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This is a far cry from the world's most expensive board game of modern times, the Jewel Royale Chess Set, which sold for a mind-boggling £8.5 million! Created in 2005 by the British jewellery brand Boodles, it is crafted from solid gold and platinum. Decorated with almost 1,000 precious stones including diamonds, rubies and sapphires, it includes highly realistic horse sculptures serving as the knights.
Multi-million-pound games aside, just when did board games in general start to become so popular?
What was the very first board game?
The earliest known board games were played by the Ancient Egyptians around 5,000 years ago. No one knows the rules of the first games, but a "Senet" board has been discovered, dating back to around 3500 BC.
If you play backgammon, chess, or Nine Men's Morris, you're playing board games with more than 1,000 years of history behind them.
In western Europe, early civilisations were playing a game known as Tafl, which was similar to chess, in around 400 BC. In China and India, the first known version of the game of chess was played in 200 BC, while backgammon was played in Iran from 600 AD. Nine Men's Morris, a strategy game for two players, is believed to have its origins in the Roman Empire.
The golden age of board games was the 19th century, when the middle classes had more leisure time and enjoyed a growth in income. The home was the centre of entertainment and board games helped develop literacy skills and provided moral guidance.
Are any board games worth a lot of money now?
Aside from the extra special board games such as Boodles, other games that were inexpensive in their day are worth a lot of money now.
The oldest Monopoly game, made by Charles Darrow and dating from 1933, is valued at £127,000 today. Believed to be the only surviving board of the first 5,000 made, it was bought at auction by the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.
The 40th-anniversary edition of Risk, the Collector's Edition, released by Parker Brothers in 1998, fetches around £260 in mint condition, while the 3D Monopoly New York edition can sell for £430 to £870.
Star Wars: The Queen’s Gambit, based on the plot of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, sells for around £525 in online auctions. The 1980s game, Dark Tower, sells for about £325 and Fireball Island, from the late '90s, fetches up to £350.
Some board games have simply stood the test of time, retaining their popularity over the decades and holding their own against modern digital entertainment.
1. Chess
The world's most popular board game, as well as one of the oldest, chess is a game of pure strategy between two players. It is played by around six million people in the UK. In India, 70% of the adult population plays chess, equating to 85 million players!
2. Monopoly
Originating in the early 20th century; Monopoly was released by Parker Brothers initially but was taken over by Hasbro in 1991. It was based on Elizabeth Magie's 1903 idea, The Landlord's Game, in the United States. It has sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide and is enjoying even greater success under Hasbro, which is one of the world's largest board game manufacturers - celebrating its centenary next year.
3. Risk
Another game by Parker Brothers, Risk was invented in the 1950s by French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse. The board depicts a territorial and political map of the earth, spanning 42 territories. The players attempt to take over their opponents' territories with the roll of a die.
4. Scrabble
The ever-popular Scrabble was invented in 1933 by Alfred Mosher Butts, an unemployed architect, during the Great Depression in America. It continues to be widely played today, keeping our minds sharp and active.
5. Battleship
Battleship is a guessing game played by two players who try to find and sink each other's battleships on a board. It has been around since the 1930s, when it was invented as Salvo by Clifford Von Wickler. Originally played using pen and paper, it became a board game in 1967, when it was released by Milton Bradley. It was one of the first games in computer history, as Microsoft created a version in the 1980s that was played using the Windows 1 operating system.
While the murder-mystery game Cluedo is at number six on the list, it's well worth a mention, as it's been around since 1943, when it was invented by British designer Anthony Pratt. It was first manufactured in the UK by Waddingtons in 1949.
Are board games popular at Christmas?
There's still a great Christmas tradition of playing board games, particularly on Boxing Day, as it's something people of all ages can enjoy doing together and isn't too taxing after the festive excesses! Research has found a massive 84% of people in the UK will play at least one board game over the festive period. In a recent survey of 2,000 people, Monopoly was voted the UK's most popular Christmas board game.
Sales of board games increased by an average of 18% during the pandemic, as people looked for new hobbies. In particular, home-schooling led to a trend for educational games. During the first official week of lockdown, sales of board games sky-rocketed by a massive 240%! We have continued to play board games ever since.
By 2025, the global board games market will be worth more than $21 billion if growth continues at its current rate. The biggest group of board game players are aged between 35 and 44, according to a survey of 850 people. The second biggest group are aged between 25 and 34. Slightly more men than women tend to play.
Research has shown playing board games stimulates the brain and increases brain functions. Studies have suggested it can help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and keeps older people's minds sharp. It's also a great social activity for people of all ages, increasing laughter and reducing stress.
If you're wondering how to keep the family entertained this Christmas, it could be time to dig out the old favourites – and why not add to the collection and gift some new ones to loved ones! Always store your board games properly – it will help to ensure you don’t lose any of the pieces.
There's nothing worse than sitting down for an entertaining game of Monopoly on Boxing Day, only to find half the properties are lost in the attic!