Top 10 - The Price is Right games

By Mike McDonald
Collegian Editor
November 8, 2006

With Bob Barker’s recent announcement that he will retire from The Price is Right in June, it seems appropriate to compile a list of the show’s 10 best pricing games of all time. The fact that there are over 70 games on the show makes this a difficult task, and there will certainly be some quality games left out. However, this is my definitive top 10.

10) Three Strikes — Three Strikes is a great game because it incorporates luck and skill. Contestants tend to screw up by putting numbers in spots that make no sense. It also helps to remember where you have already guessed each number.

9) Hit Me — If you watch The Price is Right a lot, you know how to get 21 and, therefore, how to win. For less experienced viewers, though, this game could seem to be somewhat challenging and could yield a loss.

8) Any Number — Any Number is a very well-designed game. The contestant has to use each digit from zero to nine (including another one) to try to fill in the price of a car. More often than not, though, the contestant goes home with either a smaller prize or the piggy bank.

7) Golden Road — Few journeys in life are as important as the trip contestants make down the Golden Road. Fabulous prizes are scattered along the way, and although it’s not easy, there is a big reward waiting at the end.

6) Triple Play — You can win three cars on this game! Three!

5) Spelling Bee — Spelling Bee has a cool-looking board, but when you turn over five Cs, it starts to look less cool and more evil. The greatest contestant in the world could play Spelling Bee and still come away with a loss, but that’s what makes it so fun.

4) Dice Game — Roll a one or a six a few times and you’re on easy street. The Dice Game is a fun, easy way to get a car, but when contestants roll threes and fours, things start to get interesting. There really is no valid excuse for not winning on Dice Game, though.

3) Cliff Hangers — Cliff Hangers is a great game, and the song that the yodeler sings as he travels up the mountain is just awesome. People run into trouble by over-complicating their guesses on the prices of the initial small prizes. It seems to me that half the time, saying $35 on each item will earn a contestant the win.

2) Plinko — Plinko is probably the most popular game on The Price is Right. Television just doesn’t get much more exciting than when that Plinko chip is bouncing around, headed for anywhere between $10,000 and nothing.

1) Hole in One… or Two — This game has it all. It requires both a knowledge of household item prices and a good short game. And just in case Bob’s inspiration putt doesn’t help you make it on your first try, you get the all-important second chance.

mcdonaldm1@lasalle.edu