# Common games you haven't played **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070 "2007-02-06T14:32:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/1 "2007-02-06T14:32:39Z")
What games ‘everyone plays/has played’ have you not played? Risk Diplomacy Stratego Cribbage Backgammon ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/2 "2007-02-06T14:34:11Z")
Any card game besides Old Maid, War and Go Fish. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/3 "2007-02-06T14:36:56Z")
The only one of those on your list I’ve played is Backgammon. I’ve never played: Twister Candyland Chutes and Ladders Spades I’m sure there are more. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/4 "2007-02-06T14:37:43Z")
Monopoly ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/5 "2007-02-06T14:44:15Z")
Well, has everyone played dominoes? Not me. ---
**Author:** ![Adoptamom\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/6 "2007-02-06T16:47:55Z")
I haven’t played any of the games below but my brothers really enjoyed Risk and Stratego. Risk Diplomacy Stratego I go back and forth between strategy games and mindless/entertainment games. When I’m stressed and want to take my mind off of something, I go for strategy. When I’m enjoying the company of friends/family I like the mindless games so I can visit more. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/7 "2007-02-06T17:06:28Z")
I’ve never even heard of Diplomacy. Probably the most famous board game I’ve never played is Yahtzee! (sp?) ---
**Author:** ![unfinished\_symphony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d9b06d/32.png) [@unfinished\_symphony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unfinished_symphony)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/8 "2007-02-06T17:20:45Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] Risk Diplomacy Stratego Cribbage Backgammon [/QUOTE] all of the above, and I’ve never heard of Stratego and Diplomacy. Card games? Also poker, which i’m rather curious about, Spin the Bottle, Strip Anything or Trivial Pursuit. I know, it’s been a sheltered life… ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/9 "2007-02-06T17:28:34Z")
I’ve also never heard of Diplomacy. I never played Yathzee until I was in my 20’s. I’ve never played Stratego either. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/10 "2007-02-06T17:38:27Z")
I’ve never played “Go”. I don’t even know what Diplomacy is. Is it “common”? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/11 "2007-02-06T17:43:10Z")
I’ve never heard of Go, either. And though I’ve played a zillion card games, I’ve never played War. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/12 "2007-02-06T17:56:12Z")
Ah such sheltered lives some people live. 🆒 Diplomacy is basically 7 people sitting around a table of 1900-era Europe and figuring out various ways to gradually eliminate the competition until just one remains. Involves discussions, secret deals, backstabs, the works. Mechanics of play are rather simple, but the strategy is deep. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/13 "2007-02-06T18:04:56Z")
I’ve never played Go, either. I’ve been meaning to, though. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/14 "2007-02-06T18:06:58Z")
Clue. Dominoes. Go. Diplomacy. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/15 "2007-02-06T18:18:46Z")
I’ve played all the games mentioned so far, with Cribbage being the latest addition, as I only picked up on the game last year. I’ve only played Go a few times though, and don’t particularly care for Diplomacy, which I played maybe 5 times in High School. I wouldn’t say it’s a particularly well-known or common game either, except to the “gaming” crowd (I’d put it on a popular level with, say, _Cosmic Encounter_). I am (or was) a fairly avid card player so I’ve played most of the major card games (Bridge, Poker, Hearts, Spades, Euchre, Gin, Rummy, Cassino, Cribbage, Crazy Eights), and of course any number of “kiddie” card games like Old Maid, Concentration, Spit, Bullsh\*t, PIG or Spoons, but not (yet) Canasta or Pinochle. I’m familiar with most major board games like Chess, Checkers, Chinese Chess, Chinese Checkers, Go, Backgammon and Parcheesi. I never played “Clue” growing up, but did eventually play a few rounds in college at a “throwback” gaming party. Same with “Twister”. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/16 "2007-02-06T19:40:38Z")
Card games: [ul] [li]Bridge[/li][li]Canasta[/li][li]Cribbage[/li][li]Go Fish[/li][li]Old Maid[/li][li]Pinochle[/li][/ul] Board games: [ul] [li]Backgammon[/li][li]Chutes and Ladders[/li][li]Parcheesi[/li][li]Twister[/li][/ul] There are several games I have played but it’s been so long since I played them that I would need to be refreshed on the rules. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/17 "2007-02-06T19:46:47Z")
Yeah, bridge, canasta and pinochle, too. (I was almost an adult before I finally realized how “pinochle” was pronounced.) ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/18 "2007-02-06T20:54:48Z")
I’ve never played Bridge or Canasta. I played “Sorry!” for the first time on New Year’s Eve, and I’m 31 years old. I hadn’t heard of Diplomacy until this thread, and I’ve never played Stratego, either. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/19 "2007-02-07T01:32:50Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] I’ve never played Go, either. I’ve been meaning to, though. [/QUOTE] I have the game, but never played it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-games-you-havent-played/391070/20 "2007-02-07T01:43:05Z")
> [@](#): > > all of the above, and I’ve never heard of Stratego and Diplomacy. Card games? Stratego is a board game vaguely reminiscient of chess, but different pieces are only marked on one side, and a player sets up es pieces (with the marks facing him) however e chooses. So you can’t be sure which of your opponent’s pieces is which, and have to deduce it from the moves it makes. And someone else asked about Go. I’m not entirely familiar with it, but it’s a Chinese board game played on a 19x19 grid. Players take turn placing stones on the board in an effort to surround other stones and capture them. It’s said to be more difficult to play well than chess, and the best computer players are roughly comperable to a 5-year-old human. Does mancala count as common? I’ve known about it for a while, but only actually learned the rules and played it this past December.