The Evolution Of Puzzles And Games

While the two words have come to be essentially interchangeable, there was at one time a fairly distinct separation between the words Puzzles and Games. Traditionally, the word “puzzles” referred to a tangible object, something which could be physically manipulated such as a jigsaw puzzle, wooden puzzle, or interlocking ring puzzle. The word “games,” on the other hand, referred more commonly to less tangible pursuits, such as mental games, pen and paper games, and interactive games such as tag or hide and seek. Additionally, the word “games” more frequently carries the connotation that it is something which can be enjoyed by multiple players, whether it is a board game, a video game, or a game of cards. Regardless of the specific terminology used to describe them, puzzles and games have been around for thousands of years. People have always needed a good way to relieve stress and entertain themselves and others. In fact, the last decade or so has seen a resurgence in the popularity of ancient games, as people attempt to understand the lives of their ancestors, and in general, look for new and interesting ways to enjoy puzzles and games. One of the interesting things about puzzles and games is that, while technology many be constantly improving and altering the way humans play various games, the activities of the past nonetheless remain enjoyable. It is interesting that the same types of puzzles and games which were enjoyed by humans thousands of years ago either have descendants in the world of gaming today, or can be enjoyed essentially unchanged. One example of this is the game Mancala, which is still played today and may be the world’s oldest board game, dating back to at least 7000 BC, and possible much earlier. It would seem that people throughout the ages have been entertained by very similar types of activities.