Race game

A race game is a specific category of board games. The primary objective is to be the first player to move all pieces to the end of a track. This type of gaming is incredibly widespread across the globe. In fact, scholar David Parlett noted that all cultures with games possess some form of race game. These games represent the earliest known type of board game in human history. Archeological evidence shows implements and representations of these games dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. Such ancient examples have been found in Egypt, Iraq, and Iran.

Most race games function through a specific mechanism involving chance and movement. Players often use dice to decide their available options. The roll of the dice determines how many spaces a piece moves along the track. The tracks themselves come in many different shapes. Some tracks follow a spiral pattern. Others use a cross or a circle shape. Some tracks are square. These square tracks might follow a "boustrophedon" pattern, which is a winding path like in Snakes and Ladders. Other square tracks are "labyrinthine," meaning they resemble a maze, such as in the game Thaayam.

Researchers often categorize race games by their ratio of luck to skill. This classification helps players understand how much strategy is required to win. Another way to group them is by their geographical origin or the specific shape of their tracks. This creates a spectrum of gameplay. At one end, games rely almost entirely on chance. At the other end, games require deep tactical thinking. This variety allows the genre to include everything from children's pastimes to highly competitive matches.

Simple race games are the most basic form. These games involve pure luck. A player typically has only one piece to move. Because there is only one piece, the outcome depends solely on chance. The Game of the Goose is the ancestor of most simple Western race games. Snakes and Ladders is another example, which descended from simple race games from the Indian subcontinent. Even the ancient Egyptian game Mehen was likely a simple race game.

Complex race games introduce a balance of chance and strategy. While they still emphasize luck, they offer more choices. Players often move more than one piece, typically four pieces at a time. Players can make specific moves to put their pieces in advantageous positions. Many of these belong to the "cross and circle" game family. Popular games like Ludo, Parcheesi, Trouble, Mensch ärgere Dich nicht, and Sorry! all derive from ancient Indian games called Pachisi and Chaupar. These connections show how game mechanics travel across time and borders.

Multiplex race games shift the focus toward strategy. They still retain an element of chance, but every move a player makes has a great impact on the outcome. Players in these games move multiple pieces, just like in complex games. However, the tactical decisions are much more significant. The "tables game" family is a major group of multiplex games. Backgammon is the most well-known representative of this group. Other examples include Trictrac and Acey-deucey. Ancient games like the Egyptian Senet and the Mesopotamian Royal Game of Ur may also belong in this category.

Finally, there are strategic race games. These games aim to eliminate or make the element of chance trivial. Examples of this highly tactical style include BantuBantu and Hare and Tortoise. It is important to distinguish race games from other types of board games. Some games use a "roll-and-move" mechanism but are not race games. For instance, running-fight games like Coppit use dice, but the goal is to capture enemy pieces rather than finish a track. Similarly, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit use dice, but there is no physical finish line. In those games, winning is about collecting assets rather than reaching a position.

Some scholars suggest a broader definition for race games. This definition would include any game where the winner is the first to reach a specific position. This would add games like Hex, Agon, Chinese Checkers, and Tic-tac-toe to the category. However, most board game surveys follow the work of H.J.R. Murray. Murray assigns games played on two-dimensional fields to different categories, such as "Games of Alignment and Configuration." Other experts like Bell and Parlett use terms like "Games of Position" or "Space Games." Most experts prefer to keep only linear games in the official race games category.