The Book of Classic Board Games

About this board game

The Book of Classic Board Games is a 1991 collection of 15 timeless games for 1–4 players, with play listed at about 10 minutes. It presents itself as “History’s First Understandable Set of Game Directions,” bringing a wide range of classic titles together in one approachable reference.

This collection spans familiar favorites and distinctive traditional games. Players can find strategy, abstract play, and puzzle-like challenges across a varied selection of names, making the book a broad introduction to classic board-game traditions.

• Backgammon
• Checkers
• Go
• Nine Men’s Morris
• Cats and Dogs, also known as Blue & Gray
• Solitaire
• Roundabouts, also known as Surakarta
• Brax
• Mancala, also known as Kalah
• Hasami Shogi
• Hoppers, like 2-player Halma
• Dalmatian Pirates and Volga Bulgars, also known as Fox & Geese
• Hex
• 3-D Tic Tac Toe, also known as Qubic
• Fandango, also known as Fanorona

The Book of Classic Board Games is especially notable for the breadth of its selection. It includes well-known classics such as Backgammon, Checkers, Go, Mancala, Hex, and Solitaire alongside less familiar entries and alternate versions of traditional games.

With 15 games collected in one volume, The Book of Classic Board Games offers a compact way to explore enduring titles from different traditions. Its listed player range of one to four makes the collection suitable for both solo and group play, while the 10-minute play time provides a concise overview of the experience associated with the set.