Fun ways to enjoy classic table games at home and online

When it comes to entertaining ourselves, nothing can be considered more social than playing fun games with other people. Throughout the entirety of human civilization, people have always come up with interesting ways to pass the time of day, creating activities that can engage and entertain multiple participants.

Here at our site, we have curated thousands of videos for game commercials over the years, highlighting the popularity and hype surrounding the gaming industry, featuring countless genres and each appealing to diverse audiences. But prior to the current digital golden age, and long before anyone had even heard of the internet, people typically played board games around tables at home.

This inevitably leads us to ponder over some of the most popular game creations, many of which started life with completely different concepts and aims, yet went on to become hugely successful names or brands that everybody knows instantly. Get yourself seated at our virtual table, as we look at some classic games that can be played traditionally or online.

Solving the iconic murder mystery

Famed as one of the most popular board game inventions, Cluedo was actually created by British game designer Anthony Ernest Pratt in 1943, filling his mind with ideas to replace the tedium of working at an engineering factory. He was also a part-time musician, and while performing at country houses, guests would often play murder mystery games to entertain themselves.

This is what sparked the idea for the board game, which Pratt had titled “Murder!” before patenting his idea. Once the concept was presented to games manufacturer Waddingtons, they came up with the “Cluedo” name. Due to the popularity of detective authors like Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler at the time, the game was an instant hit.

Known as “Clue” in the United States, once the game was licensed to Parker Brothers and now Hasbro, millions of people have enjoyed playing detective and unravelling the murder mystery. Winning the game requires players to correctly gather clues, before declaring who did the dastardly deed, what weapon they used, and in which room.

For those who don’t have a boxed version of this iconic game to hand, or friends to play with, Marmalade Game Studio has their own digital version, taking the mystery to a wider variety of exotic locations. Aside from the classic mansion, we can sleuth our way to success at Hollywood Studios and even the Wild West, adding extra flavor to the game with single or multiplayer online options available.

Anyone for poker?

Ever since the intriguing card game rose to prominence from the American south, poker has gone on to establish itself as one of the quintessential casino games. Indeed, such is the popularity of poker these days, there are numerous variants based around the original classic, each providing novel and interesting ways to play.

Oftentimes when stuck in their military billets, and looking for entertaining ways to pass their time, soldiers and sailors often brought out decks of cards and began playing poker. The game itself still remains popular when played by family and friends, testing their skill and judgement around the kitchen table, whether using real money or substitute items for betting on hands.

But whenever there’s nobody else around to share our poker fun, jumping online can be just as engaging, now that online casino platforms offer streaming Texas Hold’em with live dealers. Highlighting the best options available in the United States, the Legit Gambling Sites team has provided readers with a useful guide covering what to expect, plus tips and advice focusing on how to play the Texas Hold’em poker variant.

Players connect via the live streaming services available at quality casino sites, which makes reading through some reviews an informative way to start, learning where the most authentic experiences can be found and enjoyed. The rest is up to each individual, as they take on the dealer and fellow players, all seeking those winning hands and cash prizes.

The game that turned capitalism into pop culture

For anyone who enjoys the idea of accumulating lots of cash, buying and selling properties while aiming to bankrupt rival players, then Monopoly is the timeless classic which never gets old. Remarkably, the original idea for the game was created by Lizzie Magie in 1903, designed to show that individual entrepreneurship was preferable to monopolies in the United States.

By the time Charles Darrow had bought the patent from Magie, then Parker Brothers launched the game in 1935, the original version was based around street names from Atlantic City, New Jersey. Little could they imagine back then, Monopoly would become the most successful board game of all time, selling almost 300 million copies worldwide and printed in countless different languages.

Having firmly established itself in popular culture, and currently owned by American games giant Hasbro, numerous variants have been launched around the same basic idea. These include versions of Monopoly localized for different countries and cities around the world, plus alternative takes for Star Wars and even Game of Thrones.

Given this is very much a social game and now in the digital age, Ubisoft has launched various online editions of Monopoly to play online, sating our thirst for capitalism by taking on players in multiplayer sessions. Likewise, the cute graphics and animations bring a whole new experience to this most iconic of board games, which is certain to remain popular for many more years to come.

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