The Arab World has a rich culture and history of card and board games, many of which have been enjoyed for centuries. These games are often played with family and friends, and they can be a great way to socialise and bond. Here are some of the most popular card and board games in the Arab world:
- Tarneeb: Tarneeb is a trick-taking card game played with a 40-card deck. The game is played between two teams of two players each. Each team takes turns dealing cards to each other, and then they compete to win tricks. The team with the most tricks at the end of the game wins. Tarneeb is a very popular game in the Arab world, and it is often played with high stakes. The game is known for its complex rules and strategies, and it can be very challenging to master.
- Trix: Trix is a trick-taking card game played with a 32-card deck. The game is played between four players, each playing individually. Players take turns dealing cards to each other, and then they compete to win tricks. The player with the most tricks at the end of the game wins. Trix is a very fast-paced game, and it is known for its exciting and unpredictable gameplay. The game is also relatively easy to learn, making it a good choice for beginners. Trix includes many varieties such as “Complex” amongst others.
- Backgammon: Backgammon is a two-player board game played on a board with 24 triangles. Each player has 15 checkers at the start of the game, and the goal is to move all of the checkers to their home board and then bear them off the board. The first player to bear off all of their checkers wins the game. Backgammon is a very popular game all over the world, and it is known for its complex strategies and exciting gameplay. The game can be played for both casual and competitive purposes. There are many varieties of Backgammon in the region including Sheesh, Solo, Partner, and so on.
- Tawla: Tawla (Levantine for Table) is the name for Backgammon around the MENA region. The game is played in the same way as Backgammon, but there are a few minor differences in the rules. For example, in Tawla, players are allowed to double the stakes at any time during the game. Tawla is a very popular game in the Arab world, and it is often played with high stakes. The game is known for its complex strategies and exciting gameplay.
- Ludo: Ludo is a board game for two to four players, in which the players race their four tokens from start to finish. The game is played on a board with a square track, and players roll dice to move their tokens around the track. The first player to get all four of their tokens to the finish wins. Ludo is a very popular game all over the world, and it is known for its simple rules and easy gameplay. The game is a good choice for players of all ages and skill levels.
All of these games are very popular in the Arab world, and they can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Rounding up the above (and then some), Tamatem Games published one of the best all-in-one apps: VIP Jalsat. The app is available in English as well with tutorial videos for all the games above. You don’t want to download the app? We’ve got you covered, fam. We’ve launched a web version of the game with the same games for our players to enjoy it on the web.
Moving towards the Arabian Peninsula, we come face to face with its most popular card game: Baloot. Baloot is a fun card game that’s popular in the Arab world. It’s a bit like Bridge, but with some unique twists.
To play, you’ll need a deck of 40 cards (no jokers). Players are divided into two teams of two, and each player is dealt eight cards. The player to the dealer’s left leads the first trick. Players must follow suit if they can, but if they can’t, they can play any card they want. The player with the highest card in the trick wins the trick.
The winner of the trick leads the next trick. The game continues until all of the cards have been played. The team with the most tricks at the end of the game wins. There are a few special rules in Baloot:
- If a player has the King and Queen of trumps in their hand, they have a “Baloot.” A Baloot is worth 40 points.
- If a player wins a trick with the Jack of trumps, they have a “Jass.” A Jass is worth 20 points.
- If a player wins a trick with the Ace of trumps, they have a “Ten.” A Ten is worth 10 points.
The first team to reach 152 points wins the game.
Baloot is a great game to play with friends and family. It’s easy to learn, but it can be challenging to master. In matter of fact, one of our most successful games is VIP Baloot, with millions of active users, and just like VIP Jalsat above, it too has a web version for those slow days at the office! Go ahead and impress your Arab friends with your skills!
About Us:
Tamatem Games is committed to helping the Arabic mobile gaming market reach its full potential. By localising popular mobile games, publishing original Arabic mobile games, supporting eSports, and investing in Arabic mobile game development, Tamatem Games is playing a key role in shaping the future of Arabic mobile gaming. Our most popular games include Fashion Queen, VIP Baloot and Battle of Kings. In addition, card players from across the MENA region have been enjoying our in-depth card game, VIP Jalsat.
