What game is most like Checkers?

Onitama (2014) is the closest match to Checkers, sharing abstract strategy, grid movement, pattern movement. It rates 7.4/10 on BoardGameGeek.

What should I play if I like Checkers?

Onitama, Chess, Patchwork Winter Edition are the top-ranked alternatives to Checkers in the MeeplePick database, matched on medium-light complexity as well as mechanics. All 18 are ranked on this page with the shared mechanics shown for each.

Is Onitama harder than Checkers?

Compared with Checkers, Onitama is same complexity and ~12 min shorter (1.7 vs 1.8 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Checkers / Similar games

18 games like Checkers

The best games like Checkers are Onitama, Chess and Patchwork Winter Edition — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Onitama shares abstract strategy, grid movement, pattern movement with Checkers.

Every alternative below links to its own Checkers-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s abstract strategy / comic book / strip shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Checkers’s 1.8 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

1. Onitama (2014)
2 players · 15–20 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 4 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (100%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · ~12 min shorter · same complexity
View Onitama on Amazon →
2. Chess (1475)
2 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-heavy
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 4 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (100%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · ~30 min longer · +1.9 heavier
View Chess on Amazon →
3. Patchwork Winter Edition (2014)
2 players · 15–30 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Square Grid · 1 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (25%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
View Patchwork Winter Edition on Amazon →
4. War Chest (2018)
2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (25%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · +0.5 heavier
5. Quoridor Travel (1997)
2–4 players · 15 min · ★ 6.7 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 2 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (50%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~15 min shorter · same complexity
6. Santorini (2016)
2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Square Grid · 1 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (25%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~10 min shorter · same complexity
7. Feudal (1967)
2–6 players · 90 min · ★ 6.0 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 3 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (75%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · scales to 6 · ~60 min longer · +0.5 heavier
8. Inside Moves (1930)
2 players · 15 min · ★ 6.7 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 3 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (75%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · ~15 min shorter · +0.6 heavier
9. Hive (2000)
2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (25%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · ~10 min shorter · +0.6 heavier
10. Abalone Classic (1987)
2 players · 30 min · ★ 6.5 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Static Capture · 2 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (50%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · about the same length · +0.4 heavier
11. Jungle King
2 players · 20 min · ★ 6.0 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 3 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (75%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · ~10 min shorter · same complexity
12. Fire Tower (2019)
2–4 players · 15–30 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 2 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (50%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · same complexity
13. Stratego (1946)
2 players · 45 min · ★ 6.1 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 2 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (50%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · ~15 min longer · same complexity
14. Aqualin (2020)
2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 2 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (50%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · ~10 min shorter · same complexity
15. Fox and Geese (1400)
2 players · 20 min · ★ 4.8 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 3 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (75%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · ~10 min shorter · 0.2 lighter
16. Shogi (1587)
2 players · 60 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-heavy
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Movement, Square Grid · 3 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (75%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · ~30 min longer · +2 heavier
17. Ricochet Robots (1999)
1–99 players · 30 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium-light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (25%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 99 · about the same length · +0.6 heavier
18. Frogriders (2017)
2–4 players · 20–30 min · ★ 6.5 · Light
Shares with Checkers: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Static Capture · 2 of Checkers’s 4 mechanics (50%)
vs Checkers: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · 0.4 lighter

Check Onitama on Amazon →

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Frequently asked

What game is most like Checkers?: Onitama (2014) is the closest match to Checkers, sharing abstract strategy, grid movement, pattern movement. It rates 7.4/10 on BoardGameGeek.
What should I play if I like Checkers?: Onitama, Chess, Patchwork Winter Edition are the top-ranked alternatives to Checkers in the MeeplePick database, matched on medium-light complexity as well as mechanics. All 18 are ranked on this page with the shared mechanics shown for each.
Is Onitama harder than Checkers?: Compared with Checkers, Onitama is same complexity and ~12 min shorter (1.7 vs 1.8 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Narrow it down

best 2-player board games · grid movement games · square grid games · static capture games

Looking for the original? See the full Checkers fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.