Azul is a more modern example of this board game type. It has the vaguest of themes (laying Portuguese decorative tiles), and players know everything they need to from the get-go.

Though the Royal Game of Ur derives its name from the Mesopotamian metropolis where it was first unearthed, Finkel notes that archaeologists have since found more than 100 examples of the game ...

Since then, the mechanic has seen redeployment into other genres of game with mixed results, but there are loads of awesome examples. These are the best deck-building board games out there right ...

A board game dubbed “Hounds and Jackals” or “58 Holes” is believed to be the oldest in the world, with ancient versions found in multiple regions.