Senet was an ancient Egyptian board game believed to help the dead navigate the journey to the afterlife.

Senet is one of the oldest known board games in the world, with the earliest evidence dating back to the First Dynasty around 3100 BCE. Hieroglyphs from this era, as well as game boards found in Predynastic and First Dynasty burials, confirm its long-standing presence in Egyptian culture. The game was played on a grid of 30 squares arranged in three rows of ten.By the New Kingdom period (1550–1070 BCE), Senet had transformed from a secular game into a religious simulation of the Duat, or the Egyptian underworld. This shift is documented in the 'Book of the Dead' and various tomb inscriptions. The final five squares of the board were inscribed with specific religious symbols, such as the 'House of Water' on square 27, which represented a hazard the soul had to avoid.Archaeological finds, including those in the tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62) discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, contained four beautifully crafted Senet boards. These artifacts demonstrate that the game was essential for royalty and commoners alike. The inclusion of these boards in tombs was intended to provide the deceased with a way to pass the trials of the afterlife and achieve immortality.Researchers like Peter Piccione have studied the game's evolution, noting how the movement of the pieces mirrored the movement of the sun god Ra. This connection made the game a powerful tool for spiritual transition. Today, Senet remains a vital piece of archaeological evidence for understanding how ancient civilizations integrated play with their deepest religious beliefs.