If you're obsessed with chess but feel like you need a fresh challenge, you're in luck today. Chess is an all-time classic, but it's not the only game that will get your brain firing on all cylinders. There are plenty of strategy-packed, mind-bending games that will test your tactical thinking, planning skills, and patience in new and exciting ways.
Let's dive into some of the best strategy games, like chess, that will keep you engaged, frustrated (in a good way), and absolutely hooked.
Table of Contents
- 15 Best Strategy Games Like Chess
- Bored of Regular Chess? Meet GoChess – the Next-Level Experience
- Want More Strategy Fun? Try GoDice!
15 Best Strategy Games Like Chess
1. Shogi (Japanese Chess)
The Ultimate Mind Game from Japan
If you think chess is tough, wait until you try Shogi. Often called Japanese chess, Shogi takes everything you love about chess and dials it up a notch. The major twist? Captured pieces don’t just disappear—they can be used by the opponent. Yep, that means no piece is ever really gone, making the game incredibly dynamic.
Why You'll Love It:
- Similar to chess but with even more complex strategies
- You can bring captured pieces back into play
- More aggressive and unpredictable than traditional chess
2. Hive
No Board? No Problem!
Hive is like chess but without the board. Instead, you use hexagonal tiles featuring different insects, each with its own unique movement rules. The goal? Surround your opponent’s queen bee before they trap yours. It’s pure strategy with a mix of positional awareness and forward-thinking.
Why You'll Love It:
- Quick to learn but takes time to master
- Portable and great for on-the-go battles
- Feels like chess but in a completely new format
3. Go
The Ancient Chinese Masterpiece
Go is over 4,000 years old and is often considered the most complex board game ever created. Unlike chess, where pieces move, in Go, you place stones on a board to capture territory. It’s all about patience, long-term planning, and deep strategic thinking.
Why You'll Love It:
- More possibilities than chess (literally more than atoms in the universe)
- Pure strategy with no luck involved
- Easy to start, impossible to master
4. Onitama
A Tactical Battle in Five Moves
Onitama is like chess but played on a smaller 5x5 grid with just five pieces per side. What makes it unique is that movement is dictated by a set of cards, and once you use a movement, your opponent gets it next. It’s quick, intense, and demands serious foresight.
Why You'll Love It:
- Quick games with deep strategy
- Constantly shifting movement options
- Perfect mix of tactics and unpredictability
5. Tigris & Euphrates
Kingdoms, Strategy, and Control
This game is all about civilization-building, but at its core, it’s a chess-like battle of wits. You’ll manage resources, expand territories, and strategically disrupt your opponent’s plans. Unlike chess, it’s not just about attacking—it’s about building something greater while making sure your opponents don’t.
Why You'll Love It:
- Strategy-focused with deep planning elements
- Every move affects the entire game landscape
- Perfect blend of conflict and resource management
6. Twilight Struggle
Cold War Tactics and Political Strategy
If you love chess for its deep strategic planning, Twilight Struggle offers a similar experience but on a geopolitical scale. This two-player game pits the USA against the USSR in a battle of influence during the Cold War. Instead of pieces, you use historical event cards, military strategies, and diplomatic maneuvers to gain control over different regions of the world. Every move matters, and just like in chess, a single miscalculation can cost you the game.
Why You'll Love It:
- Deep, tactical decision-making with historical context
- Perfect blend of military, political, and economic strategy
- Requires careful planning and predicting your opponent’s moves
7. Santorini
A 3D Strategy Puzzle with Chess-Like Depth
Santorini is a deceptively simple yet highly strategic game where players control workers building structures on the island of Santorini. The goal is to get one of your workers to the third level of a building before your opponent does. Sounds easy? Not at all! With each move, you’re blocking your opponent’s path, anticipating their strategy, and thinking several steps ahead—just like in chess.
Why You'll Love It:
- Abstract strategy with spatial awareness challenges
- Simple rules but complex, brain-burning decisions
- Every game feels fresh thanks to variable player powers
8. Patchwork
The Chess of the Quilting World
At first glance, Patchwork might seem unrelated to chess, but it’s a two-player game packed with strategy. Instead of knights and pawns, you’re placing fabric pieces to create the most efficient quilt. The catch? You must think ahead to optimize space, manage resources, and outmaneuver your opponent. Every decision affects future moves, making it as mentally stimulating as a chess match.
Why You'll Love It:
- Requires long-term planning and adaptability
- Engaging for both casual and competitive players
- A refreshing twist on head-to-head strategic gameplay
9. The Duke
A Chess Variant with Dynamic Pieces
If you love the way chess pieces have unique movement patterns, The Duke takes that concept and evolves it. Each piece has two movement modes—one for the current turn and another when flipped. This ever-changing nature forces you to constantly rethink your strategies and adapt on the fly, making every match a dynamic battle of wits.
Why You'll Love It:
- Similar to chess but with an evolving board state
- Each piece has multiple movement possibilities
- Forces players to think both tactically and strategically
10. Blokus
Territory Control with a Tetris Twist
Blokus is all about claiming as much territory as possible while blocking your opponents from expanding theirs. Using colorful, Tetris-like pieces, you must carefully position your moves, much like chess, where board control is everything. The challenge comes from placing pieces strategically while anticipating your opponent’s next move.
Why You'll Love It:
- Great balance of offense and defense
- Encourages spatial reasoning and forward-thinking
- Easy to learn but has a deep layer of strategy
11. Chess 960 (Fischer Random Chess)
A New Take on Classic Chess
Love chess but feel like openings are too predictable? Chess 960, also known as Fischer Random Chess, shakes things up by randomizing the starting positions of the back-row pieces. This means you can’t rely on memorized openings—you need to think strategically from move one, adapting as you go.
