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.

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

One and Thirty (also written 31 or Trente-et-un) is one of the oldest card games we know of. Each player holds three cards and swaps them one at a time, trying to build a hand of one suit worth as close to 31 as possible. It is one of the many ancestors of modern Blackjack.

History of One and Thirty

• Earliest Mention: One and Thirty is among the games condemned by Bernardine of Siena in an anti-gambling sermon of 1440.

• Family: It is one of the many ancestors of modern Blackjack, alongside Bone Ace and the third stake of Bragg.

• Later History: The game was still popular in Spain and Ireland in the 18th century, and it developed into Twenty-one.

• Rules Source: These rules are adapted from the card games booklet published by MacGregor Historic Games (historicgames.com).

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.

• Viking Spread: Widely played by the Vikings and found across Norse settlements in Ireland, Britain, Iceland, Greenland, and beyond.

• Superseded by Chess: Largely faded in the 12th century as chess gained dominance in Europe.

• Archaeological Finds: Game boards and pieces have been found in Norse graves, often carved from bone, wood, or stone.

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.

• Arabic Name & Spread: The game became known as al-qirq or al-qirkat in Arabic. It was introduced to Europe during the Moorish occupation of Spain, described in the 13th-century Libro de los Juegos (Book of Games) commissioned by Alfonso X of Castile in 1283.

• Precursor to Draughts: Alquerque’s mechanics were later adapted onto the chessboard (8×8) in France around the 12th–14th centuries, giving rise to modern checkers or draughts.

• Lasting Legacy: Though largely supplanted by checkers, Alquerque remains studied and playable, with rules preserved from historical sources.

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.

• Arrival in Europe: By the 9th-10th centuries, chess reached Europe, adapting into Medieval Chess with regional rule changes.

• Evolution: Between the 12th and 15th centuries, piece movements and rules gradually changed, notably the queen and bishop gaining modern powers.

• Transition: The Renaissance period saw the final transition into modern chess with the current rules.

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.

• Cultural Importance: Highly regarded in East Asian cultures (China, Japan, Korea) as an intellectual pursuit and art form.

• Evolution: Rules have been refined but the core game remains unchanged for millennia.

• Legacy: Influenced modern AI development; seen as a benchmark for artificial intelligence.

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.

• Name Meaning: Likely from the Middle High German karnöffeln, meaning “to beat or thrash”, possibly referencing the beating of one’s opponents—or festive chaos.

• Surviving Relatives: Though Karnöffel itself is rare today, it inspired many trick-taking card games, such as Watten, Bauernfangen, and even the Swiss game Kaiserspiel.

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.

• Popularity: Became a favourite pastime in English pubs from the 19th century onwards.

• Name Meaning: The phrase “shut the box” refers to closing all the number tiles.

• Variations: Many local and house rules have developed over time.

• Legacy: Considered a fun gambling game, teaching addition and probability.