I guess you have to put it in context. There are old tic-tac-toe boards also sculpted in stone (https://legioxiiisl.blogspot.com/2013/02/roman-board-game-te...), which is a very bad game. Anything would be better.
Maybe they were playing Gobblet Gobblers instead which is a much more fun game on the same size board.
Maybe they were playing Gobblet Gobblers instead which is a much more fun game on the same size board.