Abstract Strategy
Style712 games in this category
Games in this category
Alhambra: Big Box Special Edition
2014
7.47
2-6 players
45 min
2.00/5
Qwirkle Trio
2012
7.09
2-4 players
45 min
1.25/5
Tempête sur l'Échiquier
1989
6.81
2 players
120 min
1.62/5
Playing With Pyramids
2002
7.36
2-8 players
2.31/5
Yōkaï no Mori
2013
6.89
2 players
15 min
2.27/5
New Rules for Classic Games
1992
7.46
1-4 players
2.00/5
Ingenious Challenges
2010
5.87
2-4 players
30 min
1.38/5
A Gamut of Games
1969
7.77
1-10 players
30 min
2.32/5
Patchwork
2014
8.13
2 players
15-30 min
3.85/5
Azul
2017
7.72
2-4 players
30-45 min
1.78/5
Patchwork
2014
7.58
2 players
15-30 min
1.60/5
YINSH
2003
7.71
2 players
30-60 min
2.63/5
Samurai
1998
7.48
2-4 players
30-60 min
2.44/5
Through the Desert
1998
7.18
2-5 players
45 min
2.16/5
Ingenious
2004
7.10
1-4 players
45 min
1.91/5
TZAAR
2007
7.67
2 players
30-60 min
2.48/5
DVONN
2001
7.45
2 players
30 min
2.65/5
Mexica
2002
7.24
2-4 players
90 min
2.68/5
Torres
1999
7.08
2-4 players
60 min
2.85/5
Blokus
2000
6.86
2-4 players
20 min
1.73/5
Frequently Asked Questions
Abstract strategy games have minimal or no theme, no hidden information, and no randomness. Victory depends entirely on player skill and decision-making. Classic examples include Chess, Go, and Checkers. Modern abstracts like Azul, Hive, and YINSH combine pure strategy with elegant components and faster play times.
Great modern abstracts include Azul (tile drafting mosaic), Hive (insect-themed piece placement), Santorini (3D building and Greek gods), Patchwork (two-player quilting puzzle), YINSH (part of the GIPF project), and Onitama (simplified Chess with rotating move cards).
Abstract strategy games develop pure logical thinking because there is no luck to blame and no hidden information to guess about. Every outcome results from player decisions. They build pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, and the ability to think multiple moves ahead — skills that transfer to other strategy games and real-world problem solving.