Senet

About this game

Senet is the board game of ancient Egypt, played for thousands of years and shown in tomb paintings. Throw four sticks, race five pieces along a 30-square path, swap lone enemy pieces, hold a wall of three, and avoid the House of Water. Rules follow a widely published modern reconstruction. Learn in ten hands-on lessons, watch free Auto Play play a whole game at your own pace, play five computer levels or a friend, and solve a daily puzzle. Ebony-and-ivory board, gilded inlay, faience pieces, tumbling sticks. No ads, works offline.

How to play

1. New here? Ten short lessons teach every move, or watch free Auto Play play a whole game at your own pace.
2. TAP the sticks to throw. Count the light faces: 1 to 4, or 5 if none. A 1, 4 or 5 earns another throw.
3. TAP a glowing piece, then TAP a glowing square. It moves exactly the number thrown, along the S-shaped path.
4. Land on a lone enemy piece to swap places. Pairs, and pieces on safe houses, cannot be swapped.
5. Three pieces in a row make a wall that nothing can pass. Every piece must stop on square 26.
6. Square 27 is the House of Water: it sends a piece back to 15. Leave with exact throws: 5 from 26, 3, 2 or 1 from 28-30.
7. A refused move shakes and tells you why. Hint shows a good move; Take back undoes yours.
8. First to bring all five pieces home wins. Beat each level for a star; a new puzzle every day.