Playing games is nothing new. Board games, even games of chance, go far back in ancient times. Before written records of history started, games were played. Different cultures created different games that fit their frame of knowledge and lifestyles. These games were played during winter times and for relaxing in off times.
The genres changed through the ages, and the rules, playing boards, game mats, playing pieces, cards, and dice, are created to work with each different game.
A History of Tabletop Games
Classically, board games were divided into four categories – racing games, space games, for example, naughts and crosses, chasing games, and displacement games, such as chess. From ancient times, board games have been played and evolving and traveling with societies and within cultures.
Some of these ancient games are still being played today. Backgammon had its origins in Mesopotamia more than 5000 years ago. Chess originated in India. Many of the ancient board games were depicted on tomb walls or artefacts. Many of these games were played before written records were made for future generations.
Games of Chance
Also called gambling, games of chance can be dated back to the Paleolithic period, and even before the written word. A six-sided dice, dating back to about 3000 BC, was found in Mesopotamia. However, some findings can be dated back thousands of years earlier.
Card games and dice are usually associated with gambling, although all games that use dice are not games of chance, like backgammon. The dice are an important feature in most tabletop games and come in many shapes and sizes.