Games are popular all around the world. No matter which country you visit, you’ll be able to find some new and interesting game that you haven’t heard of before. Whether they’re simple board games, card games played for real money or video games with high-quality graphics, there’s something for everyone.

Let’s take a look at some of the world’s most popular games.

Chess

This ancient game is played between two players on a typical chequered board that uses specially made pieces. The game is thought to have originated in India around the 7th Century but is now played by millions of people worldwide. Famous for being simple to play but difficult to master, chess is often thought to be linked to intelligence and to help develop the ability to strategise. Chess sets are often made with a lot of quality and care and can be extremely valuable. The most expensive set ever made was valued at more than $9 million and made with real gold and jewels.

Slot Machines and Pokies

Slot machines are popular all over the world but nowhere more so than in New Zealand. Here they’re commonly known as Pokies and can be found mostly in hotels and bars. You can also find virtual pokies online at sites like Jackpot City NZ. Pokies allow you to potentially win big jackpots in a short amount of time, part of the reason why they’re so popular.

Online slots can make use of 3D graphics and animations to make games even more exciting.Most slot games work by allowing you to spin a reel and match up different symbols to win. Classic games usually involve three to five reels and several different symbols to match up. Modern games often use bonus features like wilds and scatters to give you more chances of winning.

Poker

Poker is a game that’s also popular all over the world. The card game is simple to play but involves a lot of strategies alongside a bit of luck. There are lots of different variations of this card game but the most common is Texas Hold ‘Em. Successful players will have to use a mix of probability, psychology and game theory to get ahead. The game has seen an increase in popularity in recent years thanks to online poker sites which have made poker a lot more accessible and fun to play.

Monopoly

Often played with family members, this board game can be great fun. Players move around the board, using the roll of a dice and buy and trade properties. The game was first published in 1935 but is based on a much older game that was around since 1903. Players win by forcing their rivals into bankruptcy. The game is mostly enjoyed in the USA but has become massively popular around the world, being published in more than 100 countries and more than 37 languages.

Go

Often compared to Chess, this game was first played in China more than 2,500 years ago. Today there are more than 40 million Go players in the world although most of these live in East Asia. The game is played by two people and players win by capturing opposing pieces on the board. Games can last several hours and despite it being fairly simple, it can be very complex to master.