The Op (formerly USAopoly). Funko Games, Mixlore and Ravensburger round out the lineup with card games and a Villainous expansion. Choices range from familiar classics to quick card games. If Villainous and Lorcana are also on your list, the Disney board games page covers Disney games more broadly.

For a quick game, Making Christmas Card Game takes about 20 minutes.

Start with these three Nightmare Before Christmas games

Oogie Boogie fans can put him front and center in Operation or Villainous.

  • Monopoly fans

    Monopoly: The Nightmare Before Christmas

    2 to 6 players, about 60 minutes and ages 8+. Standard Monopoly rules, with Halloween Town spaces and Toys and Assembly Lines instead of houses.

    Difficulty1.5 out of 5
    Time to explain2 out of 5about 8 min
    Player experience2 out of 5
    Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
    How we rate

  • Mystery night

    Clue: The Nightmare Before Christmas

    2 to 6 players, ages 8+, 60 minutes or more. Find out who kidnapped Sandy Claws, with what and where.

    Difficulty1.5 out of 5
    Time to explain1 out of 5about 5 min
    Player experience2 out of 5
    Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
    How we rate

  • Short game with younger players

    The Nightmare Before Christmas: Making Christmas Card Game

    2 to 6 players, ages 6+ and about 20 minutes. Swap toy parts on a shared workbench to complete goal cards.

    Difficulty1 out of 5
    Time to explain1 out of 5about 5 min
    Player experience1 out of 5
    Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
    How we rate

Start with the classics for familiar rules, or pick a card game for a shorter session. Most readers begin with the Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly, but Clue and Operation change the play more than the artwork.

Nightmare Before Christmas Operation, Yahtzee, Clue and more

You’ll need a Disney Villainous game to play Filled with Fright.

Showing all 11

Main games

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Making Christmas Card Game

  • 2021
  • 2-6 players
  • 20 minutes
  • Ages 6+

A quick family card game set in Jack's toy workshop. It's easy to teach and works well for younger players.

How it plays

Swap two toy-part cards on the shared workbench, then use finished toys to complete goal cards. Refill empty spaces. The player who completes the most goals wins.

The film or show connection

Gather toy parts for Jack Skellington to deliver at Christmas, just like in the film's Making Christmas sequence.

Difficulty1 out of 5
Time to explain1 out of 5about 5 min
Player experience1 out of 5
Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
How we rate

Type card game In print

  • quick
  • family
  • set collection
Publisher
Funko Games
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (funko.com) Source 2 (comicbook.com)

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Take Over the Holidays!

  • 2023
  • 2-6 players
  • 30-45 minutes
  • Ages 10+

A tactical card game with six characters, each with a personal deck. It suits older players better than the Funko card game.

How it plays

Pick a character and play cards to locations over four rounds. Careful placement and each character's play style help you collect the most Holiday tokens.

The film or show connection

Choose Jack, Sally, Santa Claus, Oogie Boogie, Dr. Finkelstein or the Mayor.

Difficulty1.5 out of 5
Time to explain2 out of 5about 8 min
Player experience2 out of 5
Geek Level5 / 10Quotes the best lines
How we rate

Type card game

  • tactical
  • card placement
  • character decks
Publisher
Mixlore (listed by Asmodee)
Designers
Michael Adams, Alex Foster, Eric Foster and William Foster
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (mixlore-games.com) Source 2 (store.asmodee.com)

Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas

  • 3-6 players
  • 60-120 minutes

The Munchkin card game heads to Halloween Town. It's one of the longer games on this list, and rival players can get downright adversarial.

How it plays

Kick open doors and fight the monsters behind them. Use items and other cards to boost your combat strength. Winning fights earns levels and treasure.

The film or show connection

Play as a citizen of Halloween Town, Christmas Town, Thanksgiving Town or Easter Town, and fight characters like Oogie Boogie and Doctor Finkelstein. Santa's sleigh shows up as a card theme.

