Traditional games have retained their appeal for centuries due to their replayability and enduring entertainment value. The board games featured on this list can be easily created using just a pen, paper, and a few tokens, making them excellent quick and easy solutions for beating boredom. Additionally, engaging with traditional games from around the world provides children with valuable insights into different cultures.
These games are classified as abstract strategy games and are grouped into various categories based on gameplay objectives. They emphasize players’ thinking, logic, and visual perception skills, rather than relying solely on chance or physical prowess—great news for many of us, right? Happy gaming!
GAMES FROM ASIA
China:
- Watermelon Chess (Xi Gua Qi): A battle game with no relation to traditional chess.
- Pong Hau K’i: A blockade game also played in Korea, where it’s known as Ou-moul-ko-no.
Korea:
- Five Field Kono (o-pat-ko-no): A battle game similar to “Chinese checkers.”
India:
- Kaooa (Vulture and Crows): A two-player hunt game played on a star-shaped board.
- Lau Kata Kati: A two-player battle game with a butterfly-shaped board, where the goal is to capture all opponent tokens.
Indonesia:
- Tchuka Ruma: A variant of mancala that can be played as a solitaire game or as a race to solve the puzzle among multiple players.
Thailand:
- Len Choa: A hunt-type game featuring one tiger against six leopards.
The Philippines:
- Tapatan: A three-in-a-row game reminiscent of similar positional games like three-men’s morris.
GAMES FROM AFRICA
Liberia:
- Queah: This game belongs to the draughts family of abstract strategy games, similar to checkers. Players face off with an equal number of tokens, moving diagonally to capture their opponent’s pieces.
Zimbabwe:
- Tsoro Yematatu: A two-player game that features a triangular board and follows the three-in-a-row format.
Nigeria:
- Dara: A unique three-in-a-row game that is slightly more complex to learn than others, but equally enjoyable once you understand the rules.
Kenya:
- Shisima: This positional game, meaning “water” in Swahili, has players controlling tokens that represent water bugs aiming to reach the central water source on an octagonal board.
GAMES FROM EUROPE
Nine Holes: This positional game, popularized in Britain, resembles tic-tac-toe (also known as naughts and crosses) and is familiar to many players.
Fox and Geese: A hunt game enjoyed in various European countries, Fox and Geese dates back to the 12th century C.E. and features players trying to capture each other’s pieces.
Pentalpha: A solitaire brain teaser played on a star-shaped board. While it is believed to have origins in Crete, its exact birthplace is uncertain.
Solitaire (Patience): Commonly recognized as a card game, Solitaire also refers to a peg board game that originated in 17th century France and gained popularity in Britain.
GAMES FROM OCEANIA/PACIFIC ISLANDS
Mū Tōrere: Originating from the Māori people of New Zealand, this blockade game is played on a distinctive star-shaped board, offering a unique strategic experience.
Lu-Lu: A dice game from Hawai’i that, while not a board game, is included for its educational value. Lu-Lu is a game of chance that teaches basic math skills using flat dice that players can make themselves or print from available resources.
GAMES FROM THE AMERICAS
Picaria: This three-in-a-row game was played by the indigenous peoples of Southwestern North America. It is believed to have been adapted from games introduced to North America by Europeans.
Kolowis Awithlaknannai: Played by the Zuni people in present-day New Mexico, this game is a battle and capture game belonging to the Alquerque family of games.
GAMES BY TYPE
POSITIONAL GAMES
- All in a Row:
- Nine Holes
- Tapatan
- Dara
- Picaria
- Tsoro Yematatu
- Shisima
- Positional Battle:
- Five Field Kono
- Blocking Games:
- Mū Tōrere
- Pong Hau K’i
HUNT GAMES
In these games, one player typically attempts to block while the other seeks to capture:
- Fox and Geese
- Len Choa
- Kaooa
CAPTURE GAMES
- Watermelon Chess
- Queah
- Kolowis Awithlaknannai
- Lau Kata Kati
TRANSFER GAMES
- Tchuna Ruma
SOLITAIRE GAMES
- Pentalpha
- Tchuka Ruma
- Patience
OTHER
- Lu-Lu Dice
CONCLUSION
Traditional games, woven into the fabric of cultures worldwide, offer a captivating glimpse into the past and present. These time-honored activities, passed down through generations, have served as more than just entertainment; they have been catalysts for social interaction, skill development, and cultural preservation. Let us celebrate the rich tapestry of traditional games from around the world, and continue to pass them on to future generations. By doing so, we ensure that these timeless activities will remain a vibrant part of our shared human experience.
