Chess is a game that seems to have been around forever. In fact, do your research and your will find it is actually really difficult to pin down the actual true origins of the game. There are plenty of historic games, dating back well over a thousand years plus, that clearly form part of the journey Chess has taken until reaching its current format many players world wide know and enjoy. Look across the world, and you will also come across games like Shogi, Xiangqi, Janggi, or Makruk, all share clear similarities with modern Chess.
With clubs and championships taking place all over the world, this pure abstract strategy game has well and truly established itself in history and popular culture. I played Chess as a child, even entered a club and the odd competition, so like many people, Chess has been a game I have played for many years.
But it got me thinkingā¦ What games are out there, in modern hobby board games, that can scratch that Chess itch, whilst offering something a little different? What is out there that might even help level the playing field a little bit, reducing any player anxieties over playing an experienced chess playerā¦ after all, no one wants to play a game knowing from the get go they have lost for no other reason than who they sat opposite.
The following games manage just that. Offer a Chess like experience, but do it a little differently, with engaging themes, unique gameplay but also, player balancing that reduces (to extent) that feeling ofā¦ the most experienced player is bound to win.
KeizƔr
This is arguably the most Chess like experience in gameplay, without just being Chess. By Zuboard games, this game billed on the box as āIt isnāt chessā, really is to be fair, donāt let that message mislead you. However, where it differs, is its player levelling set up and rules variation to the standard game that means the experience is unique, but ultimately fun!
You only have one type of pieceā¦ the Pawn. Thatās right. All of your pieces are the same, no Kings, No Queens, nothing else at all! When setting up the board, you actually have a player selection of black and white tiles. The first 8 are placed per specific set up rules, the black player also has the KeizĆ”r tile, and then the rest are randomly placed on your side of the board. A small selection of tiles on both player sides, also have an icon on them, representing the King, Queen, Bishop, Knight and Rook. When your Pawn lands on one of those tiles, you Pawn can now move as if they were one of those pieces insteadā¦ But only for its next move (unless it can luckily land on another tile with an icon on).
This really changes up the strategy, and also becomes more a puzzleā¦ How do you get your piece to land on one of those special tiles to benefit from the more advanced movement?
The aim of the game is one area the game really deviates. Instead of trying to checkmate the king (after all there is no king as standard unless you have a piece on that tile), you instead have to control the KeizƔr tile for 3 turns.
Between the randomness of the tile set up, and nature of how the pieces get to move, this means that the game really levels out playing experience. It really does not matter if you are a beginner or a master, you really do have a chance at winning.
Onitama
This is a unique (and beautiful) little Chess variant. Each player has 5 pawns, 1 Master and 4 Students. The theme is martial arts, but honestly it is as abstract as any other Chess like game.
Each player is also dealt 2 cards, and them a 5th card is dealt to the middle.
To win a game of Onitama, you either take the opponents Master pawn, or get your Master pawn onto their starting seat, or if your are truly skilled, manage both in one move.
Its in the cards that this game shines. The cards tell you who you can move your pawns. That right, each turn you have a choice of 2 movement patterns. You make your choice, play that card, move the pawn you wish to, and then trade that card with the one in the middle.
Throughout the game, all the cards are face up, so you always know what 5 moves are available for the entirety of the game. This makes gives the game incredible replayability, given the cards are random. If you really love the game, there is also expansion cards and promo cards available to provide even more (randomly chosen) options in set up.
Games of Onitama rarely break past the 20 minute mark, and more often sit at around 10 minutes game play time.
This game works great if you are a big Chess fan that wants a bit of a different experience, but also beginners are less daunted given they donāt need to remember how pieces move, or if there are different rules for different pieces.
Enthrone
This game is probably the game on this list that deviates the most from the traditional Chess format. It seeps a little bit into deduction as well. Components wise though, this game shares the ornamental like design of some of the most decorative Chess sets that true fans will invest in.
Each Pawn is a beautifully crafted bust, and unlike the other games on this list, the pawns are a shared resource. Movement is a simple move one space in any direction as long as it is classed as an adjacent space. What piece you can choose to move however is dictated by the movement selection track, where you make your choice, then move that pawns representative token to the bottom of the track, stopping the next player choosing the same piece.
If you want to take a piece, you have to wait until their token is on a specific point on the movement track. This can really create a dance between the players. The aim is to either get to the throne space in the centre of the board, or meet the object set out on your chosen card at the start of the game, which will give you a piece that you are and 3 targets. If the opponent takes your piece, they win, or if you manage to take your 3 targets or get your piece to the middle, you win. There is also a forth way to winā¦ if the fourth piece is taken by your opponent but did not result in them achieving and of their win conditions, you win.
This is a short little game, which has a real table presence. Its speed of play, often 10-15 minutes absolute maximum (and thatās a slow game), means it also works as a good midweek filler game
Hive
This is a game that feels like the one that has risen to Chess like royalty. You can even buy books on strategies to play this one, and regularly Hive has global competitions people from all over compete in.
This game removes the board, and rather than pieces, you have small hexagonal pieces with bugs printed on to them, each of which has its own kind of movement, and a Queen Bee piece, that essentially the King your are trying to checkmate.
Pieces are not captured (taken), like in chess, but instead must be placed orthogonally connected to an existing piece. After so many turns, you must place your Queen Bee, and at that point, movement is unlocked.
As with all Chess like games, pieces can move differently depending on the bug represented on the piece, but is also restricted by what it is (or isnāt) connected to already or will be.
The aim as mentioned is to capture the Queen Bee, To do this, you have fully surround the opponents Queen Bee, without breaking any other positioning rules that may prevent you doing so.
This game really gives you that classic Chess level of āthinkynessā, and unlike the previously named titles, suffers the most āChess likeā of issues, as you can truly master this game to the point where you may be at a distinct disadvantage, just because of your experience level. However, the game does offer something different, and most importantly a fun experience. It also helps that set up is next to nothing as pieces are just placed as the game progresses.
If you thrive off the pure strategy and mastery of Chess, this is definitely one to try.
Checkmate
So, there you have it. Chess is a hugely popular and well-known game. Whether you are a die-hard master, or complete novice, there may well be other games out there to scratch that itch.
This is only a small selection from what is out there, but these 4 games that offer something either familiar to the unique, fast, simple, depth of strategy or a game leveling experience that helps to bring the challenge for all players.
For those looking for a more traditional chess experience, KeizĆ”r is a clear and obvious choiceā¦ sorry but āit is Chessā, as much as it wishes to claim otherwise. But the twists on the rules and set up, do set it apart from your classic chess and offer a unique and fun experience.
If it is the depth of strategy and the possibility of becoming a true master, Hive may be your jive. Its not a complex rule set, but you can see how it has managed to garner its reputation and popularity.
However, if speed of play and easy quick rules, that mean anyone can confidently pick up and play is what you are looking for, Onitama and Enthrone are definitely the way to go.
Onitamaās expansions also mean you can extend the replayability and experience further without making it any more complex.
Honestly, as I Chess fan, I would recommend any one of these, and if you can, try them all out!
You may love them all, or you may find your favourite amongst them. You may even know of other games you feel should have been on this list. Whatever your position, Chess will live on, and games like these can bring in new fans, whilst exploring further how that classic game can become a modern hobby board game experience.
About the author:
We are Peaches and Meeples, busy professionals who love to chill out to fun table top games. We love board games, card games, miniatures games, competitive or co-operative. Put some dice in our hands and we are in our happy place.
We are also proud guinea pig parents to two lovely fluffballs of joy.
