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: 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: 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.