Difficulty2 out of 5
Time to explain3 out of 5about 15 min
Player experience2 out of 5
Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
How we rate

Type card game

  • take that
  • humor
  • long game
Publisher
USAopoly (with Steve Jackson Games)
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (en.wikipedia.org)

Loteria: The Nightmare Before Christmas

  • 2-12 players
  • 15 minutes
  • Ages 4+

A bilingual, bingo-style matching game for large groups and young players. It's the easiest party game pick.

How it plays

Draw a card and call out the pictured item. Mark its match on your tabla with a token. Complete the required pattern to win.

The film or show connection

Cards feature film characters, items and locations, including Jack Skellington, Vampire Teddy and the Christmas Tree.

Difficulty1 out of 5
Time to explain1 out of 5about 3 min
Player experience1 out of 5
Geek Level2 / 10Watched it once on a flight
How we rate

Type party game In print

  • bingo style
  • bilingual
  • big groups
  • young kids
Publisher
The Op (USAopoly)
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (theop.games) Source 2 (theop.games)

Disney Villainous: Filled with Fright

  • 2023
  • 2-4 players
  • 40-60 minutes
  • Ages 10+

An Oogie Boogie expansion for Disney Villainous. It's the only strategy game on this list, and you'll need a Disney Villainous game to play.

How it plays

Move Oogie Boogie around his realm and take actions at each location. Play allies and items, use Fate cards against rivals, and roll his themed dice for tricks or treats.

The film or show connection

Oogie Boogie has to defeat Jack Skellington. The set includes a mover and sculpted dice inspired by the film.

Difficulty2.5 out of 5
Time to explain3 out of 5about 20 min
Player experience3 out of 5
Geek Level6 / 10Has a favorite side character
How we rate

Type strategy board game

  • expansion
  • Oogie Boogie
  • needs base game
Publisher
Ravensburger
Designers
Michael Mulvihill
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Target exclusive edition (2023) with a glow-in-the-dark Oogie Boogie mover

Source 1 (ravensburger.us)

Licensed classic editions

Monopoly: The Nightmare Before Christmas

  • 2-6 players
  • 60 minutes
  • Ages 8+

It’s standard Monopoly dressed for Halloween Town. The rules are familiar, with the theme on the board, tokens and cards.

How it plays

Roll, move, buy locations and collect rent. Build Toys and Assembly Lines instead of houses and hotels to raise rent. The last player who isn’t bankrupt wins.

The film or show connection

The six tokens are Jack's skull, Sally, the Mayor's Hearse, Oogie Boogie, Zombie Duck and Evil Teddy. Spaces include Dr. Finkelstein's Laboratory, Sally's Alley, Oogie Boogie's Casino and Jack's Tower.

Difficulty1.5 out of 5
Time to explain2 out of 5about 8 min
Player experience2 out of 5
Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition

  • property trading
  • collectible tokens
  • family
Publisher
USAopoly (now The Op)
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Redesigned edition announced for Hot Topic (September 2015)
  • 25th Anniversary edition from The Op (year not confirmed)

Source 1 (theop.games)

Clue: The Nightmare Before Christmas

  • 2-6 players
  • 60+ minutes
  • Ages 8+

This Clue edition trades murder for a kidnapping. Someone has taken Sandy Claws, and the board spans Halloween Town and Christmas Town.

How it plays

Move around the board and gather clues to figure out who kidnapped Sandy Claws, what item was used and where he is hidden. Then make an accusation. The box includes 21 Intrigue cards, six movers and six weapon tokens.

The film or show connection

Suspects include Jack, Sally, the Mayor, Oogie Boogie, Dr. Finkelstein and Lock, Shock and Barrel. Weapon tokens include a Zombie Duck, Bathtub, Present, Wreath, Frog's Breath and Bear Trap.

Difficulty1.5 out of 5
Time to explain1 out of 5about 5 min
Player experience2 out of 5
Geek Level4 / 10Owns the soundtrack
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition

  • deduction
  • mystery
  • family
Publisher
USAopoly (now The Op)
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (theop.games)

Operation: The Nightmare Before Christmas

  • 1+ players
  • Ages 6+

Oogie Boogie is the patient on the table in this version of the Operation dexterity game, which features a Halloween Town cast and sound effects from the film.

