Ever wondered what the oldest board games in the world are? Long before recorded history, board games offered entertainment, strategy, and even spiritual meaning. Some of these ancient games are still played today—while others remain archaeological mysteries. Here are the oldest known board games in the world.
The Oldest Board Games in the World
1. Senet (Egypt, ~3100 BCE)
What It Is:
Senet is the oldest known board game, discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs. The game was played on a 30-square board and is believed to represent the journey of the soul through the afterlife.
Fun Fact:
Senet boards were buried with pharaohs, and it appears in artwork as early as 2600 BCE.
2. The Royal Game of Ur (Mesopotamia, ~2600 BCE)
What It Is:
Found in the Royal Tombs of Ur in modern-day Iraq, this race game used dice and a unique board design. Players moved pieces through a path shaped like a “T,” aiming to reach the end first.
Fun Fact:
A complete set was discovered by Sir Leonard Woolley in the 1920s and now resides in the British Museum.
3. Mehen (Egypt, ~3000 BCE)
What It Is:
Named after a serpent god, Mehen featured a spiral board resembling a coiled snake. Multiple players used lion-shaped pieces to race around the board, possibly in a cooperative or competitive way.
Fun Fact:
The rules have been lost to time, but boards and pieces have been found in various ancient tombs.
4. Go (China, ~2000 BCE)
What It Is:
Still widely played today, Go is a two-player strategy game where players take turns placing stones to surround territory on a grid. Despite its simple rules, it has immense strategic depth.
Fun Fact:
Go has more possible game states than atoms in the known universe!
5. Mancala (Africa, ~1400 BCE or earlier)
What It Is:
Mancala refers to a family of “sowing” games that use pits and stones. Players move pieces in circular patterns to capture their opponent’s seeds. Versions exist across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Fun Fact:
Boards have been carved into temple floors, making Mancala one of the most widespread ancient games.
6. Latrunculi (Roman Empire, ~100 BCE)
What It Is:
Also known as Latrones, this Roman game of strategy resembles chess or checkers. Players maneuver pieces to surround and capture opponents’ soldiers.
Fun Fact:
The game spread across the Roman Empire and was often played by soldiers to pass the time.
7. Petteia (Ancient Greece, ~500 BCE)
What It Is:
A precursor to Roman Latrunculi, Petteia was a Greek battle strategy game mentioned by Plato and others. It involved capturing pieces by sandwiching them between two of your own.
Fun Fact:
The game was so popular it was said to train military thinking in young Greeks.
8. Chess (India, ~500 CE)
What It Is:
Chess evolved from an Indian game called Chaturanga, which simulated military tactics using infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. It spread to Persia (as Shatranj), then across the Islamic world into Europe, where it became the modern game we know today.
Fun Fact:
The modern rules of chess—like the powerful queen and fast-moving bishops—weren’t standardized until the 15th century in Europe.
These ancient board games show just how timeless the desire to play truly is. Whether used for strategy, storytelling, or even spiritual beliefs, games have always been a way for humans to connect, compete, and imagine. And remarkably, some of them are still enjoyed thousands of years later.
If you’re looking for a more modern list, make sure to check out our curated list of the Best Board Games of All-Time!