Top 14+ Games That Predated Chess by Centuries

Chess might be the king of board games today, but it’s a relative newcomer to the world of strategic gaming. Long before knights and bishops battled across checkered boards, ancient civilizations were already crafting sophisticated games that tested wit, strategy, and patience.

These early games weren’t just entertainment — they were training grounds for military tactics, tools for divination, and social activities that brought communities together. Many of these ancient games share surprising similarities with modern chess, featuring strategic piece movement, territorial control, and complex rule systems.

Yet each developed its own unique character, reflecting the cultures that created them. Here is a list of 14 games that predate chess by centuries, proving that humanity’s love for strategic competition runs far deeper than most people realize.

Senet

Ancient Egyptians were playing Senet over 5,000 years ago. That makes it one of the world’s oldest known board games.

Players moved pieces along a track of 30 squares — using throwing sticks as dice. But the game wasn’t just entertainment.

Egyptians believed it represented the journey through the afterlife, with winning symbolizing successful passage to the next world. Senet boards have been found in pharaohs’ tombs, including Tutankhamun’s.

Patolli

The Aztecs developed Patolli as both entertainment and a religious ritual. This cross-shaped board game involved betting valuable items while invoking the gods of chance.

Players moved beans around the board according to throws of marked corn kernels. Spanish conquistadors were so disturbed by the game’s gambling aspects — and its religious connections — that they tried to ban it entirely.

Yet it survived in remote communities for centuries.

Hnefatafl

Viking warriors played Hnefatafl to sharpen their battlefield tactics. One player controlled a king and his defenders in the center — while the other commanded attacking forces surrounding them.

The asymmetrical gameplay made every match unique since each side had different objectives. Archaeological finds across Scandinavia reveal that Vikings carried portable versions on their longships, bringing strategic entertainment to distant shores.

Knucklebones

Before dice were invented, ancient Greeks played Knucklebones using actual sheep ankle bones. Each bone could land in four different positions, creating the world’s first gaming dice.

While simple in concept — the game developed elaborate variations and betting systems. Famous Greeks including Sophocles wrote about the game, and archaeological evidence shows it spread throughout the Mediterranean world.

Mehen

Named after the serpent god who protected Ra, Mehen featured a spiral board carved to look like a coiled snake. Egyptian players moved pieces from the tail toward the head — with different sections representing various challenges.

The game disappeared mysteriously around 2000 BCE, leaving archaeologists to puzzle over its complete rules. Beautiful ivory and stone examples suggest it was reserved for the wealthy elite.

Chaturanga

The direct ancestor of chess emerged in India around the 6th century CE. Chaturanga featured elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry representing the four branches of the Indian military.

Players moved pieces across an 8×8 board using dice initially — though strategic versions eliminated chance elements. This game traveled west to Persia, where it evolved into chess as we know it today.

Tau

Ancient Celtic druids played Tau, also known as Fidchell, on wooden boards carved with intricate knotwork. The game involved capturing opponent pieces while protecting your own king — remarkably similar to chess concepts.

Irish mythology describes legendary heroes playing cosmic versions of the game — where moves affected the fate of kingdoms. Few physical examples survive due to the organic materials used.

Puluc

The ancient Maya created Puluc as both a game and a divination tool. Players moved jaguar pieces along a linear track, with corn kernels serving as dice.

The game held deep spiritual significance, representing the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Spanish colonial records describe elaborate tournaments where entire communities would gather to watch championship matches, complete with ceremonial rituals.

Sugoroku

Japanese court nobles refined Sugoroku into an elegant pastime during the Heian period. The game involved racing pieces around a board using dice, though it evolved to include elaborate betting and complex social rules.

Different versions emerged for different social classes. The aristocratic version featured beautiful lacquered boards and ivory pieces, influencing Japanese literature and art for centuries.

When Ancient Minds Shaped Modern Play

These ancient games reveal that strategic thinking isn’t a modern invention. It’s a fundamental part of human nature that spans cultures and centuries.

The chess we know today represents just one branch of a vast family tree of strategic games, each adapted to its creators’ values and worldview. Many principles we consider essential to good game design were already present in games played thousands of years ago.

Balanced asymmetry, meaningful choices, elegant rules. Today’s game designers still study these classics, finding inspiration in mechanics that have entertained and challenged players across dozens of centuries.

The next time you move a piece across a board, you’re participating in one of humanity’s oldest traditions.