Ever wonder what the first-ever board game was?

Some of my favorite memories as a kid were playing board games like Monopoly, Clue, and Risk.

Even as games become more accessible on our phones, desktops and , board games remain near and dear to my heart. Catan anyone?

I’m not sure I can even remember what my first board game was, but the oldest one archaeologists have found is an Egyptian board game called “Senet”.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much information about the rules of playing Senet, but experts have concluded that it was a board game to start at one end of the board and cross onto the other end. It involved a puzzle-like mechanic with symbols and throw sticks!

Speaking of puzzles, if you ever want to try out one on your own, check out these seven free games that can give you the fun and challenge you need.

Five game insights we think will pique your interest!

On the topic of old games, do you remember arcade machines? Because we sure do! Gone might be the days of spending hours on end in your local arcade, but the games themselves still hold up today. Many liked playing Pac-Man or other arcade games, but here are some of the best retro coin-operated puzzle games back in the day.

As games became more popular and went on to become a massive industry, many people also wanted to test out making their own games, giving birth to many game engines that created the entertainment we so love today. For example, while the Unity engine has been recently under fire for its new policies regarding games, it is still one of the most versatile game engines that indie and corporate developers have used for many years.

Have you ever wondered how video games can impact your daily mindset towards work or any goal in particular? There’s this thing called the “Super Mario Effect” that allows us to learn more despite many challenges and setbacks. It makes us avoid getting hung up on possible negative repercussions and focus more on learning to reach the intended goal. And if you know Super Mario, you know that you’ll have to fall, get hit and keep trying to reach the princess in the castle.

Aside from work and goalsetting, video games have been proven to be effective in educating teenagers as well! Many different kinds of games can bridge education and entertainment, especially for students within the K-12 curriculum. So if you have a child or are an educator yourself, it’s very helpful to learn the power of video games as an educational tool.

It might be an oversimplification to refer to life as a game, but in certain aspects, it really is. Life is one big adventure game with many sidequests and stat requirements, and it’s a lot more hardcore since there are no savepoints or restarts. But therein lies the beauty of human life. As we struggle with a hard puzzle or section of the game, the satisfaction and knowledge we gain after getting past it is immense.

Just like video games, the journey, adventure, and challenges make life worth living. After all, being alive alone is to take risks, and playing at your own pace makes every day exciting. As English writer and philosopher Gilbert K. Chesterton would put it:

“The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground.”

Last week we mentioned we’re starting a new podcast. We have interviewed the developers behind three games already, and will be launching the first three episodes soon.

If you could hear the backstory behind your favorite game, what game would it be?

That’s all for this week. See you next Friday!

-The Hey, Good Game Team