5 Best Board Games Like Chess
Are you looking for board games that are similar to Chess? Then you will definitely like this article. Maybe you want a game that can accommodate more players, a shorter game, or even just a different strategic game. Whatever your reason is, you can find what you want on our list.
There are a lot of board games like Chess out there to choose from; those games can be just as fun and mentally demanding as Chess. In this article, we will mention the 5 Best Board Games Like Chess; if you like the strategic nature of Chess, you will enjoy those games.
Onitama Board Game
Players : 2
Ages: 14+
Game Time: 15 minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2016
Onitama is an abstract strategy game for two players. In this game, you will play as a Master who guides his students in an attempt to beat his opponent.
This game is like Chess as It comes with a central board and player’s pieces that you can move but only in certain ways. However, which moves you can make are not determined by the pieces which you are moving. At the start of the game, every gamer will get 2 cards face-up. Plus, a 5th card is placed face-up close to the board. So how the pieces can move is determined by the cards.
After using one of your cards to move one of your pieces, you have to exchange that card with the 5th card to the side of the board. This means that your opponent will get that card after his next move.
In the Onitama Board Game, both players start with five pawns on their side, one Master and four students. To win the game, you have two methods. The first one is to get your Master to the starting square of the opponent’s Master, while the second method is to capture the opponent’s Master.
Onitama Board Game comes with a 16-card deck. Since only 5 cards are used for each game, this provides an incredible amount of variety and replay value.
Pros
Two player game
Beautiful box and components.
Easy to learn.
Quick game
Strategy board game
High replayability
Perfect information abstract game
Combine card game and board game play
Cons
Non-standard box size.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a quick game with the strategic depth of Chess, then the Onitama Board Game can be a great choice. There is no hidden information in this game, as you will know which cards your opponent will get next and all of his possible moves. It is a great head-to-head game that you can play with your friend or any family member. The game’s random starting set-up will provide a unique experience every time you play it.
Blokus Game
Players: 2-4
Ages: 7+
Game Time: 30 minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2011
Blokus is a game like Chess, as each player will use strategies to select a color and place his pieces on the board. In this game, each player will choose a color (red, green, blue, or yellow) and get a 21-piece set of that color. The object of the game is to place as many of your pieces on the board as you can.
The game is centered around one rule; each piece you play must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners. When no more pieces can be placed down, the game will end, and the gamer with the most pieces on the board will be the winner.
This game tests your strategy and spatial thinking skills, as each player will try to dominate the board with his pieces while also strategically blocking his opponents from doing the same thing.
Blokus is a game for 2-4 players. In a two-player game, every gamer will play with two colors and expand from opposite corners of the board. While in a three-player game, there will be one more set that needs to be played; the gamers can take turns in choosing the tile. If only three colors are used, then there is less competition for space and less challenge of control. Therefore Blokus is best with 2 or 4 gamers.
Pros
Easy to learn
Quick game
Great game for both families and adults.
Allows for a lot of strategic thinking
Supports spatial learning skills
It comes with four sets of playing pieces with color variants.
Cons
Best for 2 or 4 gamers
Limited immediate replayability
Final Thoughts
Blokus Game is easy to learn for kids and challenging for adults; it is a great choice to gather the entire family together for a fun game night. You kids will learn strategic thinking and problem-solving skills while having fun at the same time.
Patchwork Board Game
Players: 2
Ages: 8+
Game Time: 30 minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2018
Patchwork is a two players game where both of them will try to use the available patches to create a beautiful patchwork quilt. It is a game that captures the magic of needlework and sewing fabric together into designs.
At the beginning of the game, spread patches with different shapes and colors in a circle or oval around the time board.
To obtain any piece of Patchwork, you have to pay time and money (buttons), so select the piece of Patchwork that you can afford as both players will start with only 5 buttons.
But keep in mind that you can only select from the three patches in front of the neutral token (in clockwise order). This can lead to difficult choices.
When you take a piece of Patchwork, you have to move your time marker on the time board as many times as indicated on the piece. If you pass a button icon on the time board, then collect buttons equal to the number of buttons that exist on your board.
Sometimes the buttons you have are not enough to take the piece in front of you. If that happens, you can move your time marker along the time track until you are right in front of your opponent’s piece. Then you can get a button for every space you moved, and if you pass over button icons, you will earn those buttons as well.
The game will end when both time markers reach the end of the time track. Then sum up your score, and the gamer who has the most buttons will be the winner.
Also, keep in mind that turns do not alternate in this game. The gamer whose time marker is behind on the time track will take the turn. As a result, if the gamer selects pieces with a low time cost, he may take more than one turn in a row before his opponent can take one.
Pros
Quick game
an accessible game
High replayability
Unique resource/time management system
Interesting Theme & Idea
Cons
Randomizing Gets in the Way
Final Thoughts
If you enjoy playing puzzle games, then Patchwork can be a good choice. It is a quick two-player game where you can compete with your friend or family to build a beautiful quilt. It is for players from 8 years and up, so it is a great choice to have some quality time with your kid and have fun together.
Azul Board Game
Players: 2-4
Ages: 8+
Game Time: 30-45 Minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2021
In the Azul board game, your goal is to arrange the tiles in a highly aesthetic manner to create beautiful designs. In each player’s turn, he will obtain colored tiles from the suppliers and add them to his player board.
The gameplay is relatively simple, the players will draft tiles, and each one aims to obtain which tiles that he needs before any other player does.
Players gain points based on the way they place their tiles to decorate the palace. Extra points are scored when sets are completed or specific patterns are made.
But if any gamer wastes their supplies, this can harm the gamer’s score as any tiles that are taken but not used are deducted from the player’s score.
At the end of the game, the one who scores the highest points will be the winner. Although the game may look simple as it is just about drafting and arranging tiles but keep your mind that you need cautious planning and strategy in order to win
Pros
High replayability
Unique and interesting concept.
Engaging tile drafting.
100 Resin tiles
Beautifully crafted.
Cons
It may be difficult to catch onto at first.
Final Thoughts
If you are searching for an artistic board game, then Azul can be a great choice. It is a fun game that you can play with up to 3 of your friends.
The Azul board game is for players from 8 years old and up, so if you are a parent who wants to develop your children’s creativity and artistic skills while having a fun time, this game could be a good option.
Hasbro Gaming CONNECT 4 Game
Players: 2
Ages: 6+
Game Time: 10 minutes
Complexity: Low
Release Year: 2013
It is a classic board game from Hasbro (the maker of Scrabble and Monopoly). In this game, you just have to remember two important goals, firstly, be the first player to connect four discs in a row, while the second one is to stop your opponent from doing this before you.
CONNECT 4 is a purely strategic game; there is no luck involved in it. One wrong move can cost you the whole game. It is a two-player game that is lightweight and easy to carry. It is a great choice to kill some time when you are on road trips. Or anytime your children want a fun game to play with a friend.
The game package comes with a grid, 2 legs, slider bar, 21 yellow discs, 21 red discs, and instructions.
Pros
The game has very simple rules.
There is no luck involved; it is a purely strategic game
Quick game
fun tabletop game for two players
A great way to practice hand-eye coordination
Cons
Experienced gamers who prefer complex games may get bored quickly.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a fast, easy game with simple rules, then the CONNECT 4 Game can be a great choice. The game playing time is around 10 minutes and is recommended for players from 6 years old and up. It is a good choice to introduce your kid to board games and play together to have some fun time.
