Khet

Khet is a two-player abstract strategy board game in which players aim to capture the opponent's Pharaoh by firing a laser across a grid-based board. The game blends an Egyptian theme with light-based combat: many pieces carry reflective surfaces that can redirect a laser beam, while others serve as blockers. The core idea is to position and orient pieces so that a beam emitted from one side travels through the opponent's formation to strike the Pharaoh.

Components and setup: Each player has a set of pieces arranged on a rectangular grid. Central to the setup is the Pharaoh—the target to be defeated—along with several supporting pieces that have different shapes and reflective properties. Pieces are placed on the board from the back rows and can be moved to adjacent empty squares; some pieces can be rotated to alter how they reflect the laser.

Gameplay: Players alternate turns. On a turn, a player moves one piece (and often rotates pieces to adjust reflective geometry) to influence the beam’s path. After moving, the player fires a laser from their side; the beam travels across the board, reflecting off mirrors attached to certain pieces. Any piece struck by the laser is removed from the board; if the laser reaches the opponent's Pharaoh, that Pharaoh is captured and the player wins.

Variants: The original game is commonly referred to as Khet, and a later edition, Khet 2.0, introduced new pieces and revised rules to expand strategic options.

Reception and influence: Khet has been described as a modern, laser-based variant of Laser Chess, appealing to players interested in optics, strategy, and tactile gameplay. It has a dedicated community of fans and has inspired spin-offs and digital adaptations.