Yesterday, I attended a local mini Star Wars convention, where I came across the 1983 Parker Brothers card game, Star Wars Return of the Jedi: Play-for-Power. I had seen dozens of copies of the 30-year-old game at Star Wars Celebration VII, but none were still unopened. The game I found in my hometown still had sealed decks inside, and was only $5, to boot. It was a deal I just could not pass up.

The Return of the Jedi Play-for-Power card game is actually five games in one. Four of them are variations on traditional card games, like solitaire and War. The most complicated game is similar to poker, but with winning cards instead of winning hands.

Alien Adventure supports three to four players and is the most complex of the card games. Players choose their strongest card to battle against opponents. The player whose card has the highest point value wins.

Jedi Apprentice and Jedi Master support two to four players and is very much like War, but with a few variations on the rules.

Creature Concentration is simply a game of Concentration. Players lay out a deck of cards onto the tabletop and must try to find their match. Like the others, this game also includes a few variations on the play to make it interesting.

Super Solitaire is similar to the single-player game of Canfield solitaire with a special deck.

Upon researching ROTJ: Play-for-Power card game, I discovered that this vintage card game is fairly easy to find, and is reasonably priced between $10 and $15. So, on Star Wars day, why not treat yourself to a good, old-fashioned Jedi-themed card game. May the Fourth be with You.

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Make sure not to throw these away when clearing out the basement!

Here are the top 20 most valuable vintage board games based on a survey of successfully completed eBay auctions*:

1. Be a Manager (1967, BAMCO): $1,500

2. Fortune (1935, Parker Brothers): $1,360

3. War of the Ring Collector’s Edition (2010, Fantasy Flight Games): $1,200

4. Swift Meats Major League Baseball Game (1957, Swift Meats): $1,084

5. Keywood (1995, R&D Games): $860

6. Haunted House (1962, IDEAL): $800

7. The Elvis Presley Game (1957, Teen-Age Games): $799

8. Settlers of Catan 3D Collector’s Edition (2005, Mayfair Games): $775

9. Monopoly (1933, Parker Brothers): $760

10. Lost in Space 3D Action Fun Game (1966, REMCO): $750

11. Axis & Allies 50th Anniversary Edition (2008, Avalon Hill): $588

12. Moon Mullins Game (1927, Milton Bradley): $550

13. Dark Tower (1981, Milton Bradley): $535

14. Boris Karloff’s Monster Game (1965, Game Gems): $522

15. La Bataille de Deutsch-Wagram (1981, Marshall Enterprises): $502

16. War in Europe (1999, Decision Games): $500

17. Case Blue (2007, Multi-Man Publishing): $500

18. Warhammer Quest (1995, Games Workshop): $500

19. Mickey Mouse Snakes & Ladders (?, The Chad Valley Games): $484

20. The Devil’s Cauldron (2008, Multi-Man Publishing): $481

*As of July 28, 2013. Not including artistic, custom, or generic games, or ones made of special materials—for example, hand carved Chess pieces or antique, bone Mahjong sets. Also not including collections, like a series of games or an army of miniatures. And yes, I realize that a few might stretch the meaning of vintage, but all are out-of-print.

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