Explore 7 best wooden board games and learn how to play! Enjoy timeless fun with family and friends!
Let’s face it, digital screens are everywhere and online gaming has become a thing. But sometimes, it’s nice to take a break from the digital world and connect with the people around us. That’s where wooden board games come in – they’re a fun way to spend time with friends and family, exercise our brains, and have good fun.
So, what are the best wooden board games out there? No need to think too hard – that’s what this blog post is for! In this article, I’ll count down the top 7 wooden board games that will become your new favorites.
Plus, I’ll give you the lowdown on playing them, so you can start having fun immediately. Whether you’re an expert player or just looking for a new way to spend time with the people you love, By the end of this article, you’ll be a pro at playing the 7 best wooden board games.
Now let’s get to the fun part!
Table of Contents
The 7 Best Wooden Board Games
Here are the 7 best wooden board games, carefully selected for your gaming pleasure.
Wooden Chess Game
Chess has a rich and fascinating history that spans over 1500 years. Its origins can be traced back to ancient India, where it was known as ‘Chaturanga’ or ‘having four arms.’ Played on an 8×8 square board.
Playing chess is a great way to connect with like-minded people and boost your brainpower at the same time! It’s like exercising your mind, improving focus, and more. And the best part? It’s just plain fun for everyone!
How to Play
Chess is a two-player strategy game that aims to checkmate your opponent’s king. To play:
- Place the pieces of each player in their initial places on the board.
- One piece at a time, players take turns moving it.
- Each piece has unique movements and capabilities (e.g., knights move in L-shapes, bishops move diagonally).
- Take out your opponent’s pieces as soon as you land on their tile.
- Protect your king by castling (moving the king to the side of the board) and using pawns to block attacks.
- Checkmate your opponent’s king by putting it in a position where it’s in danger and cannot escape capture. When you reach this position, congratulations, you have won the game!
Wooden Scrabble Board
Scrabble is a wood game for 2-4 players. The wooden Scrabble board game was created by Alfred Mosher Butts in 1948. He handmade the first boards with wooden tiles. The boards were made from solid wood and had a simple design. As the game became popular, the design improved with added features like a raised edge and storage compartment. Today, wooden Scrabble boards are still super popular so you should get one for those game nights with family and friends.
How to Play
- Set up the game by sorting tiles and placing them face down.
- To score points, put letter tiles together to form words.
- Connect words to existing words on the board.
- Place wooden tiles snugly on the board, using raised edges to align.
- Score points for each word, with bonuses for using all 7 tiles.
- Play through all the tiles until you run out of words to make.
- The player with the most points wins!
Handmade Wooden Checkers
Handmade wooden checkers have a rich history tracing back to ancient times. The game of checkers, also known as draughts, is believed to have originated in Egypt in 3000 BC and the game spread throughout the world, with different regions developing their unique versions.
Checkers offers a unique and entertaining gaming experience. With no need for batteries or electronics, it’s a refreshing respite from modern digital games. The game’s timeless appeal and versatility make it one of the best wooden board games.
How to Play
Checkers is a two-player game where the goal is to capture all your opponent’s pieces or block them so they cannot move.
- Place the board in the middle with each player’s pieces in their starting positions.
- In turns, each player moves one piece at a time.
- Pieces move forward, capture diagonally, and become kings when reaching the opposite side of the board.
- Jump over an opponent’s piece to an empty square to capture it.
- The game ends when one player has no pieces left or cannot move.
Wooden Backgammon Board
If you want a non-stop gaming action that’s rich in history and style then you should try a wooden backgammon board! This ancient game has been around for over 5000 years, and its unique blend of strategy is still addictive today.
This wooden board game will take your gaming experience to the next level – it’s like an upgrade for your game nights! The feel of the wood, the sound of the pieces moving… It’s a whole different adventure. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with your friends or family. It doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie, backgammon board game is a must-have for anyone who loves games!
How to play
Be the first player to remove all your pieces from the board.
- Roll the dice to determine how many points you can move your pieces.
- Move your pieces around the board, trying to remove them before your opponent.
- Capture the opponent’s pieces by landing on their points.
- Block opponent’s pieces to hinder their progress.
- The game ends when one player bears off all their pieces.
Wooden Mancala Board
Mancala is one of the oldest known games, with estimates suggesting it dates back approximately 3,600 years. While its exact origins are unclear, historians believe it originated in Africa and spread throughout the world, with various cultures developing their versions. Presently, Mancala remains a beloved game, celebrated for its simplicity, strategy, and enduring appeal.
How to Play
Mancala is a two-player game where you Move all your stones (or seeds) to the store (or Mancala) on your side of the board.
- Choose a pit with stones on your side of the board.
- Gather every stone in the pit.
- Drop one stone in each subsequent pit, moving counterclockwise.
- If you reach the end of the board, continue on the other side.
- Capture stones by landing on a pit with stones in it.
- The game ends when one player has no stones left on their side of the board.
- The winner is the player whose store has the most stones!
Wooden Tic-Tac-Toe Board
Tic tac toe just got a major glow-up! Remember how it used to be every kid’s go-to game on paper? Now it’s a whole new level of fun on a wooden board! The game’s origins date back to ancient times, with a Roman variant called Terni Lapilli played in the 1st century BC. Tic-Tac-Toe Board is one of the best wooden board games to have in your corner for those family gatherings.
How to Play
The objective is to Win the game by getting three of your symbols in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally
- Start with an empty board, usually a 3×3 grid. O is played by Player 2, and X is played by Player 1.
- Putting their X in one of the nine squares, Player 1 initiates play.
- Player 2 responds by placing their O in an empty square.
- Players alternate turns.
- A player cannot place their symbol in a square already occupied by their symbol or their opponent’s symbol.
- The game ends when one player wins, or when all squares are filled and no player has won (draw).
Wooden Sudoku Board
Sudoku Wooden Game is a physical version of the popular puzzle game, crafted from wood. It typically consists of a wooden board with a 9×9 grid, divided into nine 3×3 sub-grids or ‘regions.’ The game includes wooden tiles or pieces with numbers 1-9, which players use to fill in the grid, following the standard Sudoku rules. The goal is to place the numbers in a way that each row, column, and region contains each number only once.
As one of the best wooden board games, Sudoku is a fun and challenging puzzle game that requires logical thinking skills. So, Whether at home, in a coffee shop, or on the go, the Wooden Sudoku Board is a timeless companion for those who love a good puzzle.
How to Play
Fill in the missing numbers so each row, column, and 3×3 box contains the numbers 1-9 without repeating any number.
- Start with a partially filled board, usually with some numbers already given.
- Choose a space and try to figure out which number can go there.
- To reduce the number of options, apply reasoning and logic.
- Eliminate numbers already present in the same row, column, or box.
- Enter the number that you believe to be accurate.
- Repeat the process until you’ve filled in the entire board or gotten stuck.
- The game ends when the entire grid is completed correctly.
In a Wrap
Wooden board games offer a unique combination of traditional woodworking, social interaction, and mental stimulation that is hard to find in today’s digital age. These 7 best wooden board games featured in this post – Chess, Scrabble, Checkers, Backgammon, Mancala, Tic-Tac-Toe, and Sudoku – are not only entertaining but also provide a range of cognitive benefits, from improved problem-solving skills to enhanced strategic thinking. Whether you’re an expert gamer or just looking for a fun and challenging way to spend time with family and friends, these wooden board games are sure to provide hours of enjoyment and mental stimulation. So why not dust off your old favorites and try something new? Both your buddies and your mind will appreciate it!
