Board games have been a part of human entertainment for ages, offering a great way to engage the mind and kill boredom. One such timeless classic is the Go board game, an abstract strategy game where skills are supreme. While Go is one of the most intellectually stimulating board games, many other games like Go provide similar challenges, requiring deep thinking, tactical planning, and strategic execution
With so many options available, board gamers can be overwhelmed while choosing a suitable game. To make things easier, we have created a list of the best strategy games like GO that are packed with fun, thrill, and excitement. From ancient classics like Chess to modern masterpieces like Azul, these games become increasingly complex, offering a rewarding challenge for strategy enthusiasts.
Before we dive into the list, let’s understand what is the GO board game.
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Go is an ancient strategic board game where players take turns placing stones on a grid to capture territory. The goal is to cover more of the board than your opponent. It is traditionally played on a 19×19 board, but 9×9 and 13×13 boards are also used on some occasions.
With the advancements in technology, the game has been digitized and widely available on computers and the internet. Online versions of GO are becoming increasingly popular in various regions.
| Game | Google Play Rating | Downloads (in Crores) | Difficulty Level | Key Similarities to Go |
| Chess | 4.5 | 10+ | High | Abstract strategy, no luck element, deep strategic planning |
| Checkers | 4.3 | 5+ | Medium | Abstract strategy, simple rules, requires strategic thinking |
| Backgammon | 4.4 | 1+ | Medium | Strategic gameplay involves tactical planning |
| Mancala | 4.2 | 1+ | Medium | Ancient origins, strategic depth, simple mechanics |
| Shogi | 4.1 | 0.5+ | High | Japanese chess variant, complex strategies, abstract strategy |
| Hive | 4.6 | 0.1+ | Medium | Abstract strategy, no board required, spatial awareness |
| Azul | 4.7 | 0.1+ | Medium | Strategic tile placement, pattern building, abstract strategy |
| 7 Wonders | 4.5 | 0.1+ | Medium | Civilization building, strategic depth, resource management |
| Risk | 4.2 | 1+ | Medium | Strategic conquest, territorial control, tactical planning |
| Catan | 4.5 | 1+ | Medium | Resource management, settlement building, strategic depth |
Note: The Google Play ratings and download numbers are approximate and may vary over time.
If you are looking for similar abstract strategy board games like GO that involve little to no luck, here is a list to narrow down your choices. These games offer a similar blend of intellectual challenge, strategic maneuvering, and tactical gameplay.
When talking about highly strategic games like GO, Chess is the first one that comes to mind. Every person who has ever picked up a board game knows what Chess is about. It is about intellectually defeating your opponent in a battle of strategy and planning. While the game may sound simple, it features a staggering complexity. In fact, it is the only board game in the world that does not feature any element of luck.
This complexity has made Chess a subject of study in various fields like Mathematics, Computer Science, and Artificial Intelligence.
Believed to have originated from the ancient Egyptian game Alquerque, Checkers is an abstract strategy board game that is similar to GO. It is also known as Draughts and is played between two players who try to oppose each other across a board of 64 light and dark-colored squares.
Despite having simpler rules when compared to Chess or GO, Checkers requires deep strategic thinking and foresight to master. Checker pieces can move diagonally, one square at a time, and capture the opponent’s pieces by jumping over them.
Backgammon is a classical game that does not need any introduction. Players who are into board games know the appeal of the Backgammon board game. It contains 24 triangles of alternative colors and a bar down to the middle of the board.
You as a player have a set of 15 checkers to move over the board and move them with the help of two dice. The first player to eliminate all the checkers from the board is the winner. With similar gameplay to GO, Backgammon does not feature any luck element and relies primarily on skills and strategies.
Mancala originated from ancient Africa and is played worldwide. The board features rows of holes each filled with a certain amount of stones. The goal of the game is simple: capture more stones than your opponent. In the past, Mancala was used as a means of social interaction and decision-making.
Mancala has a rich history of being used for military strategy training, mathematics, and even as diplomatic gifts between nations. If you are looking for a thought-provoking game like Go, we suggest Mancala.
Shogi is a traditional board game like GO, considered the Japanese version of Chess. The game is played on a board whose size depends on the complexity of the game. The primary aim of the players is to block the opponent and ensure that there are no safe moves left.
Shogi also offers multiple variations of this game with different board sizes like 12×12, 13×13, 15×15, or even 16×16 which provide a large number of unique moves and strategies. The gameplay, theme, and capturing mechanics are the primary reasons for the appeal of this game.
If you want the same level of strategy as GO or even more, Shogi is one of the best GO alternatives to play.
Hive is a game like GO that does not use a board. Instead, it used hexagonal tiles that represent different insects. The primary objective of the game is to use insect tiles to surround the opponent’s queen. Hive requires spatial awareness and strategic planning as players try to trump each other.
Hive stands out as a game like GO due to its simple concept combined with strategic gameplay. Each game features new challenges and its quick set-up has made it a fan favorite among modern players.
Azul is a strategic board game that originated in Portugal. It features simple rules where players take turns to draft colored tiles and place them over the board to make combinations. As a prominent game like GO, Azul features comparatively simple gameplay, making it suitable for beginners as well as seasoned strategy lovers. But this does not mean that Azul does not require any skill.
7 Wonders is a strategic board game that is based on old civilizations. It involves strategic gameplay and critical thinking to master. 7 Wonders features a double-sided board where players have to build wonders on one side whereas exciting benefits await on the second side.
The aim of the game is to build a new civilization by making new discoveries, building settlements, and finding hidden treasures. This game like GO involves executing unique strategies to beat your opponents and create a well-established civilization. If you are intrigued by history and ancient cultures, this GO-alternation is a must-play.
Risk is a military board game where players control nations and their militaries. The objective of the game is simple- fight a war and expand your territory. However, it is not as simple as it sounds. It involves complex strategies and foresight to defeat your opponents. Players start with a single country and have to occult more countries by devising military tactics that ensure victory.
The game is a modern approach to war and does not involve any luck elements. If you want a game like GO with a military aspect, you should definitely check out Risk.
If you are looking for a game like GO with resource collection and civilization management, check out Catan. The objective of Catan is to collect resources and build new civilizations. But that’s not all. Players have to work, exchange, and trade resources with other players to get the desired resources. Players get points for completing achievements like creating a settlement or establishing a military. The first player to gain ten victory points wins the game.
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Ans. Yes, you can play Go board games online with players from all over the world.
Ans. The history of the Go board game online dates back to ancient China over 2500 years ago. The game is widely popular in China, Korea, and Japan.
Ans. The best strategy to follow in the beginning is Corner-Side-Center. In other words, the corners are the easiest to take the territory as the two sides of the board can be used as the boundaries.
Ans. It takes around two to three months to create an online board game like Go. However, the time taken can be more or less depending on the project size and complexity.
Ans. The average cost to develop a board game like Go ranges between $10000 and $20000 with optimum features and functionality. This is an average cost and the actual cost may differ according to the type of game you are seeking to develop.
Ans. GO is an abstract strategy board game that does not involve any element of luck. Games like GO also feature similar mechanics and strategy-based gameplay, making them suitable for seasoned gamers.
Ans. All of the games listed in this blog are close alternatives to GO and feature similar gameplay that includes strategy, critical thinking, and foresight.
Ans. Games similar to GO feature strategic depth and complex mechanics. However, games like Hive and Azul are great beginner-friendly games.
