Number of players: 2+
Type of game: Dice
Period: 1500+

Glückshaus (German for “House of Fortune”) is a traditional dice game of luck and simple strategy. Played since the late Middle Ages, it uses a specially numbered board and two dice. Each number represents a “room” in the house, some of which have symbolic or festive meanings—most notably the Pig, Wedding, and King.

History of Glückshaus

• Origins: Glückshaus originated in 15th or 16th century Germany, and became popular across Austria, Switzerland, and the Low Countries.

Number of players: 2+
Type of game: Skill
Period: 1400BC+

Knucklebones is an ancient game of skill and chance, originally played with the ankle bones (astragali) of sheep or goats. It has appeared in cultures across ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Central Asia, and is considered an ancestor to dice and modern dexterity games like jacks.

History of Knucklebones

• Ancient Origins: Dates back at least to 1400 BCE in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: 116BC Ludus Latrunculorum, often simply called Latrones or the Game of Brigands, was a strategic Roman board game of tactics and capture, bearing resemblance to both chess and draughts. Though the full rules have been lost, a compelling reconstruction has been developed from literary and archaeological sources.

History of Ludus Latrunculorum

• Origins: Roman Empire, possibly adapted from earlier Greek games like Petteia or Poleis.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Board
Period: 1400BC+

Three Men’s Morris Also known as 3 Men’s Morris, Tapatan (in the Philippines), or Tic-Tac-Toe’s clever cousin, this is the most compact and swift version of the Morris games. It’s easy to learn, quick to play, and ideal for young learners or fast, strategic duels.

History of Three Men’s Morris

• Ancient Beginnings: Archaeological finds suggest Three Men’s Morris is among the oldest known board games, with roots possibly stretching back to early Egypt, Greece, and India. Boards scratched into stone slabs have been uncovered in temples and ancient homes.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: 14th Century

Twelve Men’s Morris (also known as 12 Men’s Morris, Merelles, or Mühle) is a classic abstract strategy board game that dates back to the Roman Empire. It’s part of the larger family of Morris games, including Three Men’s Morris, Six Men’s Morris, and Nine Men’s Morris.

History of Twelve Men’s Morris

• Ancient Roots: The game originates from the Roman Empire and may be even older, with precursors in ancient Egypt. Boards scratched into stone have been found at temples and military sites.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: 14th Century BC

Nine Mans Morris Also called 9 Men’s Morris, Mill, Merels, or Mühle, this is the most famous and widely played variant of the Morris family of games. It combines simplicity and strategic depth, with roots in ancient history and a legacy across cultures.

History of Nine Men’s Morris

• Ancient Origins: Nine Men’s Morris may trace its roots to ancient Egypt, with boards dating back to around 1400 BCE. The Romans popularised it across Europe, and it spread through military and cultural contact.

Number of players: 2+
Type of game: Card
Period: 15th Century

One and Thirty (also written 31, Einunddreißig, or Trente-et-un) is a classic gambling card game of European origin. Played in taverns and courts from the 16th century onward, it is considered one of the oldest recorded games of its kind and a precursor to blackjack. The aim is simple: assemble a hand as close as possible to thirty-one points, ideally in a single suit.

Number of players: 2-4 Type of game: Boardgame
Period: Period-esq (2006)

Herkle is an adaption of Qwirkle, a modern abstract strategy game for 2 to 4 players, involving matching tiles by colour and shape in a grid. Created by Susan McKinley Ross and published in 2006, the game has won numerous awards, including the Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) in 2011. It is easy to learn and well-suited for families, combining elements of dominoes, Scrabble, and set collection.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: Period-esq (2010)

History

Mijnlieff is a period-esq game designed by Andy Hopwood in 2010.

The standard game is played on a 4 x 4 square grid. Each Player has eight pieces with two of four different symbols. Each piece when played determines where your opponent can play their next piece.

In Mijnlieff each piece you play instructs your opponent to play in a straight line (either orthogonally or diagonally) from the piece just played, to play away from, or to play adjacent to the piece just played. The aim is to form lines of 3 but with your opponent controlling where you can play this is harder than it sounds. If you can play so your opponent is unable to go you get a free play anywhere on the board.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: Period-esq (1996)

Stonewall is a strategic board game released in 1996 by Stonewall Developments, a New Zealand-based publisher. Designed by Grant Bullot, Mark McGregor, and Roger Bullot, the game accommodates 2 to 4 players

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: Period-esq (1971)

Tablero de Jesús is a dice-based board game presented as a 15th-century Andalusian monastic game but now recognised as a modern invention. Popularised in the 1970s—especially among members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)—it remains a well-loved game for its strategic simplicity and potential for adaptation, even though no historical precedent exists for it prior to the late 20th century.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: Period-esq (2016)

Tak is a two-player abstract strategy game inspired by the fictional game described in Patrick Rothfuss’s The Wise Man’s Fear (from the Kingkiller Chronicle series). It was later developed into a real-world playable game by James Ernest and Rothfuss, first published in 2016. Tak is elegant in design, with simple rules but deep strategy, and shares a lineage with classic games like Go and chess.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Board
Period: 4th – 12th centuries

Hnefatafl (pronounced roughly NEF-uh-tah-full, Old Norse for “King’s Table”) is a member of the family of the Tafl family of ancient Germanic and Norse strategy board games, popular in northern Europe before the spread of chess. It features asymmetric gameplay, with one side defending a king attempting escape, while the other side attacks with superior numbers.

