The Dream Phone Board Game: Who’s Got A Crush On You?

In 1991, Milton Bradley released the ultimate sleepover staple; Dream Phone. The game combined every 90s girl’s two perceived favorite pastimes: crushing on boys and talking on the phone. The game’s object is to find out which guy out of 24 eligible teenage bachelors likes you through a process of elimination. Every player tries to guess the identity of the same secret admirer, and whoever figures it out first wins the entire game.

It was a simpler time.

Like Clue, Battleship, and other deduction games, Dream Phone game players would gather information by calling different boys in a race to make the correct guess. The game was highly targeted toward tween girls, and it quickly flew off the shelves and into homes across the country.

From the kitchy Dream Phone commercial to the teen heartthrobs, we’re taking a look back at the 90s Dream Phone board game – a culture time capsule if there ever was one.

When Did Dream Phone Come Out?

The Dream Phone board game was released in 1991 by Milton Bradley. The game’s creator, Michael Gray, is also the mastermind behind another board game classic – 1988’s Mall Madness.

Gray came up with the concept for Dream Phone under some pretty interesting circumstances. Milton Bradley tasked Gray’s team to design an electronic game centered around a phone – but no one could develop a solid idea. The team was running out of time, and the company expected a pitch.

And then, Gray came up with the idea of girls calling up teen boys and getting clues to figure out who liked them. Seems like a strange thing to think about, but maybe he had daughters.

He pitched a game in which players would have to wade through clues in order to determine who the secret admirer was. With that information, the team created the game board and a coordinating grid to assign features to each guy, such as what sports they enjoy or what clothing they wear. The game makers also added a scorepad so players could cross out clues, narrow down their options, and make the correct guess before their friends.

Or opponents. Games of Dream Phone can get pretty heated.

With a working prototype developed, the team pitched the Mystery Crush game to the game company. At the time, Dream Phone fit perfectly in most young girls’ worlds! Just like in a teen TV show of the era, girls of a certain age could indulge in sharing secrets about boys with their friends and speculating on who likes them.

Ah, the memories.

How Do You Play Dream Phone?

Dream Phone is all about guessing who the secret admirer is through a process of elimination, competing with up to four players each round. 

Here’s how the game works.

Game Setup

To start, press the New Game button on the handset and set it in the tray in the middle of the board. Each player gets one ‘Speakerphone’, ‘Share A Secret’, and ‘Mom Says Hang Up!’ card. Shuffle the photo cards and deal three face-ups to each player. Place the rest of the cards face down on the tray.

There are 24 boyfriend candidates, and one has a crush on you. To find out who it is, players “call” the guys on the large, hot pink handset to hear clues from each potential suitor.

When a player calls one of the boys, they’ll get clues to help them identify the secret admirer. Unfortunately, the clues are always negative.

For example, a clue during play could be, “I know where he hangs out. He’s not at the movies.” In this case, the player must look around the board to see which boys are at the movie theatre and eliminate them from the list of potential secret admirers. Other clues could be about the secret admirer’s preferred clothes, sports, foods, or special hangouts. For example, a boy might say something like, “This guy doesn’t eat pizza,” so the players eliminate all of the guys who like pizza. Keep in mind, some of the boys won’t give you any relevant information on some calls. That’s just the kind of cat-and-mouse game we all played with our childhood crushes.

The boys would hang out at some very 90s cliché “cool” spots, like ‘Reel Movies,’ ‘Jim’s Gym,’ and ‘Eats Snack Shop.’ The Dream Phone guys touted the classic hairstyles of 90s pop culture (think bowl cuts, curtains, and flattops) and had generic names like Spencer, Dan, Jamal, and Gary.

Three cards give players a unique ability. Each special card can only be used once per game.

• The ‘Speakerphone’ card forces the player with the phone to put it on the speaker setting, allowing all players to hear the clue.

• The ‘Mom Says Hang Up!’ card makes the current player lose their turn.

