Game

“Folk games” are an ancient Khmer cultural art in Southeast Asia and have flourished and are a great testimony to show the world to know and admire Khmer civilization. Folk games originated from the daily life of farmers in each era, without a date or name of the creator, the initiator, and a clear history. They originate from the labor force, the daily life of the people, the farmers, and are only a matter of continuity.

Cambodia has many folk games that people all over the country like to play in their free time, during festivals and large-small ceremonies, Khmer New Year celebrations, etc. have been a tradition since ancient times.

If we look closely at the characteristics of the games, we will see that there are some benefits in terms of physical and mental. In addition, those games are pure old Khmer civilization, because Cambodia is an old country in Southeast Asia, thousands of years old, so there is a lot of knowledge – music – games.

These games do not have rules and regulations. They play only according to their own notes from generation to generation according to their local customs. The non-inscription of Khmer games as a document makes Khmer games cannot live long, and even the influence of foreign games continues to dominate, Khmer games are gradually fading, But the inscription as a rule is very difficult, only to find the search for a long time to achieve.

Entertainment is one of the most important things of human life and Cambodia does have a lot of games available for people from kids to adult to enjoy their time together.

All Types of Khmer Folk Games You May Know

As Khmer new year is approaching, there are many kinds of traditional games that you may consider playing with your friends, relatives, families, or neighbors. If you are able to recognize and learn all those traditional games, you will improve a lot in physicality and mentality. Thus, now let’s look at all the 22 Khmer traditional games and other foreign influenced games as follows:

1. Sdech Jang or Eav Game or King Game (ល្បែងស្តេចចង់ ឬអៀវ)
2. Chhoung Game (ល្បែងឈូង ឬចោលឈូង)
3. Jarb Kon Klaeng Game (ល្បែងចាប់កូនខ្លែង)
4. Load Arn Taek Game (ល្បែងលោតអន្ទាក់)
5. Leak Kon Saeng Game (ល្បែងលាក់កន្សែង)
6. Orb Tro Lach Game (ល្បែងឱបត្រឡាច ឬបេះឳឡឹក)
7. Pror Jul Moan Game (ល្បែងប្រជល់មាន់)
8. Krorb Moan Game (ល្បែងគ្របមាន់)
9. Hide and Seek/Hiding Game or Bet Paun (ល្បែងបិទពួន)
10. Bos Angkunh Game (ល្បែងបោះអង្គញ់)
11. Kuos Po Phleak Game (ល្បែងគោះពញ្លាក់​ ឬទះពញ្លាក់)
12. Kuos Tro Loak Game (ល្បែងគោះត្រឡោក)
13. Sey Game (ល្បែងសី)
14. Teanh Praot/Tugging Rituals and Games (ល្បែងទាញព្រ័ត្រ)
15. Kon Koul Game (ល្បែងកូនគោល)
16. Reav Bong Korng Game (ល្បែងរាវបង្កង)
17. Jos Pror Mat Game (ល្បែងចោះប្រមាត់)
18. Bai Khom Game (ល្បែងបាយខុំ)
19. Leak Kon Kas Game (ល្បែងលាក់កូនកាស)
20. Leak Kh’chung Game (ល្បែងលាក់ធ្យូង)
21. Pork Jarb Game (ល្បែងប៉ក់ចាប)
22. Ok Chaktrong Game (ល្បែងអុកចត្រង្គ)
23. Pong Raot Koun Kromom Game (ល្បែងពង្រាត់កូនក្រមុំ)
24. Veay K’aom or Hit the Earthen Pot Game (ល្បែងវាយក្អម)
25. Lout Bav or Jumping Bag Game (ល្បែងលោតបាវ)
26. Champa Champei or Flowers Changing Name Game (ល្បែងចំប៉ាចំប៉ី)
27. Bout Sandek Game (ល្បែងបូតសណ្តែក)
28. Sokola Bon Bon Game (ល្បែង សូកកូឡា បុងបុង)
29. Dan Derm Sloek Chhoer or Leaf Racing Game (ល្បែងដណ្ដើមស្លឹកឈើ)
30. Bome Toek Dak Dorb or Pumb the Water Game (ល្បែងបូមទឹកដាក់ដប)
31. Kham Peh Kouk or Bite the Jicama Game (ល្បែងខាំប៉ិគក់)