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Masters Traditional Games

FAQ - Medieval Games


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.


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