What are the oldest board games still played today?

Answer 1

It's a little difficult to say as games go back to prehistory and the sites I found are also often vague about dates and sources. Also, fans are quick to claim the title of oldest (apparently without much research). Chess seems to be out. It has it's origins in the Middle East around 600 AD, but some others had theorized that it had its origins in Xiangqi ("Chinese Chess") which would put its origins back to the "2nd century BC[sic]"(see Wikipedia article). Go (my favorite) is referenced in a text believed to date the game to 548 BCE, though there is some evidence it was played as early as 2,000 BCE.

But these seem to be trumped by backgammon and checkers. A backgammon set that dating to 3,000 BC has recently been unearthed. There is claimed to be a clear inscription on a wall in Thebes dating to 4,000 BC depicting a game of checkers being played. I haven't been able to find this image (yet).

Mancala games have been traced back to only about 1,000 BC, but there is some evidence it was played in neolithic times (7,000 to 5,000BC). Because of their simplicity of construction and play and their widespread I lean towards this as being the oldest extant board game, even though the archaeological evidence is not definitive.

Great question. I enjoyed researching this.

But it's still not settled.

Answer 2

Hello,
Here I got GNU Backgammon for free: http://j.mp/1pUE5sk

it's a perfectly working link, no scam !
It?s true that if you search for computer games you can find all kinds. Some of these are quite appealing, and others aren?t, but you can still find programs that offer special and unique content; like when you used to play on those Sunday afternoons sitting down to the best board games. This is the case with GNU Backgammon, a game that will immediately transport you back to those good times.
I love it!

Answer 3

Chess is the oldest board game. It will probably endure much longer than any other board game played today.

Answer 4

There are a lot of chinese board games still played: go and checkers, there's also chess but i don't know who came up with that game.

Answer 5

According to BoardGameGeek.com the oldest game is Senet, an Egyptian game similar to Backgammon.

Answer 6

it is called (go)Having developed in China between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago, Go (called Wei Ch'i in China and Baduk in Korea) contends with backgammon for the right to be called the oldest game still played in its original form. Today it is played by millions in Asia and thousands elsewhere.


draughts england 1,000 years ago

tali -knucklebones-350 bc greece in rome

mancala dates back to 7,000-5,000 bc in you can go to the store in buy it today it comes in a tin can about 10 inches

Answer 7

Chess or Checkers, possibly Mancala

Answer 8

I would say Chess. Although there is a chinese game, can't remember the name off hand, that may have been around longer.

Answer 9

Mancala, backgammon

Answer 10

Parcheesi
Monopoly
checkers
chess