What game is most like Kalah?

Longhorn (2013) is the closest match to Kalah, sharing abstract strategy, mancala. It rates 6.6/10 on BoardGameGeek.

What should I play if I like Kalah?

Longhorn, Robber Knights, Oware are the top-ranked alternatives to Kalah 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 Longhorn harder than Kalah?

Compared with Kalah, Longhorn is same complexity and about the same length (1.7 vs 1.6 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Kalah / Similar games

18 games like Kalah

The best games like Kalah are Longhorn, Robber Knights and Oware — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Longhorn shares abstract strategy, mancala with Kalah.

Every alternative below links to its own Kalah-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 Kalah’s 1.6 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. Longhorn (2013)
2 players · 15 min · ★ 6.6 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy, Mancala · 1 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
View Longhorn on Amazon →
2. Robber Knights (2005)
2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 6.2 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy, Mancala · 1 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~35 min longer · +0.4 heavier
View Robber Knights on Amazon →
3. Oware (550)
2 players · 20 min · ★ 6.4 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy, Mancala · 1 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · ~10 min longer · +0.5 heavier
View Oware on Amazon →
4. Azul (2017)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (0%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~28 min longer · same complexity
5. Dust in the Wings (2019)
2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 6.3 · Light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy, Mancala · 1 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~20 min longer · 0.3 lighter
6. Tak University Edition (2017)
2 players · 20–60 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy, Mancala · 1 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · ~30 min longer · +0.9 heavier
7. Space Walk (1999)
2–5 players · 45 min · ★ 5.9 · Light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy, Mancala · 1 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · scales to 5 · ~35 min longer · same complexity
8. Oh-Wah-Ree (1964)
2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 5.9 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy, Mancala · 1 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~20 min longer · same complexity
9. Patchwork Winter Edition (2014)
2 players · 15–30 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (0%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · ~13 min longer · same complexity
10. War Chest (2018)
2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (0%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~20 min longer · +0.7 heavier
11. Calico (2020)
1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (0%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~28 min longer · +0.6 heavier
12. Santorini (2016)
2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (0%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~10 min longer · same complexity
13. Onitama (2014)
2 players · 15–20 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (0%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
14. Tiny Towns (2019)
1–6 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (0%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 6 · ~43 min longer · +0.4 heavier
15. Tao Long The Way of the Dragon (2017)
2 players · 10–30 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy, Mancala · 1 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (100%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · ~10 min longer · +1 heavier
16. Mandala (2019)
2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (0%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · ~10 min longer · +0.2 heavier
17. Mensa Connections (2004)
1–4 players · 45 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (0%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · ~35 min longer · +0.3 heavier
18. Photosynthesis (2017)
2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-light
Shares with Kalah: Abstract Strategy · 0 of Kalah’s 1 mechanics (0%)
vs Kalah: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~35 min longer · +0.7 heavier

Check Longhorn on Amazon →

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

Frequently asked

What game is most like Kalah?: Longhorn (2013) is the closest match to Kalah, sharing abstract strategy, mancala. It rates 6.6/10 on BoardGameGeek.
What should I play if I like Kalah?: Longhorn, Robber Knights, Oware are the top-ranked alternatives to Kalah 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 Longhorn harder than Kalah?: Compared with Kalah, Longhorn is same complexity and about the same length (1.7 vs 1.6 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Narrow it down

best 2-player board games · mancala games

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