Are you looking for games like Go that challenge your brain? Go is a classic board game known for its simple rules and complex strategy. It is all about strategic planning, tactical thinking, and outsmarting your opponent without luck. If you enjoy Go and want similar games that require smart moves and critical thinking, this blog is for you.
In this blog, we have picked the 10 best strategy games like Go to play in 2025. From timeless games like Chess and Checkers to modern ones like Hive and Azul, these games test your skills and offer hours of thoughtful fun. Each one is designed to boost your brainpower while keeping you fully engaged.
Let’s first understand what makes Go so special, then explore the top games like it.
Go is a classic strategy board game that originated in China. There are two players who take their turns by placing black and white stones on a grid. The primary goal is to control more are on the board than your opponent by surrounding territory.
The full board has 19×19 lines. There are also smaller versions like 9×9 and 13×13, which are especially designed for beginners.
In the digital era, Go is played both online and office. Many apps and websites offer digital versions of Go, making it easier for people to play with others across the globe.
| Game | Difficulty | Best For | Similar to Go Because |
| Chess | High | Deep thinkers & strategy lovers | Pure strategy, no luck, requires planning ahead |
| Checkers | Medium | Beginners who enjoy quick moves | Simple rules, tactical decisions, 2-player focus |
| Backgammon | Medium | Fans of tactical movement | Skill-based moves, planning needed to win |
| Mancala | Medium | Minimalists & thinkers | Ancient origins, strategic stone placement |
| Shogi | High | Advanced players & Chess fans | Complex rules, pure logic and foresight |
| Hive | Medium | Fast-paced thinkers | No luck, pure tactics, spatial strategy |
| Azul | Medium | Casual gamers & designers | Pattern building, simple yet strategic moves |
| 7 Wonders | Medium | Civilization & history fans | Long-term strategy, planning resources |
| Risk | Medium | Players who like global conquest | Territory control, strategic expansion |
| Catan | Medium | Builders & traders | Strategy + negotiation, planning resource use |
Let’s now know each game in detail what makes them similar to Go:
Chess is a classic board game similar to Go. It is all about strategy and planning. Here, players take turns by moving different pieces on a checkerboard with the aim of checkmating the opponent’s king. While the game may sound simple, it features a staggering complexity and requires careful thinking with no luck involved.
Because of this, Chess has been studied in fields like mathematics, computer science, and artificial intelligence. If you enjoy games that challenge your mind and focus on skill, Chess is a great choice.
Checkers, also called Draughts, is an abstract strategy board game that dates back to ancient Egypt. Two players play this game on a board with 64 squares, where half are light and half are dark colored squares.
While its rules are simpler than those of Chess or Go, Checkers still needs careful planning and strategy to win. Players move their pieces diagonally, one square at a time, and capture opponents’ pieces by jumping over them. Like Go, Checkers challenges your thinking and tactical skills.
Backgammon is one of the oldest games that still remains popular even today. It has a board with 24 narrow triangles and a bar in the center. Each player has 15 checkers and uses two dice to move them on the board. The goal is to remove all your checkers from the board before your opponent does.
There is some luck by chance, but winning mainly depends on planning and smart moves. Like Go, Backgammon is a game of strategy, requiring foresight and tactical thinking.
Mancala has its roots in ancient Africa. In its digital avatar, it is no different. The board has small holes filled with stones. Players take turns moving the stones to capture more than their opponent.
The rules are easy to learn, but smart planning is required to win the game. Mancala, like Go, makes you think ahead and use strategy. It is a great choice if you enjoy games that challenge your mind and provoke thoughts.
Shogi is a Japanese variant of chess. Just like Go, it focuses on smart moves and long-term planning. The goal is to corner your opponent so they have no good moves left.
Shogi comes in different board sizes, like 12×12 or 16×16. This makes the game more complex and interesting. If you are someone who likes to enjoy deep strategy like in Go, Shogi is one of the best games to try.
Hive is a game like Go, but it has no board. Instead, there are hexagonal tiles that look like bugs. The aim is to surround the other player’s queen bee using different insect moves. Hive is all about smart thinking and planning ahead.
It is easy to learn, quick to set up, and offers a new challenge every time you play the game. If you enjoy Go’s strategic style, Hive is a must-try option.
Azul is one of the most popular games similar to Go. It started in Portugal. Here, players take turns by picking colorful tiles and laying them on the board to make patterns. It is quite easy to learn, which makes it great for beginners.
On the other side, it offers enough depth for serious strategy fans. Like Go, Azul focuses on planning and smart moves rather than luck, which is why most players consider it a good alternative to Go.
Also Read: Top Games Like Azul to Get Rid of Boredom in 2025
7 Wonders is another Go alternative, but with a twist. The game is inspired by ancient civilizations. Players build their own civilizations by collecting resources, discovering new ideas, and building famous wonders. Each decision that you make shapes how your city grows.
Like Go, the game focuses on strategy and planning, not luck. With many ways to win and smart moves needed at every step, 7 Wonders is something that should be on your bucket list if you are searching for Go-like games.
Risk is a classic board game where players control nations and their militaries. The objective of the game is simple: fight a war and expand your territory. However, it is not as easy as it seems to be. You start with a small territory and expand by attacking other regions.
Like Go, Risk needs smart planning, not just luck. Each move affects your control on the map, so thinking ahead is key. If you enjoy Go and want a war-themed version with global strategy, play Risk once.
Catan is a popular online board game that focuses on resource collection and civilization management. To do so, players acquire materials like wood and brick, then trade and build to grow their civilization.
You get points by building roads, settlements, and more. The first to reach 10 points wins. If you like Go and want to try a game with resource management and trading, choose Catan.
If you enjoy Go, here are some great alternatives based on your skill level:
Each game offers a unique way to challenge your brain, just like Go!
Games like Go are played by millions of players worldwide. This makes sense to those who really want to make way into the board gaming industry. BR Softech is a leading board game development company that provides specialized game services and customized game solutions to serve the needs of all clients. Contact us today to build a game similar to Go.
Ans. Yes, you can play Go online with players from all over the world. Many websites and apps let you enjoy Go anytime, anywhere.
Ans. Go started over 2,500 years ago in ancient China. It is extremely popular in China, Korea, and Japan today.
Ans. A common Go strategy is to play in the order: corners first, then sides, and finally the center. Corners are easier to control because two edges help protect your territory.
Ans. Making an online Go game usually takes 2 to 3 months. The time can change depending on how complex the game is.
Ans. The cost to build a game like Go typically ranges from $10,000 to $20,000. The exact price depends on the features and design you want.
Ans. Games like Go focus on skill and strategy without luck. They have clear rules and require careful planning and thinking ahead.
Ans. All the games listed in this blog are good alternatives to Go. They share strategy, planning, and deep thinking like Go.
Ans. Games like Hive and Azul are easier for beginners. They still have strategic gameplay but are simpler to learn than Go.