How it plays

Draw a Doctor card to find out which Funatomy piece to remove with the tweezers. Touch the edge of the opening and the buzzer sounds. Doctor and Specialist cards can change turns and scoring.

The film or show connection

Oogie Boogie is the patient, with 12 removable pieces based on odd objects and creatures, plus five Oogie Boogie voice-over sounds from the film.

Difficulty1 out of 5
Time to explain1 out of 5about 3 min
Player experience1 out of 5
Geek Level2 / 10Watched it once on a flight
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition In print

  • dexterity
  • kids
  • buzzer
Publisher
USAopoly (now The Op)
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (theop.games) Source 2 (theop.games)

Yahtzee: The Nightmare Before Christmas

  • 1+ players
  • 30 minutes
  • Ages 8+

Yahtzee comes with character dice and a Jack Skellington cup. A Sally variant is also sold, and you can play solo or with a group.

How it plays

Roll five dice up to three times, keep the ones you like and score a category such as Full House or Large Straight. Keep playing until the score sheet is full.

The film or show connection

Custom dice show Zombie Duck, Evil Teddy, the Mayor, Oogie Boogie, Sally and Jack. The cup features Jack Skellington.

Difficulty1 out of 5
Time to explain1 out of 5about 3 min
Player experience1 out of 5
Geek Level2 / 10Watched it once on a flight
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition In print

  • dice
  • solo friendly
  • quick
Publisher
The Op (USAopoly)
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Yahtzee: Disney The Nightmare Before Christmas: Sally

Source 1 (theop.games) Source 2 (innexinc.com)

Trivial Pursuit: The Nightmare Before Christmas Collector's Edition

  • 2022
  • 2+ players
  • 60 minutes or less
  • Ages 12+

This quick-play trivia set tests your knowledge of the film. It uses question cards instead of the traditional Trivial Pursuit board.

How it plays

Roll the custom die and answer a question from one of six categories. The aim is to show how well you know the film.

The film or show connection

420 questions in six categories: Trick or Treat, Songs, Behind the Scenes, Pumpkin King, Christmas Town and Halloween Town.

Difficulty1.5 out of 5
Time to explain1 out of 5about 3 min
Player experience2 out of 5
Geek Level6 / 10Has a favorite side character
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition In print

  • trivia
  • quick play
  • film knowledge
Publisher
The Op (USAopoly)
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (theop.games) Source 3 (en.wikipedia.org)

Checkers: The Nightmare Before Christmas

  • 2 players
  • 30+ minutes
  • Ages 6+

Standard checkers with a themed board and custom pieces. It's the closest thing to a licensed chess-style set for the film.

How it plays

Move diagonally and jump rivals to capture them. Pieces reaching the far side are crowned and can move both ways. Capture or block all your opponent's pieces to win.

The film or show connection

Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie face off as the opposing sides.

Difficulty1.5 out of 5
Time to explain1 out of 5about 3 min
Player experience1 out of 5
Geek Level3 / 10Knows the main characters
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition In print

  • two players
  • abstract
  • easy to learn
Publisher
The Op (USAopoly)
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (theop.games) Source 2 (theop.games)

Compare games by player count, play time and age

The Nightmare Before Christmas games compared by year, players, play time, age, type and print status
GameYearPlayersPlay timeAgesTypeIn print
Monopoly: The Nightmare Before ChristmasNot listed2-660 minutes8+licensed classic editionNot listed
Clue: The Nightmare Before ChristmasNot listed2-660+ minutes8+licensed classic editionNot listed
Operation: The Nightmare Before ChristmasNot listed1+Not listed6+licensed classic editionYes
Yahtzee: The Nightmare Before ChristmasNot listed1+30 minutes8+licensed classic editionYes
Trivial Pursuit: The Nightmare Before Christmas Collector's Edition20222+60 minutes or less12+licensed classic editionYes
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Making Christmas Card Game20212-620 minutes6+card gameYes
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Take Over the Holidays!20232-630-45 minutes10+card gameNot listed
Munchkin: The Nightmare Before ChristmasNot listed3-660-120 minutesNot listedcard gameNot listed
Loteria: The Nightmare Before ChristmasNot listed2-1215 minutes4+party gameYes
Checkers: The Nightmare Before ChristmasNot listed230+ minutes6+licensed classic editionYes
Disney Villainous: Filled with Fright20232-440-60 minutes10+strategy board gameNot listed

Nightmare Before Christmas game timeline

Most licensed games came along long after the 1993 film.

