We are fortunate to know a good deal about recreation in Novgorod. People played board games including chess, draughts, mel'nitsa1(1) and dice. Chess appeared in the 12th century and may have arrived via trade with the Arabs. Mel'nitsa and dice seem to have arrived via trade in the Hanseatic League.(2)
Wooden toys were very popular. Over 70 wooden wheeled or "hobby" horses have been found in Novgorod excavations. Many other carved animals, including birds, dogs, seals, and beavers, were apparently created for play. Dolls have also been found. War toys, especially toy bows and swords, were very common. The realism of the carving on the toy swords has allowed archaeologists to create typologies for real swords of the time. (3)
The most prevalent toy in Novgorod was the wooden top; over 700 have been excavated to date. A close second was the balls, at first made of leather, and later of wood. Recovered sticks with a curved end strongly suggest that citizens played a form of field hockey.(4) One can imagine rough and boisterous games in the city's streets and yards.
NOTES(1) Thought to be similar to Nine Mens' Morris.
(2) Society for Medieval Archaeology, p. 171-3.
(3) Ibid, p. 173.
(4) Ibid, p. 175-6.