The history of board games: from prehistory to the present – Board games are booming today. This genre of Entertainment has evolved in recent decades. You could say that we are now at the Golden Age of board games. But do you have any idea when these kinds of games were invented? It seems that there have been whole life and it is the case. If you are curious, do not stop reading this article in which we briefly reveal the history of board games.
The history of board games: the most important milestones
Board games in prehistory: craps games
When we talk about prehistoric board games, we seem to be referring to Parcheesi or the goose. Many years before, however, the first board games had already been invented. Around 5,000 BC, the first board games in the Middle East began to appear.
With the discovery of funerary complexes in this area, remains were found of what appeared to be the first board games: the dice. They were dice carved into different materials, such as bones, wood, or stones. Even, sometimes flat poles were painted and used with the same function as the current dice.
We can say then that craps board games are the oldest games. Although, since prehistory, these games have evolved a lot, to become real jewels of entertainment. Some of the dice games most popular today are Story Cubes, Story Cubes MAX, Mondrian The Says Game and King of Tokyo.
Board games in Ancient Egypt: games as a hobby
Around 3,000 BC, the board games began to become popular among the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. The most famous game for this civilization was Senet, and it was closely linked to the Egyptian concept of Destiny.
In Egyptian culture, divinity and beyond were very present. Thanks to these beliefs, Egyptian board games were found in the tombs of the Pharaohs. They were considered sacred objects to accompany the soul of the deceased on his journey to the grave.
It was the Egyptians who introduced the board into the board game, as well as the pawns. Let us say that the traditional idea of a board game that has remained for so many years is beginning to be configured.
Today boards are composed of more than just paintings, and pawns are called meeples. Some current board games that you will find in our store are Adventure Land, around the world in 80 days or unicorn flash.
The Roman Empire: War and military strategy games
During the Roman Empire, the enormous war activity had a significant influence on board games. They began to incorporate military strategy into their mechanics. The most popular board game at this time was Ludus latrunculorum, a game for two players very similar to chess.
This type of game is not only part of the history of board games but is still very popular today. The war is part of the vast majority of current board games. Among the war-themed board games, we can highlight ring War: Warriors of Middle earth, 13 days, and Fan hunter: Urban Warfare.
Asia: board games typical of oriental culture
Around 400 BC, games of Eastern culture begin to develop in Asia. Until that date, the existing board games were merely adaptations of the games that emerged in the Middle East.
Today, the influence of Eastern culture on board games is crucial. As an example, we can mention Sushi Go! and Tokaido.
The birth of traditional board games: Monopoly
Taking a great leap forward in history, we arrived at the beginning of the 20th century. At the moment one of the most famous traditional board games is created a classic, Monopoly.
The invention of Monopoly is essential because of the circumstances in which it arose. It was a woman, Lizzie Maggie, who patented this game in 1904, to denounce the adverse effects of speculation.
Following the emergence of Monopoly, the doors were opened to the creation of many other classic board games, such as Trivial Pursuit or Risk. Both Monopoly and Risk respond to a critical idea: conquest. In both games, participants are challenged to conquer the most significant number of properties or countries.
Some modern conquest games, with completely different mechanics, are battle for Olympus, 7 Wonders Duel, and 7 Wonders Duel Pantheon.
The birth of modern board games: The Settlers of Catan
The colonists of Catan was one of the first recent board games or Euro games that became popular all over the world. This game radically changes the concept of a board game. The challenges faced by The Settlers of Catan have remained to this day, changing the history of the board games forever.
Among the determining features of this new style of board games, we find a pre-established duration and a new mechanics based on resource management.
Among the most popular Euro games, in addition to the founder of this genre of board games, we find many enlargements of Catan, the family of games Carcassonne or Claus.
So much for a quick review of the history of board games. If you are curious, don’t hesitate to stop by our shop and enjoy the best board games of our time.