What games would have been played during the Middle Ages or are generally thought of as “Medieval”?
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 (known later as Tablut in Scandinavia) 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 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 and probably Horseshoes Let us know if you think there’s something missing from this list.
