A game board (or gameboard; sometimes, playing board[1] or game map[2]: 25 ) is the surface on which one plays a board game.
The oldest known game boards may date to Neolithic times, however, some scholars argue these may not have been game boards at all. Early Bronze Age artifacts are more universally recognized as game boards (for games such as Egyptian senet and mehen, and the Mesopotamian Royal Game of Ur). Most ancient board games were race games, utilizing random outcome generators like dice.
Game boards evolved in complexity and design, with early examples featuring various shapes before the quadrilateral grid became common for abstract games. They serve as the primary interaction zone for players and can range from simple to highly elaborate, sometimes incorporating three-dimensional or electronic components. Modern board games often illustrated modular or customizable boards, enhancing replay-ability and player engagement.
- ^ Sebbane, Michael (September 2001). "Board Games from Canaan in the Early and Intermediate Bronze Ages and the Origin of the Egyptian Senet Game". Tel Aviv. 28 (2): 213–230. doi:10.1179/tav.2001.2001.2.213. ISSN 0334-4355. Archived from the original on 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ Daniels, Jesse Terrance (2022-08-30). Make Your Own Board Game: Designing, Building, and Playing an Original Tabletop Game. Storey Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-63586-342-0. Archived from the original on 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-06-03.