Image: flickr / Jaymis (by)
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◆ Did you have this?
👍 I had this💔 I wanted this1970s · board games
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Four hippos, a pile of marbles, and frantic lever smashing until the floor ate half the game. Loud, fast, and perfect before bedtime arguments.
- Era
- 70s
- Released
- 1978
- Category
- board games
- Availability checked
- 7/17/2026
From the archive
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The pitch
Hungry Hungry Hippos! Four hippos, a pile of marbles, and pure chaos! Pound your lever and chomp as many marbles as you can before they're gone. Loud, frantic, and over in sixty seconds of marble swallowing madness.
Why people remember it
- The chomping sound synced with sibling panic.
- Marbles rolled under couches, extending play into cleanup time.
- No reading required, just speed.
Did you know?
- Hasbro designer Fred Kroll created the game after seeing children flicking balls into holes.
- The original featured four hippos named Sweetie Potamus, Bottomless Potamus, and others.
- Over 10 million games sold in the first decade after launch.
- The game requires no turns, strategy, or patience, which is exactly why kids love it.
How people search for it
“marble chomping hippos”, “plastic hippo game”, “hungry marble game”
Tags
Questions people ask
- Is Hungry Hungry Hippos still sold?
- Yes. Mini and giant versions exist. Check if marbles are included for safety age labels.
- Are the marbles a choking hazard?
- For toddlers, yes. Keep sets away from babies and vacuum after every round.
