Let’s play at Asian Civilisations Museum’s latest exhibition – The Art and Design of Asian Games, dedicated to the history and evolution of games many of us are familiar with. Beginning 5 September 2025 till 7 June 2026, families can play and make memories at ACM’s exhibition and make use of the SG Culture Pass too!
Visiting ACM’s Lets Play! Exhibition: The Art & Design of Asian Games
It had been ages since I last visited the Asian Civilisations Museum in the heart of Singapore’s central business district. The name of the museum brought back fond memories of secondary school excursions to learn more about various art pieces and archeological findings in the Asian region.
You may have written off these priceless artifacts as junk before, but the latest stuff in the Special Exhibits Gallery located on Level 2 of the museum titled, “The Art and Design of Asian Games” is definitely worth a visit.
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I have always believed play and gamification to be serious motivators in getting individuals to learn or do something, be it strategy, concepts or clean up (cue Mary Poppins’ “Just a spoonful of sugar”).
They also strengthen bonds in the family and community and hopefully, help us to build better versions of ourselves.
This exhibition shows just how much thought and creativity went into the beautiful creation of the games we, as a society, used to play, and still play today. It marries art and design, revealing how geography, history and culture have been delicately woven into game-making and playing.
What to Expect at Asian Civilisations Museum’s Let’s Play! Exhibition
From Playing to Gaming: Board Games on Display
Upon entering the exhibit, you will read about how playing a game is different from just playing- a thoughtful hook indeed. Games involve creating an architecture of rules and having a goal at the end.
I particularly enjoyed looking at the intricate designs on the earliest game boards in the exhibit.
You will also be able to have a feel of different materials that have been used to make board games.
All these were placed at child height and I liked the little missions to spy with your little eye, where the various game boards were throughout the exhibit.
There is a large board game right next to the touch and feel section that I was surprised to find- an old version of a familiar game I still play with my children, the game of snakes and ladders.
It brought the idea of teaching morals and values through games to the forefront. Snakes brought you down, further from winning the game, when you committed a sin. Ladders brought you up, nearer to completing the game, when you landed on an action that was kind or demonstrated foresight or other centred-ness.
Card Games in Asia
You will then reach a section where there is a collection of card games that have traversed Asia over time.
These card games include cherki, the usual deck of cards and dominoes. There is also a beautiful mat that has cards embroidered onto it.
These games reminded me of Chinese New Year where my Peranakan aunties and grandmother would gather around a round marble table and play throughout the season. They really did bond over cherki and congkak!
From Ancient to Modern
The next section will bring you to a more current selection with associations in Singapore that still promote and play these games competitively today.
There were areas dedicated to Weiqi, Xiang Qi, Shogi and Chess, among others.
The tiny ancient figurines bring so much history to the table. We are able to tell how wealthy the owner of the game set was, which part of Asia influenced the maker of the game set, and the possible availability of materials in the region, just by examining these pieces.
Perhaps a highlight in this area is the chess feature that cycles video clips and pictures of an intense FIDE world championship match between Chinese player Ding Liren and India’s D. Gukesh.
The setup uses the same chess table and chairs in the nail biting match held in Singapore 2024. Fun fact, Singapore’s hosting of the 1st ING Cup finals in the 1980s was an inspiration for the 2025 award-winning Korean film, The Match. These remind us of how national pride is so much felt in what these games are known as- mind sports.
The exhibition is notably, a playable exhibition. You will be able to have a go at Go (Get it?? Get it??), also known as Wei Qi, and chess.
AI in games
Towards the end of the exhibition, I was delighted to find an interactive game of Chess and Go being played with a robot arm. This was really a testament as to how AI is being employed to train chess players. There is even an online and offline mode that enables players to connect with other players across the globe if they so wished to.
Let’s Play MORE!
In a separate Let’s play more! section, there is an expansive area with larger-than-life sized versions of board games. Take the time to have a roll of giant dice and move large chess pieces around. Totally instagrammable.
You will also be able to borrow games from a station to sit at the tables to play a round or two!
I loved the local card games that were available- Kopi King, Hawker Wars and Sushi Go! were part of the selection. Seats are limited though, so hopefully you manage to snag a table!
For younger kids, a scan-your-colouring station is available. The sheets are most adorable – they’re board game pieces! I had the pleasure of scanning my own colouring and watching it get sent up onto a large screen where it journeys across a road map not unlike the one in the game “The game of life”.
Things to Note Before Visiting the Exhibition
There are two entrances to the ACM and you will find the riverfront entrance has an outdoor extension to the exhibit- great for photos with the kids. Checkmates! is an installation by international artists Vendy Menthodos and Osheen Siva.
The government initiative of the Culture Pass just launched on the 1st of September 2025. Singapore citizens 18 years and above are given $100 in credits to spend on local arts and heritage events. This exhibition will qualify as one of the events for you to use your credits on.
Let’s play! The Art and Design of Asian Games runs from 5 September 2025 to 7 June 2026 at the Asian Civilisations Museum. Tickets are priced at $12 for Singaporeans and PRs and $25 for tourists and foreign residents.
Complement your trip to the exhibition with a visit to ACM & Me for a time of sensory play and learning.
The nearest MRT station is Raffles place MRT and is a picturesque 5 minute walk across a bridge to the doorstep of the ACM.
