Board Games If You Like Chess in 2026

You enjoy thinking ahead, spotting a threat, and finding the move your opponent missed. But sometimes you want a different challenge. These five games offer fresh ways to exercise your strategic thinking, from close tactical duels to a business-themed change of pace.

1. Onitama — For a Familiar Duel with Changing Moves

Onitama puts two players on a small board, each controlling a master and four students. Movement comes from cards that circulate between players: the move you use now will eventually become available to your opponent. For chess fans, that creates an appealing question: what opportunity are you handing over? Discover Onitama.

2. Hive — For Protecting Your Queen Without a Board

Place and move insect tiles to surround your opponent’s queen bee while keeping your own safe. Each insect moves differently, and the playing area takes shape as tiles are added. Chess players will recognize the importance of mobility, positioning, and watching threats develop. Explore Hive.

3. Quoridor — For Planning Routes and Blocking Rivals

Reach the opposite side of the board before your opponent. On each turn, move your pawn or place a wall to complicate their route, while always leaving a path open. The rules are straightforward, but deciding when to advance and when to interfere creates a satisfying positional contest. Discover Quoridor.

4. Quarto — For Spotting the Threat Before It Happens

Create a line of four pieces sharing a characteristic, such as height or color. The twist: your opponent chooses the piece you must place, and you choose theirs. Every turn asks you to examine both the board and the opportunity you might accidentally give away. It’s a compact challenge for players who enjoy recognizing patterns. Explore Quarto.

5. Boutique Hotel Manager — For Taking Strategy into Business

For a change of theme, Papaeya’s Boutique Hotel Manager puts two players in charge of competing hotels. Set prices and manage operations while balancing profit with guest satisfaction. Its connection to chess is the appeal of weighing decisions against a rival’s interests; expect a different experience built around hospitality and commercial choices. Discover Boutique Hotel Manager.

Start with Onitama or Hive for the closest connection to chess’s tactical duels. Choose Quoridor for positional planning, Quarto for pattern recognition, or Boutique Hotel Manager to explore strategy in a real-world setting.