Table games have been around for thousands of years and have remained a solid way for people to gather around a table and connect. Through the years, some table games have stood the test of time and are still extremely popular even to this day. Here are the top 10 table games in the history of humankind.
Chess
Almost everyone has heard of the game chess, where two players go head to head and manoeuvre pieces on a checkerboard to take out the opponent’s king. Each piece can only move in a certain way, allowing players to devise different ways to outsmart the opponent and checkmate them. Checkmate is when the opponent’s king can not move out of the aim of the attacking player’s pieces, so they win. Chess was first played in India around 300 C.
Stratego
Stratego is a board game made in the Netherlands and played by two players against each other. Each player controls 40 pieces on a board with a composition of 10 by 10. The objective is to move the pieces in a way that allows them to capture the enemy’s flag. You can win this game by taking enough of the opponent’s pieces.
Monopoly
Have you ever been interested in becoming a successful real estate agent owning lots of property, and making lots of money while doing so? Then Monopoly might be the game for you. This game can be played by two to eight players so everyone in the family can join in the fun of trying to bankrupt their siblings and loved ones. Although this game can bring out hostility in some people, it is fun and does not get boring.
Risk
If strategic-style games are more of your thing, then Risk might be your board game. Risk can be played by up to six players and involves players fighting over territories on a global map. This game is turn-based, with smart decisions and some luck being the main factors in determining who comes out on top as the world dominator.
The Settlers of Catan
The Settlers of Catan is a game designed for people that enjoy starting with nothing and slowly building up a powerful empire. As you grow your settlement, you have to make smart decisions by trading valuable resources so you can expand and flourish. As your settlement grows, you earn points, and the player that reaches a set amount of points wins.
Scrabble
Scrabble is a classic word game where players compete to find the most unique and long word with the letters they are given. The longer the word, the more points that player receives. The player with the most points at the end of the game will be crowned the champion of Scrabble, at least for that game.
Battleship
Battleship is a turn-based game where two players try to predict where the other player has positioned their ships. Each player takes it, in turn, to bomb a position on the opponent’s board in the hopes of hitting a ship. The player that is able to take out all of the other player’s ships wins.
Clue
This game is the perfect murder mystery board game for a fun night with friends. This game is designed for up to six players, and the aim is to figure out who is the murderer in your group. This game is a lot of fun and will have you questioning your friends’ honesty as another player is cold-bloodedly taken out on the night.
Dominion
Dominion is a game designed for two to four people where you play the role of a monarch of a small kingdom. The aim is to take control of as much land as possible as quickly as possible and by any means necessary. You can use your powerful fleet to destroy nearby threats and become the sole conqueror of the land.
Ticket to Ride
If you are interested in trains, then you must try Ticket to Ride the next time you get your friends around for a board game night. In this game, each player picks up cards that allow them to connect railway routes between cities with the goal of becoming the most dominant railway. This game can get surprisingly competitive, so be prepared to be ruthless.