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 · 3 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (75%)
   vs Chess: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
   View Shogi on Amazon →
2. 2. Onitama (2014)
   2 players · 15–20 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light · games like Onitama →
   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Movement, Square Grid, Static Capture · 4 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (100%)
   vs Chess: both play at 2 · ~42 min shorter · 2 lighter
   View Onitama on Amazon →
3. 3. Xiangqi (762)
   2 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium-heavy
   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 1 of Chess’s 4 mechanics (25%)
   vs Chess: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity
   View Xiangqi on Amazon →
4. 4. The Duke (2013)
   2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light · games like The Duke →
   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Pattern Movement · 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 · 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 · games like Mexica →
   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 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 · games like Torres →
   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 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 · games like Patchwork Winter Edition →
   Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Square Grid · 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 · 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 · games like War Chest →
    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 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 · games like YINSH →
    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 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 · games like Quoridor Travel →
    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Square Grid · 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 · games like Santorini →
    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Square Grid · 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 · 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 · 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 · games like Hive →
    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement · 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 · games like Abalone Classic →
    Shares with Chess: Abstract Strategy, Grid Movement, Static Capture · 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 · 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.