Have you ever googled something while trying to flex your unique knowledge on a certain subject only to be crushed by the results.
This happened to me recently while I was confidently searching for “most sold board game developed in Australia.” I expected to uncover something that aligned with my niche gaming knowledge. Instead, I stumbled upon this surprising result:
Squatter is a board game that launched at the Royal Melbourne Show in 1962, invented by Robert (Bob) Crofton Lloyd. By 2007, it had sold more than 500,000 copies in Australia, earning it the title of the most successful board game ever developed in Australia.
At first glance, this seemed definitive—Squatter holds the crown. But something about it didn’t sit right with me. I had a sneaking suspicion there was a contender, and the numbers just didn’t add up. Enter my thesis:
Squatter is a board game that was launched at the Royal Melbourne Show in 1962, invented by Robert (Bob) Crofton Lloyd. With more than 500,000 games sold in Australia by 2007, it became the most successful board game ever developed in Australia.
With more than 500,000 games sold in Australia by 2007, it became the most successful board game ever developed in Australia.
See i think there is a problem with this result!
But i cant find the data to back me up so here is my thesis and i would love others to weigh in.
Sushi Go: The Underrated Contender
In 2013, Sydney-based board game designer Phil Walker-Harding created Sushi Go, a card-drafting game that has taken the world by storm. According to its publisher, Gamewright, Sushi Go has sold over one million copies globally.
So, let’s break this down with some simple math to compare the two games’ average annual sales:
Squatter
- Total games sold: 500,000
- Years to reach this figure: 45 (1962–2007)
- Average annual sales:
500,000÷45=11,111∗500,000 ÷ 45 = 11,111*500,000÷45=11,111∗
Sushi Go
- Total games sold: 1,000,000
- Years to reach this figure: 7 (2013–2020)
- Average annual sales:
1,000,000÷7=142,857∗1,000,000 ÷ 7 = 142,857*1,000,000÷7=142,857∗
(*Rounded to whole numbers.)
The Conclusion
If we compare these averages, Sushi Go has clearly outpaced Squatter by a massive margin in terms of yearly sales. While Squatter’s achievement is undeniably impressive given its domestic focus and era, Sushi Go’s global reach and appeal demonstrate a much faster growth trajectory.
The Problem
The official claim about Squatter being “the most successful board game ever developed in Australia” doesn’t seem to hold up against Sushi Go’s meteoric rise—at least if success is measured by total copies sold. Unfortunately, without updated sales figures for either game, we can’t say for certain.
So, here’s where I need your help: Does anyone have more recent data to validate or challenge these claims? Let’s get to the bottom of this and give Sushi Go the recognition it deserves—or maybe Squatter will prove us all wrong!
What do you think? Let the debate begin!