Medieval Games

Which games would have been played during the Middle Ages or are generally thought of as “Medieval”?

See also: Ancient & Historical Board Games.

Games particularly associated with the Medieval era:

• Nine Mens Morris (Shakespeare informs us that it was played on the ground)
• Fox and Geese
• Various versions of Tafl that were played in West Europe at the time.
• Noddy – an earlier version of Cribbage
• Billiards – but not as we know it!
• Ringing the Bull
• Bowls (the oldest bowls green in England is dated 1299)
• Skittles – various games played on an alley
• Game of Goose

Probably also played in the Middle Ages:

• Backgammon (a version called Tables)
• Alquerque, an early form of Draughts/Checkers
• Pachisi in India
• Mancala in Africa
• Go in China
• Localised Asian Chess variants
• Shove Ha’penny (at least towards the end of Medieval times – although it would have used a different coin and went by different names such as “Slype-Groat”)
• Quoits

Let us know if you think there’s something missing from this list.

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