The man whose Twister game launched decades of awkward social interactions at parties has died at the age of 82, Belfast Telegraph said.

Charles "Chuck" Foley died on July 1 at a care facility in the Minneapolis suburb of St Louis Park. His son, Mark Foley, said on Thursday, July 11 his father suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

Mr Foley and a collaborator were hired in the mid-1960s by a St Paul firm that was branching into games and toys. They came up with Twister, which was bought by Milton Bradley and became a sensation after it was featured on The Tonight Show in 1966.

Current manufacturer Hasbro says Twister continues to be a top seller.

Mark Foley says his father made little money from Twister but continued to be an inventor and held 97 patents.