Number of players: 2
Type of game: Dice / Tables
Period: 1507 to 17th Century

Irish was the most popular tables game in England and Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries, and is the direct ancestor of backgammon. It is played with the same board, the same men and very nearly the same starting position as backgammon. The big difference is that in Irish doublets are played only once, rather than twice, which makes it a slower and more careful game.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Dice / Tables
Period: 6th Century

Nard (also called Nardshir) is the Persian ancestor of backgammon and of the whole family of tables games. It is played on the familiar board of 24 points with 15 men each and two dice. The players move in opposite directions, hitting lone men and blocking each other, as they race to bring their men home and bear them off. David Parlett has called it “proto-Backgammon”.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Dice / Tables
Period: 14th Century

Fayles is one of the family of mediaeval tables games, the ancestors of modern backgammon. It is played on the standard tables board with 15 men each, but uses three dice rather than two. Its name comes from its most distinctive rule: a player who throws a number they cannot play fails, and loses the game.

History of Fayles

• Origins: Fayles is recorded in an English manuscript of around 1300, which describes a number of tables games played in England at the time. An early version of the rules is recorded in Alfonso X’s Libro de los Juegos.

• Name: The name is thought to come from Old French faille, “failure”, after the rule that a player who cannot move loses.

• Family: It belongs to the wider group of tables games, alongside Tables itself, that were played across mediaeval Europe before backgammon took its modern form.

• Modern Study: Most modern reconstructions draw on H.J.R. Murray’s A History of Board Games other than Chess (1952), which translates and discusses the mediaeval tables manuscripts.

Number of players: 2
Type of game: Dice / Tables
Period: 13th Century

Quinze Tablas (“Fifteen Pieces”) is the first of the tables games described in King Alfonso X of Castile’s Libro de los Juegos. Like the other tables games it is an ancestor of backgammon, played on the same 24 point board with 15 men each, but it uses three dice and has one very distinctive rule: no point may ever hold more than two men. This makes it a game of blocking and capture as much as a race.

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.

• Social Game: Traditionally played at weddings, feasts, and fairs, often with small coins, nuts, or beans.

• Room Symbolism: Some spaces were given traditional meanings:

  • 2 – The Pig (a lucky windfall),

  • 7 – The Wedding Room,

  • 12 – The King (the best roll),

  • 4 – The Forbidden Room, sometimes omitted.

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.

• Name Meaning: “The Game of Mercenaries” or “The Game of Brigands”.

• Sources:

  • Described by Roman authors like Ovid, Martial, and Varro.

  • Archaeological finds include boards inscribed on Roman tiles and stone benches.

• Cultural Role:

  • Played by soldiers and citizens alike.

  • Likely used as both entertainment and tactical training.

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.

• Simple, Portable Fun: Because it requires only a 3×3 grid and six pieces, it was a popular pastime in ancient and mediaeval cultures. The board is so compact that people would carve it into walls, tables, or seats and play anywhere.

• Global Versions: Variants appear worldwide—Tapatan in the Philippines, Terni Lapilli in Rome, and similar forms in Africa and Southeast Asia.

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.

• Mediaeval Popularity: Twelve Men’s Morris became especially popular in mediaeval Europe. Game boards were carved into cathedral seats and cloisters, showing its wide play among clergy and layfolk alike.

• Later Developments: While Nine Men’s Morris remained the most widely played variant, Twelve Men’s Morris offered deeper strategy and was known in various parts of Europe under different names: La Marelle (France), Molenspel (Netherlands), Mühle (Germany), Mulino (Italy).

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.

• Mediaeval Fame: In mediaeval England and Europe, it became a staple game. Carved boards on church pews and castle walls show how ingrained it was in both peasant and noble life.

• Enduring Popularity: It has remained in casual and traditional play into the modern era, often taught as a folk game or used as a portable pastime due to its simple equipment.