We are on a mission to deepen connections among friends and family through play - we build games and activities that celebrate shared interests and affinities.
The earliest mention of dominoes is from the Song dynasty, China.
The earliest mention of dominoes is from Song dynasty China (1232–1298). Modern dominoes first appeared in Italy during the 18th century, then spread across Europe and the Caribbean.
Players take turns removing one block at a time from a tower constructed of 54 blocks.
Jenga was created by Leslie Scott, based on a game that evolved within her family in the early 1970s using children's wooden building blocks the family purchased from a sawmill in Takoradi, Ghana.
Monopoly is derived from The Landlord's Game created by Elizabeth Magie in the United States in 1903.
Created as a way to demonstrate that an economy which rewards wealth creation is better than one where monopolists work under few constraints and to promote the economic theories of Henry George.
Playing cards may have been invented during the Tang dynasty around the 9th century AD.
One of the earliest games in which we know the rules is madiao, a trick-taking game, which dates to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).
The game was played and gambled over by King Henry VIII of England, who prohibited commoners from playing.
The full history of shuffleboard is not known. Though there is some knowledge of its development, its actual origins, the place and date where it was first played, remain a mystery.
Also known simply as Life, is a board game originally created in 1860 by Milton Bradley.
The modern version was originally published 100 years later, in 1960. It is now part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian and an inductee into the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Ludo is derived from Pachisi that originated in medieval India.
Pachisi (/pəˈtʃiːzi/) is a cross and circle board game that originated in medieval India which has been described as the "national game of India"
“There's a lot of interesting research that shows we like people better after we play a game with them, even if they've beaten us badly… playing a game together builds up bonds and we actually build stronger social relationships as a result.”
“It helps us maintain our social well-being. And it's not just board games that do this, but soccer leagues, or playing paintball in the woods. And not just after-work recreation, but team-building exercises in corporate offices. Playing is how we connect.”
“What might seem like a frivolous or even childish pursuit is ultimately beneficial. It’s paradoxical that a little bit of 'nonproductive' activity can make one enormously more productive and invigorated in other aspects of life.”