For a quick game, Making Christmas Card Game takes about 20 minutes.

  • 1993

    Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas arrives in cinemas, directed by Henry Selick.

    Source 1 (en.wikipedia.org)

  • 2015

    USAopoly announces a redesigned Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly for Hot Topic, and a Munchkin edition gets reviewed in October.

  • 2021

    Funko Games releases The Nightmare Before Christmas: Making Christmas Card Game.

    Source 1 (comicbook.com)

  • 2022

    Wikipedia's edition list includes a Trivial Pursuit: The Nightmare Before Christmas Collector's Edition.

    Source 1 (en.wikipedia.org)

  • 2023

    Mixlore publishes Take Over the Holidays!, and Ravensburger adds Oogie Boogie to Disney Villainous.

    Source 1 (mixlore-games.com)

Monopoly leads this list, so here’s a closer look. The theme mostly appears on the board and tokens, and the rules barely change, so rent and trading feel familiar. For a bigger change than new art, try Clue: The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Inside the Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly: tokens, spaces and rules

The Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly mostly changes the scenery, not the rules.

  • Six tokens

    Jack's skull, Sally, the Mayor's Hearse, Oogie Boogie, Zombie Duck and Evil Teddy.

  • Film locations

    Spaces include Dr. Finkelstein's Laboratory, Sally's Alley, Oogie Boogie's Casino and Jack's Tower.

  • Rules twist

    Toys and Assembly Lines replace houses and hotels to raise the rent. Trading and bankruptcy work just like in standard Monopoly.

  • Players and age

    2 to 6 players, ages 8+, about 60 minutes.

  • Which version?

    USAopoly announced a redesigned edition for Hot Topic in 2015, and The Op also lists a 25th Anniversary edition. Check the box to make sure it's the edition you want.

Each game draws on a different film moment, making it easy to pick your favorite scene. Planning a spooky-season game night? Browse our horror board games hub for this film and other creepy picks.

Need room for a crowd? Loteria seats up to 12 players.

How the games borrow from the film: Sandy Claws, Oogie Boogie, and Making Christmas

Each game picks a different part of the story to play with.

  • Making Christmas

    In the Funko card game, players gather toy parts for Jack to deliver at Christmas, just like in the workshop sequence.

  • Sandy Claws gets kidnapped

    Clue builds its mystery around the kidnapping: who took Sandy Claws, what item they used, and where they hid him.

  • Oogie Boogie's lair

    In Operation, Oogie Boogie is the patient. In Villainous: Filled with Fright, he's the villain trying to defeat Jack.

  • Four holiday towns

    Munchkin lets you play a citizen of Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter Town.

  • The songs and story

    Trivial Pursuit has 420 questions across six categories, including Songs and Behind the Scenes.

  • Rival characters

    Take Over the Holidays gives Jack, Sally, Santa Claus, Oogie Boogie, Dr. Finkelstein, and the Mayor their own decks.

A Disney film with a shelf of its own games

The Op sells these games under the name Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Disney Board Games

You’ll need a Disney Villainous game to play Filled with Fright.

More Disney games. See our Disney board games page for Villainous, Lorcana, Codenames, and other Disney editions.

Nightmare Before Christmas game facts

Oogie Boogie fans can put him front and center in Operation or Villainous.

  • The Clue edition centers on Sandy Claws's kidnapping, with weapon tokens like a Zombie Duck and Frog's Breath.

  • In the Operation edition, Oogie Boogie is the patient, and five voice-over sounds from the film play.

