There are plenty of new high-quality games to choose from. But sometimes, it feels like whatever’s new gets a little bit too much attention. Take a look through history and you’ll find plenty of older games that have stood the test of time.

While some old-school — and we’re talking very old-school — games may have been consigned to the history books, others, such as the ones that we’ll outline in this article, have shown enduring appeal throughout the ages. These games provide more than a challenge; they’re akin to stepping into a history that spans countless cultures and corners of the world.

Let’s take a look at them in more detail — and see where you can play them for yourself.


Chess

The longevity of chess is highly impressive. This complex, endlessly alluring game was being played in the seventh century and is believed to have originated in India or China. The game has evolved significantly since then but the basic premise remains the same: two people, one table, one battle.

The popularity of chess ebbs and flows, but it never really goes out of style. The classic board game is currently experiencing a burst of popularity thanks to shows like The Queen’s Gambit, which suddenly made chess cool.  You can play online or on a console, but for the best experience, look at joining a local chess club. You’ll learn more by playing against people face-to-face.

Blackjack

Blackjack isn’t just still being played — it’s thriving. It’s one of the most popular casino games in the world, and it has been for hundreds of years. The game was invented in 1700 in France, just thirty-two years after the world’s first casino opened in Italy. Part of the enduring popularity of blackjack lies in its simplicity; though variations abound, the objective is always to get as close to twenty-one as possible without going over. Today, the game is available online in a number of variants, allowing players to play their preferred style from the comfort of their own homes.

Go

Go, a popular game in East Asia, is more than 4,000 years old. Some researchers even assign a precise date — 2356 BC — to its invention, though that’s contested. In any case, everyone agrees: it’s old.

The game was played almost exclusively in East Asia up until the mid-20th century, at which point it spread worldwide. You can play online, but keep in mind that Go is a street game. In many major cities, you’ll find groups of people playing in outside areas, usually on a specific couple of streets.

Tic-Tac-Toe

Who said a game had to be complicated to have lasting appeal? Tic-tac-toe, as it’s known in the United States, has a history that traces back to Ancient Egypt, some 3,300 years ago. It’s a simple old game, but perhaps that’s part of its charm — so long as you have one other person, you can have a quick round. The glory of victory doesn’t last quite as long as other games, however.

Where to play? Anywhere you like. You can even use a steamed-up window as your board.

Backgammon

Finally, there’s backgammon, which is some 5,000 years old. It originated in what is now Iraq and has had a journey that any adventurer would be proud of, finding its way into ancient Rome (Emperor Nero was a big fan), and Shakespeare’s London. You can find backgammon players in the real world, but its popularity is waning (only temporarily; never write off backgammon for good), so it’s best to play online.

Final Thoughts

What’s remarkable about the games we’ve outlined above is that not only have they survived, but they’re all still going strong. Indeed, in the case of blackjack and chess, we’re really talking about some of the most popular games on the planet. The latest Playstation and Xbox titles may grab the public’s attention, but will people still be playing them in hundreds of years? We doubt it!