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.

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1. 1. Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends (2013)
   2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium · games like Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends →
   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. 3. Azul Summer Pavilion (2019)
   2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium-light · games like Azul Summer Pavilion →
   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 · games like War Chest →
   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 · games like Calico →
   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 · games like Hive →
   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 · games like Tiny Towns →
   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 · games like TZAAR →
   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 · games like DVONN →
   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 · games like The Duke →
    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. 11. Tak University Edition (2017)
    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 · games like Mexica →
    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 · games like Torres →
    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 · games like Ricochet Robots →
    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 · games like Indian Summer →
    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

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