French Gaming Roots: The Top 4 Classic Games To Explore

3 Min Read

France’s gaming culture has a rich history and a unique blend of tradition and innovation. These games have been enjoyed for generations and played a significant role in binding society together. The country continues to celebrate its gaming heritage even today, and this article highlights four classic French games that you should know about and explore.

Pétanque

Pétanque involves throwing hollow metal balls (boules) as close as possible to a small wooden ball called the “jack”. Players must throw the ball from a specific position in a designated circle. 

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It is a popular version of an ancient game called boules, and it quickly gained popularity due to its distinct nature from the original game. The game is played on dirt or gravel courts and can be enjoyed individually or in teams. Its simplicity and accessibility make it suitable for all ages and social groups, leading to its widely growing popularity. It is played across France, and we think you should try it too.

Le Loup-Garou 

Le Loup-Garou is a French adaption of the classical social deduction game Mafia and gained popularity in the late 20th century as the party game.  In this game, players are given secret roles as villagers or werewolves. 

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Villagers try to identify and dismiss the werewolves during the daytime, while the werewolves try to take down villagers at night. It’s pretty interesting if you ask me. It’s a favourite at parties in France, and you should give it a try too.

Le Jeu du Facteur 

Le Jeu du Facteur is a traditional French game usually played by children, originating in rural communities. It mimics the role of a postman delivering a letter. Players sit in a circle while one of them acts like a “postman” running around dropping objects behind other players’ back. 

The chosen player chases the postman around the circle before they take their place. This game remains popular to this date among children for its simplicity.

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La Marelle

La Marelle has an interesting history as it dates back to the Roman times. It became a beloved game among children in France because of its minimal requirements and accessibility. 

Players draw numbered squares on the ground, hop on them on one foot, and try to avoid the lines. A small object like a stone is thrown into a specific square, and other players have to avoid stepping on it in order to win.

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