Why You'll Love It:
- Keeps the essence of chess but removes memorization reliance
- Forces players to be creative and think on the spot
- Every match feels fresh and unpredictable
12. Watergate
A Two-Player Political Chess Match
If you love the strategic back-and-forth of chess, Watergate delivers that in a two-player, asymmetrical battle of tactics. One player takes on the role of a journalist trying to expose the Nixon administration, while the other plays as Nixon’s team, trying to suppress the investigation. It’s a battle of bluffing, maneuvering, and out-thinking your opponent.
Why You'll Love It:
- Unique mix of deduction and strategic depth
- Every move feels like a high-stakes decision
- Perfect for history buffs and chess lovers alike
13. Tak
A Beautiful, Chess-Inspired Abstract Game
Designed to feel like an ancient classic, Tak is an abstract strategy game where players compete to build a continuous road of their pieces. Unlike chess, pieces can stack, be repositioned, or even flattened, making for an incredibly dynamic game that rewards forward-thinking strategy.
Why You'll Love It:
- Elegant and deeply strategic, like chess
- Simple mechanics but endless depth
- Encourages tactical play and adaptability
14. Catan (Cities & Knights Expansion)
Strategy, Expansion, and Conflict
While the base game of Catan is more about resource management, the Cities & Knights expansion turns it into a full-fledged strategy showdown. It introduces knights that can be placed to control roads and cities, requiring careful planning and strategic placement. The increased complexity makes it feel like a chess game played on a dynamic map.
Why You'll Love It:
- More tactical than classic Catan
- Requires smart resource and territory management
- Encourages both diplomacy and competitive strategy
15. Kamisado
A Pure Strategy, No-Luck Chess Alternative
Kamisado is a beautifully designed game where every move is dictated by the color of the tile your opponent lands on. It’s an elegant battle of wits, where players must think ahead, control space, and adapt their strategies in real-time—just like chess.
Why You'll Love It:
- No luck, just pure strategic gameplay
- Simple rules but incredibly deep thinking required
- Great for players who love tactical positioning
Bored of Regular Chess? Meet GoChess – the Next-Level Experience
If you think chess is just about moving wooden pieces around a board, think again. GoChess takes everything you love about the classic game and supercharges it with AI coaching and Bluetooth connectivity. Whether you're a casual player or a hardcore strategist, this board literally brings chess to life.
Why GoChess is a Game-Changer
- Play Anytime, Anywhere – Connect via Bluetooth and challenge AI, play against friends online, or sync with Chess.com and Lichess for endless matchups. The GoChess app also lets you replay historic games, analyze positions.
- AI Coaching That Actually Helps – GoChess lights up to suggest moves, warn you about blunders, and guide you in real time. The great thing about the lightning system is that you can even adjust that, you want to see the wrong moves only, or let’s say you do want to see the possible moves that can help you win. The AI can adapt to your skill level, giving you a true learning experience without overwhelming you.
- Super Smart Tracking – The board detects piece positions, preventing illegal moves and ensuring 100% accuracy in game tracking. No more misplacing pieces or trying to remember what was where!
- Modern vs. Classic Design – Prefer sleek and modern? Go for the black-and-white plastic look. Want something more traditional? The wooden board with wooden pieces gives you that timeless aesthetic. Need a more compact version? The GoChess Mini got your back. No matter your style, the board is ultra-thin and easy to carry around.
Why You’ll Love GoChess
GoChess isn’t just a board—it’s an experience. Watching the board hint to you with the lights feels like something out of Harry Potter, and the built-in coaching helps you improve without staring at tutorials. The board is perfect for training, casual play, and even tournament practice with real-time tracking and analysis.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to sharpen your skills or a competitive player who wants next-level gameplay, this is the most interactive, high-tech way to play chess today.
Want More Strategy Fun? Try GoDice!
If you’re tired of the same old dice-rolling experience, GoDice is here to shake things up—literally. These smart, Bluetooth-enabled dice take your favorite games to a whole new level by blending the feel of physical dice with the magic of digital gaming.
What Makes GoDice Special?
- Instant Connection & Smart Play – Just roll the dice, and watch the results appear instantly on your tablet or phone. No more messy scorekeeping or manual calculations—GoDice does the work for you.
- Quick Charging, Long Fun – A super-fast 10-second charge gives you up to 2 hours of play. Seriously, charging your dice takes less time than picking your next move.
- Epic Game Library – Whether you love Yahtzee, Farkle, Ludo, or other classics, GoDice has a growing list of built-in games. Just grab your dice, sync them up, and roll away.
- Perfect for RPGs – Dungeons & Dragons fans, this one’s for you! GoDice’s RPG shells turn them into fully functional connected RPG dice, compatible with Roll20, Foundry VTT, and Discord. Your virtual adventures just got a serious upgrade.
Why You'll Love It
GoDice isn’t just a cool gadget—it’s a game-changer for tabletop lovers. It brings the fun of rolling real dice while eliminating the hassle of tracking numbers. It’s easy to use, charges in a snap, and makes every roll feel like part of a magic trick.
Conclusion
Chess is legendary, but there’s a whole world of strategy games waiting for you. Whether you dive into Shogi, Hive, Go, Onitama, or Tigris & Euphrates, each game will challenge your brain in unique ways. And if you want to elevate your chess experience, GoChess is the ultimate upgrade.
So, what’s your next move? Try these games, push your limits, and never stop strategizing!
