Chess / Similar games

18 games like Chess

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

Every alternative below links to its own Chess-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s abstract strategy shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Chess’s 3.7 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 

   1. Shogi (1587)

   2 players · 60 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-heavy

   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Movement, Square Grid · 4 shared tags · 3 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (75%)

   vs Chess: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity

   Check price for Shogi →
2. 

   2. Onitama (2014)

   2 players · 15–20 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light · See Onitama alternatives →

   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 5 shared tags · 4 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (100%)

   vs Chess: both play at 2 · ~42 min shorter · 2 lighter

   Check price for Onitama →
3. 

   3. Xiangqi (762)

   2 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-heavy

   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 2 shared tags · 1 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (25%)

   vs Chess: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity

   Check price for Xiangqi →
4. 

   4. The Duke (2013)

   2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light · See The Duke alternatives →

   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Movement · 3 shared tags · 2 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Chess: both play at 2 · ~30 min shorter · 1.2 lighter
5. 

   5. Tak University Edition (2017)

   2 players · 20–60 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium

   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 3 shared tags · 2 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Chess: both play at 2 · ~20 min shorter · 1.2 lighter
6. 

   6. Mexica (2002)

   2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium · See Mexica alternatives →

   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 3 shared tags · 2 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Chess: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~30 min longer · 1 lighter
7. 

   7. Torres (1999)

   2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium · See Torres alternatives →

   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 3 shared tags · 2 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (50%)

   vs Chess: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · 0.8 lighter
8. 

   8. Patchwork Winter Edition (2014)

   2 players · 15–30 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light · See Patchwork Winter Edition alternatives →

   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Square Grid · 2 shared tags · 1 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (25%)

   vs Chess: both play at 2 · ~37 min shorter · 2.1 lighter
9. 

   9. Arimaa (2002)

   2 players · 60 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium-heavy

   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 2 shared tags · 1 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (25%)

   vs Chess: both play at 2 · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
10. 

    10. War Chest (2018)

    2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light · See War Chest alternatives →

    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 2 shared tags · 1 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Chess: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~30 min shorter · 1.4 lighter
11. 

    11. YINSH (2003)

    2 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium · See YINSH alternatives →

    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 2 shared tags · 1 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Chess: both play at 2 · ~15 min shorter · 1 lighter
12. 

    12. Quoridor Travel (1997)

    2–4 players · 15 min · ★ 6.7 · Medium-light · See Quoridor Travel alternatives →

    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 3 shared tags · 2 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (50%)

    vs Chess: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~45 min shorter · 1.8 lighter
13. 

    13. Santorini (2016)

    2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light · See Santorini alternatives →

    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Square Grid · 2 shared tags · 1 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Chess: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~40 min shorter · 2 lighter
14. 

    14. Feudal (1967)

    2–6 players · 90 min · ★ 6.0 · Medium-light

    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 4 shared tags · 3 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (75%)

    vs Chess: both play at 2 · scales to 6 · ~30 min longer · 1.4 lighter
15. 

    15. Inside Moves (1930)

    2 players · 15 min · ★ 6.7 · Medium-light

    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 4 shared tags · 3 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (75%)

    vs Chess: both play at 2 · ~45 min shorter · 1.4 lighter
16. 

    16. Hive (2000)

    2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light · See Hive alternatives →

    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 2 shared tags · 1 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (25%)

    vs Chess: both play at 2 · ~40 min shorter · 1.4 lighter
17. 

    17. Abalone Classic (1987)

    2 players · 30 min · ★ 6.5 · Medium-light · See Abalone Classic alternatives →

    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Static Capture · 3 shared tags · 2 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (50%)

    vs Chess: both play at 2 · ~30 min shorter · 1.5 lighter
18. 

    18. Vendetta (1881)

    2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 6.0 · Medium

    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 4 shared tags · 3 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (75%)

    vs Chess: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~15 min shorter · 0.8 lighter

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