I is for Don't Break the Ice

Full series and process: 90s TOYpography
Website: noahcampdesign.com
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Don’t Break the Ice

Don’t Break the Ice is a children's tabletop game for two to four players, marketed by Schaper Toys in 1968 by what is now Hasbro. The object of the game is tapping out 1" ice blocks in a plastic frame, with the goal being to force the other player to be the one that causes the 2"x2" square to fall, taking the iceman with it.

Schaper had a couple of kooky games to their credit: Don't Break the Ice, Don't Spill the Beans, Ants in the Pants, and Cootie among them. Some have since fallen by the wayside, but Don't Break the Ice, now over thirty years old, can still be found on the toy store shelves today. Little kids-three year-olds and up-are welcome to play, because the parts are all plastic and none are small enough to step on or to really contemplate putting into your mouth.

This game is a contradiction. You are told “don’t” and then told to “do” over and over again. The required physical action of breaking the ice is in direct conflict of the goal of the game, which is to not break the ice. No wonder I still have trouble following directions! It must have all started with this game. Yup. That’s it.