Mancala, an ancient game dating back seven thousand years, is still popular today and played by many. Originally from Ethiopia, Sudan, and Eritrea, it eventually spread to the Middle East, India, and eventually to parts of Southeast Asia and the Americas. This game evolved for thousands of years until it became the mancala we play today. A fun and strategic game like this deserves a solid 4.5 out of 5 rating.

Using strategy to outsmart others, I give mancala a higher rating than four, because unlike other games like snakes and ladders, it doesn’t depend on luck, but instead, the decisions you choose to make. This game allows us to play fairly, and when you lose, you can’t blame it on your luck; you can only blame yourself.

Mancala can also be enjoyed by adults. This is another reason why I would rate it higher than four. Unlike Barbies and LOLs, Mancala is a game even adults will show interest in. It relaxes their minds and makes them focus on the game instead of work or others. Mancala allows them to take a quick breather before losing to their kids.

However, I can’t give mancala a perfect five out of five, because after a while, it can get boring. The person who loses may not want to keep playing anymore. Plus, the time duration of the game is not that long. It only takes a few minutes for the person to win. Unlike snakes and ladders, there isn’t a game changer like when the person lagging suddenly climbs a ladder and ends up ahead of the leading player. There is no such thing in mancala.

However, no matter what, Mancala is totally worth playing. It’s impressive that this game even lasted this long and evolved this much. It can even be enjoyed by all, no matter the age. Though it sometimes isn’t as exciting as other games, Mancala is truly a game worth playing!