Games

Games can take many forms, and vary widely in type, purpose and structure. "Game" is a very loose term that may refer to board games, puzzles, card games, or physical activity, such as sports and tag. In most cases, games can be defined by the fact that they are not work, and are undertaken for some sort of enjoyment. Some games also offer some sort of intellectual stimulation and may involve strategy, such as chess, Scrabble, and Poker. Games may also be used for educational purposes, to make learning new skills and concepts more enjoyable for participants.

Most games have some sort of formal structure and a defined set of rules that players must follow. The rules can vary based on the type of game that is being played. Some games, such as the card game solitaire, puzzles, and some video games can be played alone, but many games are designed to be played with at least two, and in some cases, several people.http://www.knowledgehound.com/topics/boardgam.htm

Games, in one form or another, have been around for thousands of years. For example, evidence has been discovered of several games dating back to the 4th Century BC. The Royal Game of Ur is believed to be the oldest set of gaming equipment that has been discovered to date. Senet game equipment from Egypt and Mancala equipment from Africa have been discovered from the same time period, and these games, in somewhat revised forms are still played in modern times.http://www.historicgames.com/gamestimeline.html

Later, board games, beginning with chess, and later, Monopoly, Scrabble, checkers, backgammon, and hundreds of others, became a popular way of passing the time for children, family members, and other groups of people. Card games, including blackjack, the many variations of rummy, bridge, and others, are an example of another popular genre of games.

In more recent times, with the invention of television, and later, video game consoles and computers, video games have seen increasing popularity. Again, video games include a wide range of different types and genres, from arcade-style games to first-person shooter games, and may be designed for young children or more adult audiences.

Board games have been around for hundreds of years and some older ones remain the most popular today. The most popular games of all-time are chess and checkers, each of which is played on a similar checkerboard. After those two games, Monopoly, Scrabble and Clue round out the top 5 most popular board games list.

In the second half of the top 10, Risk and the Game of Life are two more traditional games on the list. The kids' game Chutes and Ladders, is number eight on the list. The game Othello, which is similar to the game Reversi, and Axis and Allies, round out the top ten.http://www.gamesinfodepot.com/blog/board-games/25-most-popular-board-games/