The unique ancient Greek board game Zatrikion discovered at the Knossos Palace shows that the ancients had a penchant for leisurely games.

In the 1970s, in a grave in a Bronze Age cemetery in Shahr-i Sokhta, Iran, an incredible object was unearthed next to a human skull: the oldest complete board game ever discovered. Around 4500 years ...

First-of-its-kind ancient mosaic board game found at Mayan city in Guatemala - Patolli is one of oldest ludo-like strategy board games played in Americas ...

Board games have long been a favored pastime, even thousands of years ago. The ancient game called "Hounds and Jackals," also called "58 Holes," has long been thought to have originated in Egypt. An ...

A recent exhibition showcased India’s ancient board games, but their archaeological evidence has also been found globally, ...

Centuries before Monopoly, there was Patolli, a high-stakes Mesoamerican game of strategy and luck where players wagered crops and wealth as they raced their opponents around a cross-shaped board. The ...

A board game dubbed “Hounds and Jackals” or “58 Holes” is believed to be the oldest in the world, with ancient versions found in multiple regions. A relatively new discovery of game boards in ...

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Benjamin Abbott Play is a fundamental part of life. It’s not just people that play; many ...

James is a published author with multiple pop-history and science books to his name. He specializes in history, space, strange science, and anything out of the ordinary.View full profile James is a ...

Board games might involve a race to a finish line, as in Sorry! or that ubiquitous first board game for kids, Candyland. Or they might entail a strategic battle for dominance, as in chess or checkers.

Clue, the murder-mystery board game, has been a staple of game nights and big-box store shelves for as long as we can remember. In fact, 2024 marks Clue’s 75th anniversary. First released as Clue in ...