Louvre Abu Dhabi opens a new board‑game exhibition on July 18.
Exploring five millennia of play
The exhibition, titled A Board Game Adventure, will run until April 25 and brings together 24 objects from the museum’s own collection and international lenders. It blends immersive environments with digital challenges, letting visitors try chess, mancala, Ludo and carrom while learning how games travelled across continents. The display also features a custom‑created artificial intelligence player, offering a modern counterpart to the ancient games on view. By covering artifacts from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the museum demonstrates how play has persisted from stone and seed pieces to today’s interactive formats.
Amine Kharchach, interpretation and creative content section head at Louvre Abu Dhabi, explains the museum’s two‑pillar approach. "The exhibitions at the Children’s Museum rely on two pillars," he says, adding that the first pillar is to design an experience that is accessible and engaging for families with children between four and 12 years old. The second pillar, he notes, is to address subjects that reflect Louvre Abu Dhabi’s universal approach to history and to highlight exchanges between cultures and civilisations, reinforcing the museum’s educational mission.
Games that shaped cultures
Among the highlights is Mehen, the ancient Egyptian “Game of the Snake” played between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago. Its spiral board took the form of a coiled serpent, a design that the exhibition links to later spiral race games such as the Game of the Goose. A 58‑hole board known as Hounds and Jackals, dating from about 3,000 years ago, shows early use of animal‑headed pins and special spaces that move pieces forward or backward. The Indian race game Pachisi, dating back about 450 years and the direct ancestor of today’s Ludo, illustrates how a single game can evolve across cultures. Ban‑sugoroku, a Japanese backgammon variant that originated in the Middle East and travelled through China before reaching Japan, further underscores the fluid movement of rules and ideas.
Kharchach adds, "We wanted our young audience to explore iconic board games that we still play today and to see how these games were conceived, how they travelled across continents, how they adapted to new contexts and, more importantly, how they connected people." The exhibition also frames board games as tools for learning, imagination and social connection. "We consider play to be one of the most widely shared human experiences," he says, emphasizing that the exhibit encourages visitors to see how games can spark curiosity, foster imagination and bring people together across time and geography.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Louvre Abu Dhabi board game exhibition open?
The exhibition 'A Board Game Adventure' opens on July 18 and runs until April 25.
What age group is the Louvre Abu Dhabi board game exhibition for?
The exhibition is designed for families with children aged four to twelve.
What are the highlights of the Louvre Abu Dhabi board game exhibition?
Highlights include ancient games such as Mehen, the Egyptian 'Game of the Snake', Hounds and Jackals, Pachisi, and a custom AI opponent.
What games can visitors play at the Louvre Abu Dhabi exhibition?
Visitors can try chess, mancala, Ludo, carrom, and historical games like Ban‑sugoroku.
How long is the Louvre Abu Dhabi board game exhibition running?
The exhibition will be open from July 18 until April 25.