    Source 1 (theop.games)

  • The Trivial Pursuit edition has 420 questions across six categories, including Songs and Behind the Scenes.

    Source 1 (en.wikipedia.org)

  • The Monopoly tokens include Zombie Duck and Evil Teddy; houses become Toys and Assembly Lines.

  • Munchkin: The Nightmare Before Christmas lets you play citizens of Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter Town.

    Source 1 (munchkin.game)

  • A Target exclusive of Disney Villainous: Filled with Fright came with a glow-in-the-dark Oogie Boogie mover.

    Source 1 (ravensburger.us)

These answers cover editions people search for by name, including Operation, Yahtzee and Trivial Pursuit. If a detail couldn’t be confirmed, such as one about a chess set, the answer says so. For a game’s full rules, open its page, such as Nightmare Before Christmas Operation game.

Nightmare Before Christmas game questions, answered

What is The Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly?

USAopoly, now The Op, made this licensed Monopoly edition for 2 to 6 players, ages 8+, with a playing time of about 60 minutes. It uses standard Monopoly rules, with film-themed spaces and tokens.

What comes in The Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly?

The six tokens are Jack's skull, Sally, the Mayor's Hearse, Oogie Boogie, Zombie Duck and Evil Teddy. Spaces include Dr. Finkelstein's Laboratory, Sally's Alley, Oogie Boogie's Casino and Jack's Tower.

Which other board games are based on The Nightmare Before Christmas?

There are several: Clue, Operation, Yahtzee, Trivial Pursuit, Checkers, Munchkin and Loteria. The lineup also includes the Making Christmas and Take Over the Holidays card games, plus Oogie Boogie in Disney Villainous.

What is The Nightmare Before Christmas Clue game?

Clue: The Nightmare Before Christmas challenges you to find who kidnapped Sandy Claws, what item was used and where he is hidden. It’s for 2 to 6 players, ages 8+. Clue is sold as Cluedo in some countries, so check local retailers.

What is The Nightmare Before Christmas Operation game?

Oogie Boogie is the patient. The game has 12 removable pieces and five voice-over sounds from the film, and is for ages 6+.

What is The Nightmare Before Christmas Yahtzee?

The Op sells a Yahtzee set with character dice and a Jack Skellington dice cup, plus a Sally variant. It’s for ages 8+ and takes about 30 minutes.

What is The Nightmare Before Christmas Trivial Pursuit?

The Collector's Edition is a quick-play set with 420 questions across six categories, from Songs to Halloween Town. It’s for 2 or more players, ages 12+.

Is there a chess set based on The Nightmare Before Christmas?

We couldn’t confirm a licensed chess set. The Op does sell Checkers, with Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie on opposing sides.

Is there a card game based on The Nightmare Before Christmas?

Yes, there are two. Funko Games' Making Christmas Card Game is for 2 to 6 players, ages 6+. Take Over the Holidays! is a tactical card game for 2 to 6 players, ages 10+.

Are there party games based on The Nightmare Before Christmas?

Loteria is a bilingual, bingo-style game for 2 to 12 players, ages 4+. Trivial Pursuit and the Making Christmas card game work well for groups, too.

Can you play Oogie Boogie in Disney Villainous?

Yes. Filled with Fright expansion adds Oogie Boogie, whose goal is to defeat Jack Skellington. You’ll need a Disney Villainous game to play.

Which game based on The Nightmare Before Christmas suits young children?

Loteria is for ages 4+. Operation, Checkers and the Making Christmas card game are for ages 6+.

You’ll need a Disney Villainous game to play Filled with Fright.

For a quick game, Making Christmas Card Game takes about 20 minutes.

Sources

  1. The Op: The Nightmare Before Christmas collection theop.games
  2. Funko: Making Christmas Card Game funko.com
  3. Mixlore: Take Over the Holidays mixlore-games.com
  4. Ravensburger: Disney Villainous Filled with Fright ravensburger.us
  5. Wikipedia: List of Trivial Pursuit editions en.wikipedia.org