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If you love the kind of games that make you think hard, then you are probably a chess player. Playing chess truly empowers your mind, making you a master strategist. 

This board game has captivated the minds of people for centuries. No wonder the UN declares World Chess Day every 20th of July. 

If you are on the lookout for games that are equivalent to chess, you will love this article.

Mind Games Like Chess

Here are games similar to chess but with a unique twist.

Go (Wei Qi)

Originating from China over 2,000 years ago, this game challenges you to surround territory and capture stones on a grid board.

You have to plan and anticipate your opponent’s moves to come out victorious. The good part of it is that learning the basics is easy.

Also Read: Why is Chinese Not One Language but More?

Shogi

Also known as Japanese chess, shogi has a rich history dating back to the 16th century. The ultimate goal of the game is to checkmate your opponent’s king, just like in chess.

But it has a spin. You can bring back to play the pieces you captured from your opponent. Shogi is also a faster board game.

Xiangqi

This ancient Chinese game is also known as Chinese chess. Xiangqi uses a 9×10 board with intersecting lines rather than squares, and pieces are placed on these intersections. The board is divided by a central line called the “river,” which restricts movement for some pieces.

However, it has a slightly steeper learning curve due to the unique pieces.

Checkers

This classic board game, also known as Draughts, is one of the unlikely games that is similar to chess. Checkers might seem simple at first glance but don’t underestimate it. 

It is played on an 8×8 checkerboard, with the dark squares alone being used for playing. You can only move diagonally one square forward towards the opponent’s side. 

Checkers is quicker and has simpler rules, but don’t be fooled; you have to set traps to gain an advantage.

Also Read: Too much Gaming or Gaming for Fun

Stratego

If you crave more excitement and hidden information in a game, Stratego is the perfect game for you.

In this game, players hide their pieces and attempt to capture the opponent’s flag while protecting their own. You win by capturing the flag, which is hidden among their other pieces. 

There’s also an element of chance with dice rolls in Stratego, which will give you a James Bond thrill.

Hex

Hex makes you put your spatial reasoning to the test. It is played on a hexagonal grid, where players aim to create a connected path from one side of the board.

You have to connect opposite sides of the board with your pieces while blocking your opponent’s path. If you are the first player to complete your path, you win.

Gomoku

Gomoku is also sometimes called Five in a Row. It is a simple game played on a grid-like board with black and white stones. It is all about placing your stones and blocking your opponent from creating a line of five.

The first player to create an unbroken line of five of their colored stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins the game. 

Gomoku may seem easy, but it requires focus. It is also easy to learn but difficult to master. 

Hnefatafl

In this ancient Viking game, you have to maneuver your king to safety while your opponent tries to capture him. 

Hnefatafl is also called Viking chess, and as the name suggests, it has Scandinavian roots. Viking chess trained the minds of warriors for battle and told stories of cunning escapes. 

Also Read: How Did the Radio Survive a Century and More?

Backgammon

Backgammon is a game of skill and luck that involves moving pieces based on dice rolls. It is played on a longboard with 24 points (triangles) on a continuous track.

The dice rolls determine how many points your checkers can move in a turn. You aim to get all the checkers on the home board and eventually remove them from play.

Reversi

Also called Othello, this is a fantastic abstract game with relatively simple rules. You take turns placing pieces while trying to outsmart your opponent by carefully flipping theirs. 

The player with the most pieces of their color wins. Reversi is a great choice for beginners because its rules are easy to learn.

Nine Men’s Morris

Nine Men’s Morris, also known as Merels or Mill, is a game with roots in ancient Rome. Your challenge is to form rows of three pieces (a mill) and reduce your opponent’s pieces down to two. The first player to form a mill wins the game.

Share the spirit of Chess

While chess remains the grandmaster of tactical games, other games can give your mind a chase.

These games, similar to chess, will refreshingly test your foresight. Play a few of them and let me know what you think.