Chess has kept the title as the king of strategy games for decades. It’s undeniably one of the best games that, despite deep complexity, doesn’t remain behind in captivating players. But except for a few hardcore enthusiasts, most of us get bored of playing chess the same and every time. If you’re looking to broaden your gaming experience and challenge your mind in new ways, you must know that there are plenty of exciting games like chess available out there.
Strategy games similar to chess offer a fresh perspective on tactical thinking, often with unique twists and immersive themes that promise to engage both newbies and advanced players. Whether you’ve mastered chess or are simply craving something different, these games like chess will push your strategic skills and expertise to new heights.
So without further delay, get ready to explore these top 12 games that bring fresh excitement to the world of strategy!
List of 12 Best Games Like Chess To Try In The USA
Bored of playing chess again and again! Explore the 12 best board games like chess that aren’t like chess but offer unique and immersive gameplay experiences and make you forget chess.
Popular Chess-Like Games
Developed By
Year
Azul
Michael Kiesling
2017
Hive
John Yianni
2001
Onitama
Shimpei Sato
2014
Tafl Games
Uncredited
400 BC
Cathedral
Helsingborg
2014
Xiangqi
Uncredited
762 BC
7 Wonders
Antoine Bauza
2010
Risk
Albert Lamorisse
2005
Blokus
Bernard Tavitian
2000
Shogi
Cross Field Inc.
2016
The Resistance
Don Eskridge
2009
Dead of Winter
Jonathan Gilmour and Isaac Vega
2014
1. Azul
When you are looking for chess like strategy games, then Azul secures the first position. Azul is more of a complex strategy game that is played by two players. Unlike different pieces, this game includes the right placement of tiles which players need to design a board game in a unique and streamlined manner. The game is easy and quickly understandable, Players get points for each tile they place and the final scores are being tracked based on their performance within the game. With a quite similar experience to Chess, the game offers an interesting plot for chess lovers.
2. Hive
Hive is one of the board games like chess which has attracted millions of players from every corner of the world by offering an amazing storyline with immersive features. This game revolves around trapping your opponent’s queen bee. It seems simple and easy but it is not, as it includes some hidden layers of complexity and hurdles which players need to pass to become a winner. Playing this game seems as if you are playing chess but is quite different and integrates a unique storyline and concept. Here, players need to protect their queen and defeat other’s pieces by trapping them in a vicious circle of insects. As a player, you need to avoid insect breakouts and protect your piece of queen to become a winner.
3. Onitama
If you are looking for chess alternatives that resemble mind games then Onitama is here. It is based on a strategy requiring players to take control of each other’s pieces mindfully. The rules and instructions of this game are a lot like chess, but herein the main power lies in the pisces of the pawns. The possible moves appear to be open-move cards. The player who manages to move the opponent’s pawns in the first place is more likely to be a winner. The game requires a lot of attention to detail to move forward and strategically defeat the opponent’s pieces.
4. Tafl Games
One of the free online games like chess on the list is Tafl games. It is called Tafl games as it resides in different variants named Hnefetafl, Tablut, and other variations. The game is played on a 9×9 grid and showcases the same type of conflicts that chess does. Where chess imagines two armies clashing on a neutral battlefield, Tafl games are all about a siege. Here, one player is the attacker, and the other is the defender. The attackers are called “Muscovites” whereas defenders are called “the Swedes”. The Muscovites win when they capture the king and the Swedes win when their king escapes to the border of the map.
5. Cathedral
Cathedral is one of the online games like chess where the main objective is to put all your pieces on the board before your opponent does. This game features two shades; players use the best-in-class strategies and tactics to place their pieces on the board. Just like Chess, it is played betwen two players where both give tough competition to each other. If you want to seek a little adrenaline rush, make sure you play Cathedral with your friends or family.
6. Xiangqi
Xiangqi is a chess like strategy game that puts 2 players against each other in battle. Both aim to capture the opponent’s king, just like seen in chess. The game is played at the intersections of lines rather than inside squares with black and white pieces on the board, but the pieces are different. It includes a cannon that must jump to capture a piece and generals that can’t face directly to each other. Some special sections are also available on the board called “river” and “palace”. In these sections, movements of certain units either speed up or slow down.
