Era · to ~500 AD

Ancient board games

19 board games from the Ancient era (to ~500 AD). Ranked by BoardGameGeek rating where available.

Ancient · c. 3100 BC

Senet

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · c. 3000 BC

Mehen

— players · — · —

 Ancient · c. 2600 BC

Royal Game of Ur

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · c. 2200 BC

Go

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · c. 2000 BC

Hounds and Jackals (58 Holes)

2 players · — · —

 #30815 Ancient · c. 1300 BC

Tic-Tac-Toe

2 players · ~1 min · 4+

 Ancient · c. 400 BC

Liubo

2 players · — · —

 #30816 Ancient · c. 200 BC

Chutes and Ladders

2–6 players · ~30 min · 3+

 Ancient · c. 100 BC

Ludus Latrunculorum

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · 1

Nine Men's Morris

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · 200

Patolli

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · 200

Snakes and Ladders

2–4 players · — · —

 Ancient · 400

Hnefatafl (Tafl)

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · 1100

Checkers (Draughts)

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · 1120

Dominoes

2–4 players · — · —

 Ancient · 1200

Xiangqi (Chinese Chess)

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · 1475

Chess

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · 1500

Shogi (Japanese Chess)

2 players · — · —

 Ancient · 1500

Pachisi

2–4 players · — · —