History of Hnefatafl

• Origins: Dates back to at least the 4th century CE, likely originating in Iron Age Scandinavia or Germanic Europe.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: 1283

Alquerque (also spelled El-Quirkat, Alquirkat, or Quirkat) is an ancient two-player strategy game from the Middle East. It is the direct ancestor of modern draughts (checkers) and was widely played throughout the Islamic world and later in mediaeval Europe.

History of Alquerque

• Ancient Origins: Alquerque dates back to at least 1400 BCE, with early boards found carved into stones in Egypt and throughout the Middle East.

Number of players: 4(2 teams of 2)
Type of game: Board Period: 1200+

Medieval Chess is the form of chess played in Europe during the Middle Ages, evolving from earlier variants like Shatranj and eventually developing into the modern game by the 15th century. It features distinct piece movements and rules that differ from today’s chess.

History of Medieval Chess

• Origins: Chess originated in India (~6th century CE) and spread via Persia and the Islamic world as Shatranj.

Number of players: 2 Type of game: Boardgame Period: 2500BC+

o is an ancient abstract strategy board game originating in China over 4,000 years ago. It is renowned for its deep strategic complexity despite simple rules. Players aim to control territory on the board by placing stones and capturing opponent stones.

History of Go

• Origins: Invented in China, traditionally dated to over 2500 BCE, making it one of the oldest board games still played.

Number of players: 4(2 teams of 2)
Type of game: Cards Period: 1426+

Karnöffel is one of the oldest known European card games still recorded today, dating back to the 15th century. Its odd rules, power-reversing trumps, and colourful names made it wildly popular in medieval German-speaking lands. It is the ancestor of many European trick-taking games.

History of Karnöffel

• First Recorded: 1426, in Nördlingen, Germany.

• Origins: Played during church festivals and town games, especially Shrovetide and Fastnacht celebrations.

Number of players: 2-6 Type of game: Boardgame Period: 3000BC+

Mehen is an ancient Egyptian board game, notable for its distinctive spiral board shaped like a coiled serpent. Named after the protective serpent-god Mehen, the game was played during Egypt’s Old Kingdom, possibly as a ritual or strategy game. While the precise rules are unknown, scholars and gamers have reconstructed plausible versions based on archaeology and comparisons to similar ancient games.

Number of players: 4(2 teams of 2)
Type of game: Dice Period: 1100+

Shut the Box is a traditional dice game that dates back several centuries and has been popular in English pubs and households. It is a simple yet engaging game of chance and strategy where players aim to “shut” (flip down) all numbered tiles by rolling dice and matching the sum to open tiles.

History of Shut the Box

• Origins: Thought to have originated in France or England during the 12th to 18th centuries.

Game: Tarok
Type: Trick-taking card game
Players: Typically 3 or 4
Equipment: 54- or 78-card Tarot deck (depending on the regional variant)
Origin: 15th century Italy, flourishing in Central Europe by the 18th century
Other Names: Tarock, Tarot (game), Königrufen, Tapp Tarock, Bavarian Tarock

Historical Background

Tarok developed from early Italian trick-taking games using the tarot deck, including Trionfi. By the 18th and 19th centuries, Austrian and German variants had formalised into distinct games. Tarok’s popularity endured in Central Europe even as it faded elsewhere, especially in forms like Königrufen (Austria) and Tapp Tarock (Bavaria and beyond). These versions incorporated refined bidding systems, partnerships, and contracts, making Tarok one of the most strategically rich pre-modern card games.

Game: Wari
Type: Traditional mancala game
Players: 2
Equipment: Mancala board with 2 rows of 6 pits, 48 seeds or stones (4 per pit)
Origin: West Africa, especially Ghana and Nigeria
Other Names: Oware, Awalé, Warri, Ayo, Ouril, Adi, Wali, Awele, Wale

Historical Background

Wari is one of the oldest and most widespread mancala-style games, with a heritage tracing back thousands of years across West Africa. It is particularly associated with the Akan people of Ghana and is considered the national game of several countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and Cape Verde (where it is called Ouril). Its spread via trade routes and the African diaspora led to variants being played in the Caribbean, South America, and parts of the Middle East. Wari’s enduring appeal comes from its blend of simple mechanics and deep strategy.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: 1500+

Fox and Geese is a classic asymmetrical board game of strategy and cunning, played between one player controlling a fox and another controlling a gaggle of geese. The game is a descendant of Norse tafl games and was popular in mediaeval and early modern Europe.