7. 7 Wonders
When it comes to strategy making, 7 Wonders comes in the list of board games like chess which involves a lot of thinking and analysis from the player’s point of view to make a strategic move and win. However, unlike chess, it involves a lot of roleplaying which improves the overall engagement and motivation of the players. The players aim to become richer and more imaginative to win the game. It is a pure mindful game which 3 or more players play. When you play this game it reminds you of chess and that’s why it is quite popular among players which makes it a suitable chess type game.
8. Risk
The game of Risk begins with a player choosing a color to represent their empire, starting from a single country to dominate the world. It is played by two or more players who then make alliances to battle and acquire the title of the winner. As the name suggests, Risk comes in chess like games that require a lot of focus to make many decisions and apply playful strategies and tactics. If you are searching for a similar fun-packed game but that mustn’t be the same as Chess, Risk is what you must try to quench your gaming enthusiasm.
9. Blokus
Blokus is one of the games like chess introduced in 2000 by Bernard Tavitian. Within a short period, this game has made a huge presence and is successful in attracting global players. The game aims to fit the most number of pieces on the board, and whoever fits the most becomes the winner. Each player has 21 Pisces in a single color. Learning this game is easy but the twist is that each piece you put on the board must touch at least one other piece on the board with the same color. Blokus is from a few of those chess like strategy games demanding you to make your own winning strategies to win. Give it a try and you will be a die-hard fan of this game.
10. Shogi
Looking for games like chess, but do not want an exact game structure? Well, Shogi is different but one of the most complex games played between 2 players. The center of this game consists of pieces, here every single piece is similar and the player has to keep an eye on their pieces while playing. Every player has 20 flat widgets that are pentagonally shaped and are played on the board that consists of 81 squares 9X9. The chess alternative’s interesting fact is the pieces are represented to be the “treasures”. Apart from Japan, this trill-based game is getting popular in other countries as well.
11. The Resistance
Another chess like game purely based on a story. Here players need to complete missions while avoiding spying enemies. Generally, the game is played with a deck of cards that decides what mission takes place and how the game will go about. Compared to chess, The Resistance has easy gameplay requiring less thinking but needs more creativity. What makes this game a solid chess alternative is the fun experience it provides to players, with a lot of interaction, bad hints, and a ton of backstabbing involved in the game.
12. Dead of Winter
Dead of Winter is a game like chess where players have to have a great strategy and an objective to play out scenarios. Played between 2~5 players, the game is set on a story revolving around a set of survivors struggling to stay alive during a zombie apocalypse. The game tests a player’s capability to survive. It’s like a team game where players are required to work together to tackle obstacles during the journey and try to win. The game has main as well as secret objectives, drawn from cards. The players completing their secret objectives are the winners.
Final Words
Whether you’re looking for chess like strategy games or just simply exploring chess alternatives, these options offer equally or more engaging gameplay that challenges a player’s strategic thinking and decision-making abilities. Explore these games today to refine your skills, as 2025 is set to witness a surge in popularity for online games similar to chess. And, if you’re interested in developing a chess-inspired game, consider reaching out to a leading board game development company to transform your dream vision into reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 What are the most popular chess like games?
Ans. Azul, Hive, Onitama, Dead of Winter, Cathedral, Tafl Games, 7 Wonders, Risk, and Shogi are the best and the most popular games similar to chess.
Q.2 How much does it cost to develop a game app like chess?
Ans. It costs around $5,000 to $15,000 on average for a chess game with interesting features and online capabilities. However, chess game apps with more advanced features will increase the cost.
Q.3 How long does it take to create a chess-like game app?
Ans. Generally, chess game developers take 4 to 6 weeks for basic chess game app but can take up to 8 weeks if you want a highly functional chess-like game app with advanced features.
Q.4 How to create a bard game similar to chess?
Ans. Partnering with a board game development agency can help you build a game similar to chess .
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