Here are some great games that feel kind of like Chess, but give you new and interesting ways to use your strategic brain!
Onitama is a wonderful and quick two player strategy game that feels different every time you play! Each player starts with 1 master and 4 pupils of their color on a 5x5 grid. You win by capturing your opponent's master, or moving your master onto their master's starting space. Each player also starts with two movement cards in front of them, and a fifth movement card off to the side. On your turn, choose one of the two movement cards in front of you, and apply its movement pattern to one of your pieces. Then, exchange the movement card you used that turn with the movement card set to the side. With 16 different movement cards included, and using only 5 each game, each game is fun and unique!
Hive is an amazing strategic game that can be played anywhere! The goal of the game is to surround your opponent's queen bee on all six sides. On your turn, you may either bring a new piece into play, or move one of your pieces that has already been added to the hive, according to its unique movement rules. Each type of bug moves differently, and each game of Hive plays out wildly differently!
Santorini is beautiful to look at, and even more fun to play! The goal of the game is to get one of your two builders onto the third level of a building on the Greek isle of Santorini. On your turn, you first move one of your builders, and then construct a level on one of the 8 surrounding spaces. You can even build a dome onto a building that is already 3 levels high, preventing your opponent from winning! There are also different Greek mythology inspired player power cards that change the game up dramatically.