THE GAME
Look and feel same as original
The Base Plausible Rule
Several ancient rules can be suggested based on recent scientific studies, and we now have a good understanding of the meaning of each piece and their classification.
The suggested rule, which is scholarly, is supported by historical evidence. It's fun to play, and purely based on historical evidence and the game’s playability.
To play any difficulty mode in this game, you don’t need to log in or pay. It’s completely free and always will be, and we don’t display any advertisements. The goal is to get familiar with the Shahr-i Sokhta board game and simply have fun.
The Origin of The Game of 20
We keep it simple
The game is playable on all platforms.
It helps you understand and follow the ancient rules, giving you a glimpse of how it might have been played 4,700 years ago.
This is the oldest known version, possibly the origin, of the game of twenty.
It features complete sets, with each player controlling 12 pieces that race and fight across 12 spaces.
We don't offer customized versions; the aim is to help you learn and become familiar with the rules.
Version 3.5
Enhanced AI, improved user interface, added a new Skilled difficulty level, added snake sounds to the game,
and composed official music for the game by Zoe Wynns
Play against the AI, which presents a solid challenge without being overly difficult. It’s a slightly balanced experience, best for learning, and the dice can be a bit in your favor. Once you master and understand the strategy, you can move to skilled mode.
This mode will skill you up a bit. AI will play more strategically in this mode. We believe this is the best and most reasonable challenge, and it's enjoyable. The best advice: act fast!
The AI ramps up its tactics in this mode. It will plan ahead, adapt, and do whatever it takes to avoid defeat (including the dice challenge). However, victory is still possible if you plan carefully, set your strategy wisely, and take calculated risks.
Good luck, and remember: victory favors the prepared!
Original Stands
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Challenge
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| This is how the pieces were placed on the board in ancient times. While they were likely not originally upright, we arranged them in that position, and they now stand proudly |
A player could win in challenge mode. TIP : Move your blockers, and of course, you need some luck. |
The Pieces
Each piece has its own meaning. Remind you of chess?
Main | 20xRunner
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|---|---|---|
| Only move forward | Can Only capture Main | Compulsory move |
Blockers | 2xIdeal for capturing
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| Only Active when roll number 3 | Can Only capture Main | Optional move |
Blockers | 2xIdeal for blocking
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| Only Active when roll number 3 | Can Only capture Main | Limited optional move |
Safe | 3x
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| Main are safe | Get Extra throw | Fixed position |
Scholarly Rulesets
Complex to look at, but easy to play
Once we understand and analyse the full game set, along with the meaning of each piece and the supporting historical evidence, we can begin to introduce the first plausible ancient rules among several possible interpretations. These rules should make the game playable, engaging, and easy to follow, while still aligning with what we know from history. After all, we are talking about a game from 4,700 years ago. At the same time, we know that this variant features unique pieces and is not a simple race game compared to other ancient board games. We are looking at a phenomenal board game that remained unknown for half a century, and it is already beginning to reshape the history of board games.
In 1952, H. J. R. Murray, in A History of Board Games Other Than Chess, noted that very early games typically featured simple orthogonal movements, often limited to a single step. These early games usually used identical pieces of equal value, played on a variety of board shapes. Based on this, we can assume that most ancient board games were generally simple, with limited movement. Diagonal movement, for example, may not have been commonly used.
However, the Shahr-i Sokhta board game stands out. It is not an ordinary board game from the ancient world.
It features 27 geometric pieces played on a circular-spaced board, unlike the more common square-spaced boards. At the same time, it is still the same kind of game at heart, simple in concept but offering depth through strategy and design.
The Orthogonal and Diagonal Movement
We cannot say for certain that all ancient board games used only orthogonal movement. There were no universal rules for how pieces moved. Different variants existed, and the possibility that some games allowed diagonal movement is just as high as those that used orthogonal movement. However, all movements likely remained simple and were limited to a single step.
Start & Finish
With the Shahr-i Sokhta board game, we can be fairly certain that the start and finishing points are the head and tail ends of the board.
The recent study confirms the direction of the Game of 20. We now know that both players race and compete using their 12 pieces across 12 spaces. The direction is similar to what the Masters previously proposed, but the key difference is that both players finish at the same point. This directional insight is another aspect of the study that deepens our understanding of the Game of 20.
The Rules In Summary
You need to make smart moves in this game, but you don't have to rush. The game will teach you how to play as you go.
The goal is to navigate all your 10 pieces around and off the board before your opponent and get all your pieces to the finish line to win.
You move your pieces along the board, rolling a four sided rectangular die to decide how far you go. You can kick out your opponent's pieces, if you land on a special space/rosette, your piece is safe and you get an extra throw. Unlike the royal game of Ur version, you have two extra pieces
that can block your opponent's moves. They become active when you roll a three. The best way to understand the rules is to play them yourself.
Source: National Geographic |