1. Two Stones (China)

Background: Also known as Pong hau k'i this is an ancient Chinese game. It was traditionally played on the ground using chalk and stones but can be easily adapted.

Things you need

• Two players
• Piece of paper
• Pen.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

The first player moves their pebble to the middle of the board. Then, each player takes turns to move their stone anywhere there’s a blank spot.

Step 4

How to win: block your opponent so they can’t move their stone anywhere.

2. Mulinello Quadrupio (Rome)

Background: This board game from the late Roman empire, originated around 5^th or 6^th century AD and was discovered in street excavations. It’s similar in concept to noughts and crosses.

Things you’ll need

• 2 players
• A board
• 5 counters of one colour (e.g. red) You could also use dried pasta shapes likes shells.
• 5 counters of another colour (e.g. green). You could also use dried beans or dried pasta like penne.

Step 1

Step 2

When all ten pieces have been placed on the board, players take it in turns to move one of their pieces to an empty adjacent blue circle along any of the marked lines.

Step 3

The first player who gets their five pieces in a line - horizontally, vertically or diagonally is the winner.

3. Shisima (Kenya)

Background: Traditional game from Kenya that is similar to tic-tac-toe or three-in-a-row. Shisima means “body of water”in Kenyan and the game was inspired by watching water insects crawl towards a water source. It was originally played using beans or stones.

Things you’ll need:

• Each player has three distinct piece of different colour or design to the other player (for fun you could use coloured jellybeans or else counters).
• An octagonal board as shown below. (You can easily draw this using a ruler on a large piece of paper)
• 1 x 6 sided dice.

Step 2

Roll a dice to see who goes first.

Each player takes turns moving one of their pieces along a line to an empty space. You’re allowed to move into the middle centre circle.

Step 3

You can’t jump over another player’s counter.

The first player to get their three counters lining up in a row is the winner. See picture below.

4. Senet

Background: This is an ancient game that dates as far back as 2600 BC/ BCE and possibly earlier. It was wildly popular - a game board was even found in the tomb of King Tut.

Things you’ll need

• 2 players
• A game board made of 30 squares (in 3 rows of ten) Eight of the squares have hieroglyphics (see illustration below)
• Five differently coloured counters for ech player. For instance one player has five green counters, the other has blue counters.
• 1 six sided Dice (the Egyptians used throwing sticks but dice are easier)

Step 1

Step 2

You can't land on one of your own pieces.

If you land on the other player's piece, you switch places with them. However, you can't switch with them if they have two or more pieces in a row.

If the other player has three or more pieces in a row, you can't pass them. If no moves are allowed, back or forward, the player misses a turn until he/she can move.

Step 3

5. Noughts and crosses (Persia)

Background: The history of Noughts and Crosses as we know it today goes back to far Persia, almost a thousand years ago. It was discovered by Italian traders who brought it to Europe. In a short period of time, it became one of the most popular games in Europe during the Middle Ages. It’s easy to play anywhere, which is part of the reason for its enduring popularity.

What you need:

- 2 players

- Pen or pencil

- Piece of paper