Nine Pins Game

Bowling games are among the oldest games in the world. Archeologists have found stone bowling pins and balls buried with the mummified remains of a child in Egypt who died around 5000 B.C. Cavemen probably bowled at targets to increase their skills at hunting. Ula Maika, an ancient Polynesian game, was played with stone pins and balls. An ancient Roman version of this game became known as "boccie," which is an Italian form of what the British refer to as "lawn bowls." In 12th-century England, lawn bowling was a popular pastime.

Indoor bowling began in German monasteries. The peasants who attended church always carried their big clubs called "kegels" with them. When they attended religious services, the monks had the peasants place their kegels at the end of a long narrow hallway. In order to be absolved of sin, the peasant would have to roll a round rock and knock down their club, which represented the Devil. If they missed, they would have to mend their ways and repent. The monks eventually made a fun game of this activity. The word "kegling" is still used today for bowling and "keglers" for bowlers.

Tabletop games rose in popularity when playing on the floor of pubs and taverns was no longer feasible. Special tables were made for games such as Skittles, Carom, and Crokinole. The table game of Bagatelle (from the French word meaning "a trifle" or "small thing") was also a popular game in the 19th century. By 1920, Bagatelle evolved into the pinball machine.