There’s no shortage of games to choose from these days. More than 10,000 games are released each year on Steam alone, which just goes to show the vibrancy of the gaming industry.
And it’s not just the latest titles that are available and worth exploring. You can also play a whole range of classic games, many of which are available online. In some instances, those games have been around for thousands of years, which goes to show that sometimes, the classics are the best. After all, as good as Fortnite may be, we’re not convinced that people will be playing it in the year 3000!
Pong
Pong is sometimes referred to as the first video game, but that’s not the case. There were a few titles that came before it. However, Pong was very much the first widely popular video game — or in other words, it was the first game that captured the public’s imagination.
It was released more than 50 years ago, on November 29, 1972, yet it’s still highly engaging. The game is about as simple as it can get, but that’s part of the appeal. It was originally an arcade game, but these days you can easily find the game online. If you’ve never played it, then give it a try. If you’re like most people, then you’ll love it!
Space Invaders
Find Pong a little too simple for your tastes? Then consider playing Space Invaders. This game was released six years after Pong, yet marked a leap forward in video gaming. It’s accessible enough that anyone can play, but challenging enough to keep you engrossed while playing.
If you really want to give yourself a challenge, then see how close you can get to the world record Space Invaders score, which currently stands at 218,870. But given that the average score is around 2-3,000, we think that you’ll need to practice for many years to get anywhere near the world record!
Chess
Many people believe chess to be the greatest game ever created, and it’s not difficult to see why. This game has been around for more than 1,500 years, yet it’s still as popular as ever. It’s simply hard to imagine any game ever overtaking chess in the all-time greatest list.
Chess is more difficult to learn than most other games, but there are apps that can help to get you started. Once you’ve got the basics, you’ll have unlocked a hobby that will likely be with you for the rest of your life. Plus, you’ll find that the chess community is vibrant, so you’ll likely make many new friends via your hobby, too.
Go
If you thought chess was old, then wait until you hear about Go. Research indicates that this game — or at least the earliest versions of it — has been played for around 5,000 years. It’s probably the oldest continually played game on the planet, and there are still millions of players, most of whom reside in Southeast Asia, where the game is particularly popular. It’s an easy game to learn, so you can be playing in next to no time, but it’s very difficult to master.
As with chess, this is a game that you’ll return to again and again. Plus, if you ever visit Southeast Asia, then you’ll be able to join in with one of the many street games that you’ll come across during your travels!
Solitaire
Solitaire is an old single-person card game that dates back to the 18th century. If you had a Windows computer when you were younger, then you’ll almost certainly already be familiar with solitaire, since it used to come pre-installed on computers. Windows computers no longer come with the game included, but you can easily play solitaire online.
As with most old games, there are plenty of advantages to playing solitaire, a game that is believed to boost memory and decision-making. Plus, since it’s a one-person game, it’s also just pretty relaxing, since you can simply play at your own pace.
Poker
There’s arguably no card game more iconic than poker. This game originated in New Orleans in the early part of the 1800s, yet, despite being more than two hundred years old, remains as popular as ever. According to reports, some 100 million people around the world play poker on a regular basis. As with most classic games, it’s easy to play poker online, though be aware that standards tend to be pretty high, so it’s best to get as much practice as you can playing free games before you transition to cash games.
If you find that you’ve got a real knack for the game, then there’s no telling what you could go on to achieve — maybe you’ll win the World Series of Poker one day!
Blackjack
As with most casino games, blackjack has a pretty long history. It dates back to at least 1700 when it was developed in France. When the game was first developed it was known as ‘vingt-et-un,’ which is French for ‘21.’
The goal is to get as close to ‘vingt-et-un’ as you can without going bust. If you can beat the dealer, then you’ll have won the round. It’s one of the simplest card games to learn — you’ll pick it up in minutes — but you’ll need to do some work to reach a high level. If you decide that you want to play this game, then it’s recommended to read up on basic blackjack strategy.
Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and ladders is an interesting one. You wouldn’t exactly call it popular, but many have played it at least once. So, why should you go out of your way to try it? Mostly because it has an unusual history. The game dates back some 600 years, to the 15th century, only at that point it wasn’t a ‘game,’ exactly, but rather an educational tool designed to show students the consequences of sinning.
Even if you just play the modern, less-judgy version of the game, it’s always interesting to think about how many people may have been steered in the right direction because of this game!
Bridge
You’ll likely have heard about bridge, but it’s unlikely that you’ve ever played it. Why? Because this is absolutely not a game where you can just pick up the basics and crack on. It’s such a complex game that you really need to dedicate a lot of time to learning before you can get involved in the game.
The upside of learning such a difficult game? You’ll have friends for the rest of your life. Bridge is a highly social game (even though there’s no talking during actual gameplay), so you can expect it to become quite a big part of your life.
Scrabble
There are new, digital word games to play (we’re looking at you, Wordle), but Scrabble is an absolute classic. It dates back to 1938 and actually has quite an interesting backstory. It was made by a New Yorker who wanted to lighten the mood of his fellow Americans during what was a difficult economic period.
It’s worth investing in a physical copy of Scrabble since it’s one of those games that’s always good to get out of the cupboard on a rainy day or during celebrations. Just be aware that, though the game might have been intended to lift people’s spirits, arguments can break out if you disagree with your opponent about the legitimacy of one of the words that has been used!
**Contributed post
London Kids Weekend Scoop (November 14-17, 2024)
