Are you looking for the most popular and played games like chess that can blow your mind while having fun? If yes, we have got you all covered! For you, we have made a list of 10 similar games to chess after analyzing various games and their multiple aspects so you can choose the best game like chess to have fun.
Chess is a popular board game that was introduced in India. It is an interesting and mind-blowing game where each player has their own army in the shape of chess pieces. This game is played on an 8*8 grid chessboard where each player has 16 pieces like one king, one queen, two knights, two bishops, two rooks, and eight pawns. To win this game, you have to checkmate the opponent’s king. Game rules are quite simple but winning is not. It is a strategy-based game and there are no luck factors. If you have done all in a chess game and want to explore similar games to chess with different storylines, numerous online chess-like board games for you will take your entertainment to the next level.
Let’s dive in-depth to know the 10 games like chess so you can have plenty of options to kill time while playing strategy-based board games.
You need to be scrupulous when it comes to playing games similar to chess. It requires a great deal of strategies and decision-making skills to become a pro at it. Here is the list of the alternatives to chess games you need to go through:
| Games Like Chess | Developed By | Year |
| Azul | Michael Kiesling | 2017 |
| Hive | John Yianni | 2001 |
| Onitama | Shimpei Sato | 2014 |
| Dead of Winter | Isaac Vega and Jon Gilmour | 2014 |
| Cathedral | Helsingborg | 2014 |
| Tafl Games | Jacob Teal and John Carlyle | 2014 |
| 7 Wonders | Antoine Bauza | 2010 |
| Risk | Albert Lamorisse | 2005 |
| Blokus | Bernard Tavitian | 2000 |
| 3D Chess | A Trillion Games Ltd | 2022 |
When you are looking for games like chess then Azul is the perfect substitute for chess. 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 gameplay of this chess game alternative is very easy and quick to understand and play. Players get points for each tile they place and the final scores are being tracked based on their performance within the game. The gameplay is quite similar to that of Chess, offering players an interesting gameplay experience.
Also Read: Top 8 Games Like Azul in 2024
Hive is another gem in our list of similar games to chess that 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 hurdle 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. 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.
Onitama secured a number in the list of the top 10 alternative games to chess. It resembles board games like chess and checkers crossword, Onitama is another strategy-based game, played 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 in the game are displayed in the form of 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 defeat the opponent’s pieces in a strategic manner.
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A dark-themed, survival-strategy-based game, Dead of Winter is an immersive game substitute for chess. The game is played between two to four players who fight against each other to defeat and survive till the game ends. This type of board game features an apocalypse environment and zombie creatures, which you need to fight to become a winner of the game. The main objective of this game is to stay alert and focused to fight all the obstacles that come in the way. Players need to complete their secret tasks while competing against the toughest situations of attacks.
A classic board game like chess, released in 1978, Cathedral is one of the modern variations of games similar to chess. The main objective of this game is to put all your pieces on the board before your opponent does. Just like chess, the game features two shades; players use the best-in-class strategies and tactics to place their pieces on the board. It is a game for two by which players give each other cut-throat competition. If you want to seek a little adrenaline rush, make sure you play Cathedral with your friends or family.
Are you searching for games like chess? Tafl is what you need to play to get an immersive and engaging gameplay experience. It represents the same type of conflict that chess does wherein the main objective is to trap and overwhelm your enemy to become a leader. The game is played between two players just like chess, wherein one player is the attacker and the other is the defender. The defenders are known as Swedes, and the attackers are called Muscovites. Swedes win if their king manages to escape to the border of the maps, whereas Muscovites win if they capture the king. Taft is the game of uncertainty; the better you play the role, the you are more likely to win in the end.
It is one of the best video 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 as well which improves the overall engagement and motivation of the players. The main objective of the players herein is 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 as a game like chess.
Also Read: Board Game Design Guide: Everything You Need To Know
Risk is another top gun in the list of games like chess, wherein players battle against each other. The game begins with a player choosing a colour to represent their empire, starting from a single country with the goal of dominating the world. The game is played by two or more players who then make alliances to battle and acquire the title of the winner. As the name suggests, the game requires a lot of focus to make many decisions and apply playful strategies and tactics. If you are searching for games similar to chess, Risk is what you must try to quench your gaming enthusiasm.
Blokus is another top-rated game like chess that was introduced in 2000 by Bernard Tavitian, and within a short period, this game has made a huge presence around the world and attracted players from every corner of the world. The prime aim of this game is to fit the most pieces on the board, and whoever fits the most wins the game. This game is very easy to learn and here, each player has 21 Pisces in a single color. But, the twist is, that each piece you put on board must touch at least one other piece on board that has the same color.
You have to make your winning strategies to win this chess-like game, give a try to this game, and you will be a die-hard fan of this game if you love to play mind games.
3D chess is another popular variant of chess game that has secured a position in the list of top 10 games like chess. In this variation, a 3D chess board is used which adds more fun to the game. Here, you get multiple layers of a chess board in a 3D world with the same game rules as you play in 2D chess. Players who love to try something new and full of graphics and innovative features must add this chess app to their device.
As a renowned board game development company, BR Softech aims to offer high-quality and advanced chess game development services that are of high value. If you are inspired by a chess game and want to create a similar game application of chess, share your idea with BR Softech. With more than 10+ years of experience and the best development team, they will enrich your alternative game of chess with the latest features and functions so it can create a big difference in the cut-throat competitive gaming industry. Contact us to bring your innovative idea to life.
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Q.1 What are the most popular and played chess-like games?
Ans. Here is a list of alternatives to chess games that are quite popular among players to kill boredom and improve their analytical and logical sense.
Q.2 How much does it cost to develop a game app like chess?
Ans. The development cost of chess game software varies from $4,000 to $6,000 with basic features and functions, and it may go up to $10,000 according to your business plan.
Q.3 How long does it takes to create a chess-like game application?
Ans. Generally, it takes 4 to 6 weeks but can take up to 8 weeks if your chess game-like app idea is complex and counts advanced features and functions.
Q.4 How to develop a game platform like chess?
Ans. When you are inspired by a chess game and have a chess-like game idea, and want to bring it to life, hire a chess game development company that will give a perfect shape to your game idea.
Here is the step-by-step development process to create a game app like chess, by following these steps, you can successfully create your game from scratch.
