AboutBones
From the frozen steppes of Siberia to the gravel courts of the Canadian prairies — and now, to your browser. The story of Bunnock is one of survival, community, and a shared love of a good throw.
The History of Bunnock
Born in the Cold
Long before it reached North America, the game that would become Bunnock was played by Russian soldiers deployed across Siberia. Far from home, with long stretches of idle time between missions, soldiers improvised games from whatever was at hand. Dead horses — a grim but common reality of military campaigns in harsh terrain — provided an unlikely resource: their ankle bones (knucklebones), which are uniquely shaped and satisfyingly hefty. Soldiers would stand these bones upright, designating some as "guards" and others as "soldiers," then throw other bones at them from a distance. It was a game of aim, technique, and strategy — and it spread through garrisons like wildfire.
Crossing the Ocean
The game arrived in Canada with Russian German settlers — Mennonite and Lutheran communities who emigrated from the Russian Empire to the prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They brought their language, their faith, their food, and their games. Bunnock (a name derived from the Russian word for "ankle bone") became a staple of summer community gatherings in these tight-knit farming settlements. The flat, open prairie landscape — often covered in crushed gravel or hard-packed earth — was ideal terrain for the game.
The World Championship
In 1985, the small town of Macklin, Saskatchewan (population ~1,500) held the first World Bunnock Championship — a tournament that has since grown into one of the most unique sporting events in Canada. Every August, Macklin fills with players from across North America and beyond, all competing for the title of World Bunnock Champion. The event has been held annually for over four decades, putting this Saskatchewan hamlet firmly on the map as the global epicentre of Bunnock. The championship uses full regulation sets and enforces all official rules, including the hammer rebuttal.
From Horse Bones to High-Tech Replicas
While the game was originally played with actual horse ankle bones — sourced from slaughterhouses and farms — the modern version uses precision-moulded synthetic plastic bones that replicate the shape and weight of the originals. The trademarked Bunnock™ set is manufactured to strict specifications, ensuring consistent weight and balance across all pieces. This standardisation brought the game into the competitive era, with regulation sets now available for purchase worldwide. The shape of the bone is critical: the slightly asymmetric ankle joint gives each piece a subtle wobble when it slides, adding an element of unpredictability that keeps even experienced players on their toes.
A Prairie Tradition
Bunnock is more than a game — it's a thread woven through the cultural fabric of the Canadian prairies. For the descendants of Russian German settlers, it connects generations to a shared heritage stretching back centuries.
Summer community picnics, church gatherings, and harvest celebrations in Saskatchewan and Alberta have featured Bunnock courts for well over a hundred years. Grandparents teach grandchildren the spin throw. Neighbours settle long-standing rivalries over gravel courts. The game is simultaneously simple enough for children and strategic enough to reward a lifetime of practice.
A Game of All Ages
One of Bunnock's greatest strengths is its inclusivity. The game's rules accommodate 2 to 8 players per side, teams can be mixed, and the underhand throw is accessible to players of all physical abilities. Unlike many sports, a seasoned senior player's technique and strategic knowledge can absolutely outperform a younger, more athletic player. The game rewards precision, patience, and experience — not just power.
World Championship
The annual World Bunnock Championship in Macklin, Saskatchewan draws hundreds of registered teams. The event features multiple divisions — open, ladies, and mixed — and has welcomed players from across Canada, the United States, and internationally.
A Hidden Gem
Despite its fascinating history and deeply loyal community, Bunnock remains relatively unknown outside the prairies. It has never had an Olympic moment or a viral social media breakout. It is, in a sense, one of the best sports you've never heard of — and that's part of what makes it special. Playing Bunnock puts you in an exclusive club of people who know.
"What started as a way to pass time in the cold Siberian winters became a beloved community tradition passed down through generations on the Canadian prairies."
About Bones Online
Why We Built This
Bones is a love letter to a game that deserves a wider audience. We built this digital version because we believe Bunnock is one of the most uniquely satisfying skill games in existence — and hardly anyone outside Saskatchewan knows it exists.
Our goal was to capture the physical sensation of the game as faithfully as possible in a browser environment: the weight of the throw, the satisfying spin of the bone, the cascade of soldiers falling in a chain reaction, the pressure of the rebuttal. Every mechanic in Bones Online is derived from the official Bunnock rules — including the coin toss, the hammer, and the guard-before-soldiers rule that defines the game's strategic depth.
Real-Time 3D Physics
Bones Online uses a fully three-dimensional physics simulation to model the flight, impact, and toppling of each bone piece. Every throw produces a unique outcome based on your angle, power, and spin. No two games play the same — just like the real thing.
Live Multiplayer
Challenge real players from around the world in live competitive matches. The lobby shows who's online right now — you can see other players, send a challenge, and be throwing bones within seconds. Competitive rankings are tracked on a global leaderboard.
Practice Modes
New to Bunnock? Start with Practice Mode to learn the throwing mechanic at your own pace — no opponent pressure, infinite throws. Time Attack and Precision modes let you challenge yourself and compete for personal bests on the practice leaderboard.
Play Anywhere, Free
Bones Online runs entirely in your browser — no download, no install, no subscription. It's free to play. Sign in with Google to save your stats and appear on the leaderboard, or play as a guest any time.
Our Mission
We want to introduce Bunnock to the rest of the world — and bring the prairie community together across distances.
Global Reach
Bunnock has been locked behind geography for over a century. The internet breaks that barrier. Anyone with a browser can now experience the game that generations of prairie Canadians have loved.
Preservation
Traditional games die when the communities that play them disperse. By creating a digital version with full rule enforcement, we help preserve the authentic Bunnock experience for future generations.
Community
For those who grew up throwing bones at summer picnics, Bones Online is a way to keep playing with friends and family no matter where life takes them. Distance is no longer a reason to stop playing.
What Makes Bunnock Unique
Strategy Over Strength
Unlike many throwing sports, raw power is secondary in Bunnock. The spinning underhand delivery requires finesse and a repeatable technique. A 70-year-old with decades of practice can — and frequently does — outplay a strong 25-year-old newcomer.
The Rebuttal Rule
The hammer-and-rebuttal mechanic creates a game that is never over until the last bone drops. Unlike sports where a commanding lead equals a certain win, in Bunnock the hammer team always has a shot. This keeps every game tense from start to finish.
Physically Satisfying
There is something uniquely satisfying about the physics of Bunnock. The weighted bone, the spin, the sliding approach, the cascade of falling pieces — it engages your senses in a way that few games match. It's why people who discover Bunnock tend to play it for life.
Genuine Heritage
Bunnock has a documented history spanning nearly two centuries across two continents. It's not a manufactured game — it evolved organically from real human need and creativity. Playing it connects you to a lineage of players stretching back to Siberian soldiers.
Comparable Games — But Not Quite
Bunnock is often compared to bocce, horseshoes, or curling — but it's genuinely different from all of them. The guard mechanic, the spin throw, the rebuttal rule, and the chaotic chain-reaction knockdowns create an experience that truly has no equivalent.
A Spectator Sport Too
At the World Championship in Macklin, spectators crowd around courts to watch skilled players execute technically precise throws. The sliding approach, the spin, and the dramatic chain reaction of falling bones makes Bunnock genuinely exciting to watch — even for people who have never played.
Ready to Play?
The lobby is live right now. Jump in, challenge a player, and experience the game that Saskatchewan has kept secret for over a century.
Enter the Lobby