Board games and other adaptations

Due in part to its longevity and in part to its simple play-along factor, Wheel of Fortune has received many board games by way of various companies. Unless otherwise noted, gameplay is of the play-for-cash syndicated version with no Bonus Round.

Milton-Bradley (1975)
Milton-Bradley issued two renditions each containing an instruction/puzzle book with 168 puzzles, Milton-Bradley Bucks (play money), a 30-space puzzle board, a large supply of cardboard letters, and a spinner representing the Wheel (more below).

The puzzle on the First Edition cover is LADY MACBETH, while the Second Edition uses KING RICHARD (albeit with a different font); both puzzles have the A's/I's, respectively, replaced with the green-glitter trilon side on the box cover, but are intact on the instruction booklet.

The box art for these games show a host and hostess who somewhat resemble Chuck and Susan, but aren't; they also feature the color-coded contestant displays. The instruction booklet's picture shows a different Wheel angle and what appears to be a red car to the right of the puzzle board.

Gameplay
Much like the NBC version at the time. The puzzle categories in at least the First Edition are Event, Fictional Character, Landmark, Person, Phrase, Place, Thing, and Title. The play money is used to keep score during each round.

Unlike subsequent versions, there are no pre-made puzzle cards; the puzzles are instead listed in the instruction booklet, with the user placing them into the puzzle board letter by letter; this setup also allows for custom puzzles. Also unlike subsequent versions, there is no Used Letter Board.

Shopping is represented by a deck of 20 prize cards – three $100 prizes, two $200 prizes, one prize for each $x00 value from $300-$1,700 (minus $1,300), and a single $3,000 prize. Gift certificates are marked by the player putting his/her remaining money on their prize cards, while not doing so is "on account".

There are four Free Spins, represented on cards much like the prizes.

Wheel
Unlike subsequent versions, the Wheel does not use its standard fonts and appearance. While the color scheme mostly matches that from June 1976, the special spaces do not use either style from around this point – Bankrupt is green, Free Spin is light blue, Lose A Turn is orange, and Buy A Vowel is yellow.

The layout, starting from Bankrupt and going clockwise, is Bankrupt-$500-$175-$300-$200-$500-$125-$100-$300-$200-Free Spin-$100-$200-$150-$450-Lose A Turn-$100-$275-$200-$150-Buy A Vowel-$100-$250-$100.

Pressman (1985-91)
Pressman released five "regular" editions, a Junior Edition, and two Deluxe Editions. Each version contains a 33-space puzzle board (referred to as "Conceal-N-Reveal"), play money, and a Used Letter Board with dry-erase crayon. The Free Spin cards are replaced by a group of tokens which more closely resemble their TV counterparts.

The Wheel now actually resembles its TV counterpart, with top dollar of $750. The layout is Bankrupt-$750-$250-$300-$200-$100-$500-$400-$300-$200-Free Spin-$100-$200-$150-$450-Lose A Turn-$400-$250-$200-$150-$400-$600-$250-$300.

The individual letter cards are replaced by 24 large puzzle cards with four puzzles on each (96 puzzles total), which slot into the top of the puzzle board. The category display is on top, and the spaces used for the puzzle are underlined; the instruction manual helpfully outlines which spaces to reveal.

The player with the most money after four rounds is the winner.

Deluxe Edition Changes
Pressman's Deluxe Editions have more puzzles, a money tray, and a replica of the Wheel with a single flipper which spins much like on the show. As the game progresses, the host adds new wedges ($500, $900, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, and Bankrupt) to the Wheel; although the instructions give a suggestion, the host can actually place them anywhere s/he wishes.

Interestingly, the back of the Deluxe Edition box shows a prototype version with smaller denominations of play money and extra Wheel wedges of $1,500 and $2,000.

Tyco/Mattel (1993, 1998)
Tyco created two editions in 1993 with Vanna White on the box; Mattel reproduced them in 1998. Each edition contains the same contents and rules as the regular Pressman versions, albeit with 50 puzzle cards. The Wheel resembles the Pressman Deluxe Editions.

Parker Brothers (1999)
The Parker Brothers rendition also resembled the Pressman games, with 96 puzzles. The Wheel is smaller, with less wedges, but spins much like the Deluxe Editions.

Pressman (2002-)
Pressman currently holds board game rights to Wheel, creating several editions which use very similar parts to their first era. The first two regular editions use a 30-space puzzle board.

As of 2011, there have been three regular editions; a Silver Anniversary Edition (celebrating the syndicated run's 25th year, not the franchise's); a Deluxe Edition (similar to their first set, minus the extra wedges); a Disney Edition (styled after the 1980s Deluxe Editions, complete with extra wedges); and an edition based on The Simpsons.

The Wheel uses the respective then-current layouts, with $5,000 as top dollar.