There were times, when games were not simply games. They were objects of status. But even later, when mass production made game sets easily accessible commodities, prestigious game sets continued being emblems of status. But it is not only the material side of games that is of social importance. In fact, their immaterial side is much more interesting for the historian, the sociologist and other human scientists.
It is not so often we think of games as arenas of social relations and even social stratification. But they are. Who plays what, who plays with whom and who does not play with whom, when and where people play what, the use of games to serve education and other social goals, and other elements related to games and gameplay might reveal a lot about the relevant society or social group.
This is why games are valuable sources for the study of social and everyday life, social integration, social interaction, and social structure and stratification.