chesslike

Chesslike is a descriptive term used to refer to games that resemble chess in structure, goals, or mechanics, rather than to a formal genre. It is commonly applied in game design discussions, academic writing on abstract strategy games, and hobbyist classifications to denote two-player, turn-based, perfect-information systems that emphasize strategic planning.

Typical features include a square grid board, a set of pieces with defined movement rules, alternation of moves, and an objective such as checkmate, capture of a key piece, or immobilizing the opponent. Many chesslike games share an emphasis on tactical calculation, long-term planning, and material parity. However, there are variations: some games modify the victory condition, use different board sizes, or introduce new piece types or movement rules that depart from standard chess while retaining the overall feel.

Examples and related concepts include traditional chess itself and chess variants such as shogi (Japanese chess) and xiangqi (Chinese chess), which preserve the spirit of chess-like play in different cultural forms. Modern abstract games such as Onitama are often described as chesslike due to their streamlined movement systems and focus on direct confrontations on a grid. In artificial intelligence research, chesslike domains are used as testbeds for search algorithms and evaluation functions because of their clear rules and deterministic, two-player play.

Notes: the term is descriptive rather than a formal taxonomy, and its boundaries can be blurry as new games blend chess-inspired mechanics with other genres.