YINSH / Similar games

18 games like YINSH

The best games like YINSH are Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends, GIPF mini and Azul Summer Pavilion — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends shares abstract strategy, catch the leader, grid movement with YINSH.

Every alternative below links to its own YINSH-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 YINSH’s 2.7 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. 2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Catch the Leader, Grid Movement, Pattern Building · 3 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (100%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · same complexity
    View Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends on Amazon →
  2. 2. GIPF mini (1996)
    2 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Building · 2 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
    View GIPF mini on Amazon →
  3. 2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Pattern Building · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · 0.7 lighter
    View Azul Summer Pavilion on Amazon →
  4. 4. War Chest (2018)
    2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-light
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~15 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
  5. 5. Calico (2020)
    1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Pattern Building · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
  6. 6. Hive (2000)
    2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · ~25 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
  7. 7. Tiny Towns (2019)
    1–6 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Pattern Building · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 6 · about the same length · 0.6 lighter
  8. 8. TZAAR (2007)
    2 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
  9. 9. DVONN (2001)
    2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · ~15 min shorter · same complexity
  10. 10. The Duke (2013)
    2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · ~15 min shorter · 0.2 lighter
  11. 2 players · 20–60 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · about the same length · 0.2 lighter
  12. 12. Mexica (2002)
    2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~45 min longer · same complexity
  13. 13. Torres (1999)
    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · ~15 min longer · +0.2 heavier
  14. 14. Lines of Action (1969)
    2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Building · 2 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · ~25 min shorter · same complexity
  15. 15. Ricochet Robots (1999)
    1–99 players · 30 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium-light
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 99 · ~15 min shorter · 0.3 lighter
  16. 16. Dreamwell (2016)
    2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 6.6 · Medium-light
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Building · 2 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · 0.5 lighter
  17. 17. Army of Frogs (2007)
    2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 6.0 · Medium-light
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Building · 2 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (67%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · scales to 4 · about the same length · 0.7 lighter
  18. 18. Indian Summer (2017)
    1–4 players · 15–60 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium-light
    Shares with YINSH: Abstract Strategy, Pattern Building · 1 of YINSH’s 3 mechanics (33%)
    vs YINSH: both play at 2 · plays solo · scales to 4 · about the same length · 0.6 lighter
Check Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends on Amazon →

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

Frequently asked

What game is most like YINSH?
Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends (2013) is the closest match to YINSH, sharing abstract strategy, catch the leader, grid movement. It rates 7.2/10 on BoardGameGeek.
What should I play if I like YINSH?
Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends, GIPF mini, Azul Summer Pavilion are the top-ranked alternatives to YINSH in the MeeplePick database, matched on medium complexity as well as mechanics. All 18 are ranked on this page with the shared mechanics shown for each.
Is Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends harder than YINSH?
Compared with YINSH, Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends is same complexity and about the same length (2.9 vs 2.7 complexity on BoardGameGeek's 1–5 scale).

Narrow it down

best 2-player board games · catch the leader games · grid movement games · pattern building games

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