This feature was first published in November 2024 in My Mensa Weekly, our exclusive newsletter for Mensa members. Find out more about becoming a Mensa member here.
Words: Joanna Cummings
From a tense game of chess to a heated round of Monopoly, board games have captivated us for centuries, connecting cultures and generations (not to mention family members who only meet up once a year). However, as well as being entertaining, they also offer an insight into the societies in which they originated. As the festive season draws near – and we ready ourselves to dust off the Cluedo – we dip into the rich history of board games and their role in society.
One of the oldest known board games is Senet, dating back to Ancient Egypt, where it was both a recreational pastime and a spiritual tool. Archaeologists have uncovered Senet boards in Egyptian tombs, suggesting it symbolised the journey to the afterlife. Other ancient games also reveal cultural nuances. Mancala from Africa, involving the moving of small stones in and out of pits, was likely inspired by agrarian practices thousands of years ago – in some cases the ‘pits’ were literally dug into the ground, creating space for the seeds. In India in the 7th century, Chaturanga – the earliest known predecessor of chess – was inspired by military strategy; like chess, it involved two armies divided into infantry, elephantry, cavalry and chariots (though it didn’t involve the use of a chequered board).
Board games often progressed as civilisations developed. For example, in China the strategy game Go is thought to have emerged around 4,000 years ago. The player’s aim is to claim territories on a vast grid – inspired, some believe, by attack strategies used by Chinese warlords of the time. Backgammon, played in the ancient civilisations of Greece, Rome, Persia and the Far East, was more than just a game of chance. It is thought to have symbolised the unpredictability of life and fortune. This is reinforced in modern times by the introduction of the doubling cube in the 1920s, which increased players’ options.
Strategy-oriented games surged in popularity as societies began to favour intellect over luck. Chess underwent a number of permutations throughout history – adapted by the Arabians as shatranj (which may be when the squares were added), and as a four-player version named chaturaji – but it mirrored feudal hierarchies when it finally spread to Europe in the medieval period. Meanwhile, the tactical game Hnefataf, which involved the attack or defence of a ‘king’, reflected warrior culture in Norse societies.
In the past, as today, board games seem to have served both as entertainment and as developmental tools, with some involving more complex rules and strategic thinking created for adults, and others designed to engage children and help them build basic skills, such as counting, pattern recognition and cooperation. For example, in Ancient Egypt, while adults were using Senet to simulate the soul’s journey through the afterlife, children may have played a much simpler – and less morbid – version.
In the 20th century, games began to reflect social and political climates: Monopoly, created in 1903 as ‘The Landlord’s Game’ by a left-wing feminist, emerged as a commentary on capitalism during the Great Depression. Risk, which was published as La Conquête du Monde (The Conquest of the World) in 1957, mirrored expansionist strategies that defined the 20th century. Cluedo – which has since inspired many books, films, TV shows and theatre productions – was invented by a musician during the air raids of the Second World War.
Our game playing has certainly evolved since early societies used stones, bones, and scratched patterns in the dirt to pass the time. And these days, of course, board games no longer have to be on a physical ‘board’. Digital adaptations allow classic games such as Catan, Monopoly and Risk to be played across distances, regardless of any geographical barriers. And variations on the game of Scrabble can be played with friends or complete strangers via smartphone apps.
Online multiplayer options, customisable features and in-game tutorials make complex games more accessible for new players. Digital platforms have also encouraged creativity in game design, incorporating elements such as interactive storytelling and adaptive AI. Digital versions are, in many ways, ensuring that these classic games reach younger generations.
However, there seems to be a reluctance to give up our analogue versions. The last decade has seen a renewed interest in physical board games, and social clubs and even games cafés have sprung up around the UK (driven, ironically, by online communities). And at a time when so much is available digitally and we’re never far from our mobile phones, classic board games offer a respite, a tactile experience without any distractions. Either way, it’s clear that whether we’re playing with sticks or online via our tablet screens, the thrill of the game endures.
Check out the British Museum’s top 10 historical board games.
Image credit: Shutterstock