History of Fox and Geese

• Mediaeval Roots: The game emerged in medieval northern Europe, evolving from older Viking tafl games around the 13th century.

Number of players: 2+
Type of game: Dice
Period: 1552

Novem-Cinque (Latin for Nine-Five) is an ancient Roman dice game of chance, likely played for wagers and amusement in taverns, camps, and homes across the Empire. Though the exact rules are lost to time, the name suggests a focus on the numbers 9 and 5, with reconstructions drawing from Roman gambling practices.

History of Novem-Cinque

• Cultural Context: Played in the Roman Empire, likely during the Imperial period.

Number of players: 2+
Type of game: Dice
Period: 1552

Liar’s Dice is a classic bluffing and deduction game played with dice hidden beneath cups. Each player must guess how many dice showing a certain face value are present across all players’ cups—but without knowing anyone else’s dice. Players bluff, challenge, and try to outwit each other to be the last one with dice remaining.

History of Liar’s Dice

• Origins: Likely derived from Perudo or Dudo, a South American game with Incan roots.

Number of players: 5 originally. Optional rules for 3,4 or 6
Type of game: Card
Period: 1500s

Laugh and Lie Down is a 16th-century English gambling game for five players using a standard 52-card deck. It’s a game of matching pairs and sets, with an early form of pool betting. Simple to learn but chaotic to play, it blends elements of chance, strategy, and social drama—perfect for taverns and long evenings.

Number of players: 4
Type of game: Card
Period: 1600-1800 Reversis is a 16th-century trick-taking card game of Spanish origin that became fashionable throughout Europe, particularly in France and Italy. As its name suggests, Reversis is all about reversing the usual trick-taking goal: players aim to avoid winning tricks, especially certain undesirable cards. It’s a game of avoidance, misdirection, and cunning—often seen as an ancestor of games like Hearts.

History of Reversis

• Origin: Likely developed in Spain during the late 1500s.

Number of players: 2-4 Type of game: Boardgame
Period:

Thayam is a traditional South Indian board game, especially popular in Tamil Nadu. It is a race game similar in concept to Pachisi or Ludo, involving strategy and chance, where players race their tokens around a track based on dice rolls.

History of Thayam

• Origins: Played in South India for centuries, with roots in traditional folk culture.

• Cultural Significance: Often played during festivals and family gatherings.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: 1550-1295 B.C.

Aseb also called The Game of Twenty Squares, Asseb, or Asib, Aseb is an ancient Egyptian board game, closely related to the Mesopotamian Royal Game of Ur. Aseb is a race-and-strategy game played on a rectangular board with twenty squares, blending luck, positioning, and blocking tactics.

History of Aseb

• Ancient Origins: Aseb emerged in ancient Egypt, likely adopted from the Mesopotamian Royal Game of Ur, dating back to at least 2600 BCE.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: 2686 B.C. + Senet is one of the oldest known board games, originating in ancient Egypt around 3100 BCE. Played by pharaohs and commoners alike, Senet was both a pastime and a spiritual symbol, representing the soul’s journey through the afterlife. The game is a race of strategy and chance where players aim to move their pieces across a grid-shaped board and off the playing field first.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Boardgame
Period: 2400BC+

The Royal Game of Ur is one of the oldest known board games in history, dating back over 4,500 years to ancient Mesopotamia. It is a two-player race and strategy game discovered in the Royal Tombs of Ur (modern-day Iraq) by Sir Leonard Woolley in the 1920s. The game combines elements of chance and tactics as players race their pieces along a distinctive track to be the first to bear all their tokens off the board.

Number of players: 4 Type of game: Dice Period: 12083

El Mundo – Four Player Backgammon

History of El Mundo

History El Mundo (lit. The World) aka Tables of the Four Seasons aka Four Player Backgammon is a tables game from the 13th century. This reconstruction is based off of the rules found in Alfonso X’s Book of Games (1283) as translated by Sonja Musser Golladay (2007).
The Book of Games is the only known description of how this game is played, and the only known reference to the game. Each colour in the game not only corresponds to a season but also one of the four elements and humours. Green represents spring, air, and blood; Red represents summer, fire, and choler; Black represents autumn, earth, and melancholy; White represents winter, water, and phlegm.

Number of players: 2 Type of game: Dice Period: 100+

Tables is an ancient board game dating back to at least the Roman Empire, considered a direct predecessor to modern backgammon. It combines luck and strategy with dice rolls to move pieces around a board with the goal of bearing them off first.

History of Tables

• Origins: The game’s earliest forms appear in Roman times (around 1st century CE), called Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum (“Game of Twelve Lines”).