• The ‘Share A Secret’ card means the current player needs to share the clue with the player who played the card.

Gameplay

Each turn consists of four steps:

• Pick up a boy’s card you want to call.

• Call the number on the card.

• Hear a clue from the mystery guy and eliminate potential admirers based on the information he gives you.

• Discard the card of the boy you called and draw a new card from the draw pile.

Winning the Game

When a player believes they know who the secret admirer is, they can make a special guess call to that boy’s number. Make a guess call to the boy, and if you hear him say, “You’re right! I really like you!” you win the game! The game changes each time you play. Boys give different hints, and the secret admirer changes too.

How to Buy Dream Phone in 2024

Unfortunately, you can’t just walk into any store and pick up a copy of Dream Phone like you could in the early 90s. If you want a hit of that sweet nostalgia, you’re going to have to put in some extra legwork, and you’re most likely going to have to be ok with paying top dollar for a used copy.

Over on our old standby – eBay – there are good-condition copies of Dream Phone selling for just under $300, while more banged-up ones with some cards missing go for about $100.

Now, you have to be careful when you’re on the hunt for a copy of Dream Phone. Many auctions will appear to be great deals, but odds are that they’ll be missing some critical pieces of the experience. The most commonly absent part is also the most important – the dang phone!

That one piece can sell for anywhere from $50-$80 on its own, so make sure you know what you’re actually buying.

Another option for finding a copy of the original Dream Phone today would be to hit up garage sales or thrift stores in your area, though your odds of getting a complete package are just as low.

While you’re enjoying your vintage Electronic Dream Phone experience, don’t forget to show us some love! Follow us on our Instagram, Pinterest and other social media pages for the latest updates as well as some exclusive Rediscover 90s Toys content.

Peeps Asked!

Who are the Dream Phone guys?

The 24 Dream Phone guys are:

Steve, Mark, Dave, Gary, Paul, Wayne, Scott, Alan, Dan, Spencer, Jason, John, James, Dale, Tyler, Matt, George, Tony, Mike, Jamal, Bob, Carlos, Phil, Bruce

What happened to the Dream Phone guys?

There’s not a ‘Dream Phone guys where are they now’ database floating around, but there are plenty of fan conspiracy theories about what might have happened to the guys. Looking back, fans of the original game have noticed that some of the Dream Boys looked more like adult men than teenagers.

What are the Dream Phone board game quotes?

Need a refresher on the lines the boys say? Does “I know who it is, but I’m not telling! HA! HA!” or “The guy who has a crush on you doesn’t like baseball” ring any bells?

Is the Dream Phone worth anything today?

Many people who grew up in the 90s have fond memories of playing Dream Phone. If you’re looking to relive the 90s most popular sleepover game, marketplaces like Amazon and eBay have the original version for around $75 up to $250 depending on condition.

Is Dream Phone based on Clue?

Yes! The creator, Mike Gray, admitted Clue was a huge inspiration for the electronic Dream Phone game.

Do they still make Dream Phone?

The original electronic Dream Phone board game is no longer in print, but you can find derivative versions of the game today. The Dream Phone Secret Admirer board game by John Adams is very similar to the 90s game except with some different features and a more modern aesthetic (the phone is a mobile phone rather than the brick-style handset of the original Dream Phone).

Is Dream Phone a good game for young girls?

If you can look past some of its outdated elements, Dream Phone can still be a fun game for young girls. However, the original game can also be enjoyed by adults who want to relive a bit of their childhood.

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Lee Davey

Lee is curator of nostalgia and a long-time collector of loveable junk. An 80s baby, 90s kid, he knows he had it good when it came to Saturday morning cartoons. Spends his life trying to recapture the dopamine hit of playing Game Boy for the first time and believes Beanie Babies will make a fortuitous comeback. Obsessed with everything (and anything) retro, he is your trusted guide to a world of 90s toys, games and collectables.

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