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Oldest Single-Player Game


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I know of several ancient multiplayer games, like Chess and Go, but what's the oldest single-player game? Solitaire? It seems like there must have been some single-player games before the invention of playing cards.

8 Comments

Doc Rampage said:

I'd expect that both jacks and mahjong solitaire predate solitaire with cards.

DeoDuce said:

"Name all of the animals"

Ben Bateman said:

Toss a rock in the air, then catch it.

Bernardo said:

"Catch your own tail". Our ancestors must have stopped playing THAT one millions of years ago. After a while they might have thought up "Can I start a fire" to occupy themselves.

the Pirate said:

Running could be a possibility. And if you've ever seen History of the World Part 1 the following things also existed: Clubbing women (or men) over the head and pounding the porpoise.

John S. said:

In the interest of not being vulgar, I was not going to suggest it, but I think that last one is probably the far-and-away winner.

Phelps said:

Vulgar hell, I got on to suggest the five finger jig as the oldest solo game. And I usually win!

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