Buzz
Long before the rise of popular board games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, Clue, and Candy Land, ancient games were already captivating players across the globe. The Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese ingeniously crafted boards and pieces from natural materials such as stones, rocks, and wood. Many of these ancient games share a striking resemblance to modern-day games, both in appearance and mechanics. Here are ten ancient board games that paved the way for the games we play today.
Long before board games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, Clue, and Candy Land became household staples, ancient civilizations were already playing their own board games. Ancient Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese were highly resourceful, creating boards and pieces from stones, rocks, and wood. Many of these games have similar mechanics and designs to the modern games we know today. Here are ten ancient board games that inspired the games we still enjoy.
10. Ludus Latrunculorum
Ludus Latrunculorum, which translates to the Game of Mercenaries, is a strategy game from ancient Rome. Similar to checkers, it was played on boards with varying grid sizes such as 7×7, 7×8, 8×8, 8×9, 9×9, or 9×10. Two players move their pieces back and forth across the board, attempting to capture their opponent's pieces while safeguarding their own.
The ancient military strategy game was first referenced in the Roman writings of Varro (116-27 BC) in his book De Lingua Latina. Varro's text primarily described the grid layout of the game board, while the full rules were revealed in the 1st-century Roman poem Laus Pisonis. Several Ludus Latrunculorum boards, made from various materials and in different sizes, have been discovered at multiple locations and are now exhibited in museums.
9. Patolli
Patolli, one of the oldest known board games in America, was popular among many pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. Historical reports even suggest that Montezuma enjoyed observing the game being played by the nobles at court. This game was enjoyed by both commoners and the elite, combining strategic play with a degree of luck.
Patolli was a game that revolved around gambling. Players would bring six items each to wager, inspecting each other's items before starting the game. The goal was to move the six game pieces from the starting point to the finish line before the opponent. The game continued until one player claimed all of the other’s items. It was not uncommon for players to gamble away money, blankets, precious stones, food, homes, and even their families or freedom. The destructive nature of the game led Spanish priests to ban it during the Spanish conquest of Mexico.
8. Senet
Senet, an ancient Egyptian board game meaning 'Game of Passing,' is one of the oldest known board games, dating back to around 3100 BC. Fragments of senet boards have been found in burial sites in Egypt. The tomb of Merknera (3300-2700 BC) features a hieroglyph that resembles the senet board, and the first painting of the game was discovered in the tomb of Hesy (c. 2686-2613 BC).
The senet game board consists of 30 squares arranged in three rows of ten. Two sets of pawns, with at least five pawns each, are used to play the game. While the exact rules of the game remain a mystery, various text fragments have provided clues to its gameplay. It’s likely that the rules have evolved over time, meaning that the rules of modern senet sets may not align with those originally used in Ancient Egypt.
7. The Royal Game of Ur
The Royal Game of Ur was a popular two-player strategy board game across the Middle East, dating back to the early third millennium BC. The game was imbued with spiritual significance and was believed to reflect a player's future or convey messages from the supernatural realm.
The Royal Game of Ur is a race game played with two sets of seven game pieces and a board consisting of two rectangular sets of boxes. Players need a mix of strategy and luck to outmaneuver their opponent and move their seven pieces along the course before the other player. The game’s popularity faded by late antiquity, and it is believed to have influenced the early development of backgammon.
6. Gyan Chauper
Gyan Chauper, a popular dice game in India, traces its origins back to the 10th century A.D. The earliest versions of the game were played on painted cloths called patas. While the game was designed for entertainment, it also served as a tool for teaching moral lessons. The primary theme of the game was liberation from the bondage of passions. In modern times, it is more widely recognized as Snakes and Ladders.
In Gyan Chauper, players begin at the bottom of the game board and roll dice to move forward by the number that appears on the dice. The game is entirely based on luck and follows a simple race to the top, with players trying to avoid obstacles in the form of snakes that hinder their progress. The board and gameplay have evolved slightly over time in different parts of the world.
5. Alquerque
Alquerque, an abstract strategy board game, is believed to have originated in the Middle East. The game was first mentioned in literature by Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani in his 24-volume work Kitab al-Aghani, published in the 10th century. Unfortunately, the game’s rules were not included in his text. However, the rules were later discovered in the 13th-century Libro de los juegos by Alfonso X of Castile.
At the start of the game, each player places their 12 pieces on the two rows closest to them, while also positioning two pieces in the two central spaces of the middle row. The objective is to capture the opponent's pieces by jumping over an adjacent piece, as long as the space beyond it is unoccupied. Alquerque is regarded as the precursor to the American version of checkers.
4. Mehen
The ancient Egyptian board game Mehen, named after the snake deity in Egyptian mythology, dates back to around 3000 BC and continued until the end of the Old Kingdom around 2300 BC. Evidence of the game, including boards and pieces, is primarily found from the Predynastic and Archaic periods.
The game board of Mehen is designed to resemble a coiled snake, divided into multiple rectangular sections. The game pieces, often made from stone, were shaped like lions or lionesses, and came in sets of three, four, five, or six, alongside a few small sphere-shaped pieces. Various game boards with differing numbers of segments have been found, though the number of segments does not appear to have significantly impacted gameplay. The exact rules of Mehen are unknown.
3. Nine Men’s Morris
Have you ever come across a game printed on the back of a checkerboard? If so, it was likely a board for Nine Men's Morris, also known as cowboy checkers. This strategic game traces its origins to the Roman Empire, although it reached its peak popularity during medieval England. Numerous game boards have been discovered carved into seats at cathedrals across various cities in England.
This two-player game is based on strategy and can end in a draw if both players perform perfectly. The board consists of twenty-four points arranged across a grid. Each player starts with nine pieces, either black or white, and works to eliminate the opponent's pieces until only two remain. Once a player achieves this or blocks the opponent from making any legal move, the game concludes. Variations of the game, such as Three Men’s Morris, Six Men’s Morris, and Twelve Men’s Morris, adjust the board size and the number of pieces played.
2. Hounds and Jackals
Hounds and Jackals was a popular board game originating around 4,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt. This Bronze Age game was discovered in its entirety in the Theban tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Amenemhat IV, dating to the 12th Dynasty. The complete set is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Also known as 58 Holes, Hounds and Jackals was named by Howard Carter, the archaeologist who unearthed the complete set in the Egyptian tomb. The original name remains a mystery. In the game, players move ten small sticks with dog or jackal heads across a board containing 29 holes on each side. The player who reaches the final hole with all their pieces wins. The modern game of Cribbage is thought to be based on this game, featuring a similar board layout.
1. Go
Over 2,500 years ago, the Chinese developed the abstract strategy game Go. Known for its deep strategy, Go is regarded as the oldest board game still played today. A recent survey revealed that more than 46 million people worldwide are familiar with the game, and over 20 million of them are active players. The majority of these players reside in East Asia.
In Go, two players take turns placing black and white stones on the intersections of a board to begin their game. Stones must be placed on unoccupied intersections unless restricted by the rules of suicide or ko. Once a stone is placed, it cannot be moved, but it can be captured and removed from the board. If a player feels no further progress can be made, they may pass their turn. The game concludes when both players consecutively pass, and the final score determines the winner. Due to its competitive nature, many people around the world play Go professionally.
