Since time immemorial, people have turned to games for entertainment, bonding, learning, and so much more. And while there have been countless games of every kind and scale throughout history, here are some of the most beloved games around the world:
Bingo (UK)
As a game whose history can be traced back to 16th century Italy, bingo has already been making waves in countries like France, Germany, and the US for many years now. But even then, there is no other country that has built quite a love affair with it like the UK has. The UK not only gave birth to the world’s most popular version of bingo, 90-ball, but it also integrated bingo halls into their society.
In fact, even after experiencing a decline, some 400 bingo halls continue to thrive in the UK, with the game simultaneously finding a new home online. Leading UK gaming provider Foxy Bingo showcases how this classic game continues to transform in the 21st century — from team-based bingo in Fab Grab Bingo, to a wide variety of Slingo titles – games that combine bingo with slots. There are even chatrooms that provide the same social aspect present in brick-and-mortar halls, allowing Brits to continue playing their favorite game from the comfort of their homes.
Pallankuzhi (India)
Considered as an exercise that can treat finger arthritis in Ayurvedic medicine, Pallankuzhi is a traditional board game that has kept Indian families entertained for many generations. According to the author of ‘Folk Games of Tamil Nadu‘, Pallankuzhi comes from the words ‘pal’ and ‘kuzhi’. While ‘pal’ means many, ‘kuzhi’ means pit. Like most traditional games, Pallankuzhi bears a lot of cultural, historical, and social significance.
It is believed that Pallankuzhi is one of the games passed on during the trade exchanges, considering how different versions of the pit and pebble game exist all throughout the globe. For a straightforward and simple game like this, there are plenty of skills players can gain. These skills include mathematical insight, cognitive skills, hand-eye coordination, and motor skills.
Loteria (Mexico)
Another game that originated from Italy, Mexico’s Loteria shares a lot of similarities with bingo. However, in this game, instead of having bingo cards, players have boards bearing some of the pictures of the cards in the deck. The dealer will then take a card from the deck, call it, and the player who has a picture of that card on their board will place a bean on the card. To win, players must first complete either a row or a column and shout ‘Loteria’ or ‘buenas’.
This classic game enjoyed a resurgence last year as many people were forced to stay indoors, but artists, too, had a hand in bringing Loteria to public consciousness. Artists like Rafael Gonzales Jr. and Mike Alfaro created their own twist to the game with Loteria cards that capture the new normal. There are cards that brandish pictures of hand sanitizers and of people working from home. Other card concepts also include “La Feminist”, “La Border Wall,” and “El TikTok.”
Yahtzee (Canada)
Popularized by the company Milton Bradley, Yahtzee is one of the most popular and successful games around. Although it was first marketed in Ohio, it found its home in Canada, and it’s easy to see why. Before it became the well-known, classic dice game that it is today, it was originally invented and played by a wealthy Canadian couple by accident, while they were on a yacht. From then on, it was befittingly called as “The Yacht Game.”
Because of how exciting Yahtzee is, various Yahtzee console games have been released over the years, including an early version on the TI-99 4A computer. It is also considered as one of the first games ever released to PC and Mac users by Atari in 1996. Back then the standard Yahtzee game was included in the Ultimate Yahtzee CD-ROM that also contained other varieties. Later on, GameHouse released an authorized special version for Windows users. By 2001, it was re-released by Hasbro Interactive with 700 free hours of AOL.