Since we have a discussion about Mac's film collection, I got curious about any games you might find around his place. Board games? Gaming systems (and the video games that go with them)?

In the episode "The Wall", we see MacGyver playing a hockey video game. Thanks to Jediferret for identifying the game as "Slap Shot" which was released in 1990 for Sega Master Systems.

I'm sure we'd be sure to find a chess set in his collection. Any other thoughts?

He had that hockey thing in season 1 & 2 and an inside basketball ring in season 2. But I don't think Mac is much of a gamer. Unless that Sega Masters game got him into it maybe he bought other hockey games for other consoles.

Maybe he has a Scrabble game somewhere in the drawers on the houseboat and everyone has a deck of cards.

...But half the cards and some of the vowels will have been used to repair something else!

I admit it must be weird seeing the players with half cards in their hands but as long you can see what it is, you can play.

And who needs vowels nowadays?

Any board games he had were probably lost in the houseboat fire. He may have had a good alarm system, but I can't imagine it was that good.

I would think would have some of those puzzles made of different shaped interlocking metal pieces that you have to figure out how to separate into individual pieces. They really make you think and try to figure out how things work.

I can see him with a Sudoku puzzle. Board games wise, he's probably good at Clue and mostly likely evil at Monopoly (as long as its in good fun, of course). I can totally see him playing the Myst computer games, because those are REALLY hard.

It's suggested that he can play chess in 'Every time she smiles', but without watching it again I can't remember if he actually plays the game with his contact or just talks to him across it.

Most people who can play seem to have a board around the place

If I remember correctly, he just moves a chess piece... which I think had some kind of significance. Though, I'm sure he can play chess. He certainly has the mind for it. I actually do enjoy a good game of chess... that is, when my computer doesn't cheat and steal my Queen.

Well, I'll just have to go and watch it again.
Such hardship!

Computers do have the tendency to be rotten cheats, don't they?
I wonder how Mac would react if his cheated at 'Slap Shot' and made him lose...

Yes he just moved a chess piece in what was obviously a prearranged move with his contact.

I can't help thinking there has been some kind of reference to Chess from MacGyver elsewhere in the show which indicates he knows the game.