From Rummikub to Taki: Fascinating Facts About Israeli-Made Games

What do your kids play in the afternoons after they get home from school? The options, of course, are endless. They can play outside with a ball, jump rope, or engage in social and sports games; they can delve into mind games or electronic ones. But a perennial favorite among kids of all ages, still beloved today, is the classic board game.

Who doesn't love them? Board games fill the shelves of toy stores, offering enjoyable play alongside the development of various skills. Some board games are simple, designed for specific purposes and may not withstand the test of time. However, there are games that have been played for decades, spanning generations of children (and sometimes adults, too).

Did you know that a significant number of these games that you and your children enjoy were invented, developed, and sometimes even manufactured in Israel? Here are 6 fascinating facts about games developed in Israel that have achieved massive success both locally and worldwide.

1. Rummikub

The well-known game "Rummikub" is considered one of the three most popular board games globally, alongside Monopoly and Scrabble. This immensely popular game was actually invented, or rather developed, in Israel by a man named Ephraim Hertzano. The original game of Rummy was a card game, but during the communist regime, it was banned alongside other card gambling games. Ephraim Hertzano lived in communist Romania and came up with an interesting idea: to play the same game using tiles, like dominoes. This way, he and his family continued enjoying their favorite game.

When Hertzano immigrated to Israel, he decided to produce the game again. He hand-made six sets of the game, painting each tile by hand. Convincing a department store owner to sell the game took considerable effort, but once he succeeded, orders started pouring in, and the rest is history.

Incidentally, Hertzano's son, Micha Hertzano, today heads the well-known Israeli games company, Kodkod.

2. Guess Who

About 40 years ago, Ora Coster was feeling unwell. To keep her 5-year-old son occupied while she rested, she made board games with dice for him. A friend suggested marketing these games, and Ora and her husband Theo ventured into game development. One of their most famous creations is "Guess Who," which is sold worldwide in several versions, including adaptations for the ultra-Orthodox community featuring images of religious observers.

(Photo: Shutterstock)

3. Taki

The Taki game is the most recognized creation of Chaim Shafir, who is credited with many other popular games both in Israel and internationally. Shafir developed the game based on an older one he knew, realizing its potential success when he gave it to his son and nephew and saw them still playing when he awoke. Chaim Shafir invests heavily in developing the rules for the games he designs (he is also responsible for other well-known games like 7 Boom, Catch The Glass, RACE, and more), and advises children who truly want to enjoy these games to strictly follow the rules.

4. Imitations

One of the frustrating phenomena game developers face is imitation. Almost every quality game that hits the market, including Rummikub and Guess Who, soon encounters imitations. The goals for imitation vary: often it aims to sell a cheaper product, but sometimes, as with "Guess Who," it's about adapting to different audiences. Imitations, of course, hurt developers, who receive royalties for each of their sold games, but not for the copies. Nonetheless, many game developers claim they do not fight against imitations; rather, they see them as a sign of having produced something genuinely worthwhile.

In Israel, local imitations of popular foreign games sometimes become widespread. For example, in the past, "Concentration" was popular in Israel, essentially an Israeli version of the well-known Monopoly.

5. Israeli Games Abroad

Most game developers in Israel indeed work in this field full-time, studying psychological and developmental aspects to try and comprehend what games will captivate the target audience and what won't "catch on" in the market. Some developers operate within Israel, while others head straight to international exhibitions, where they can present their ideas to marketers from various countries, increasing the likelihood of their concepts being sold.