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swap_horiz Arimaa Alternatives

Looking for alternatives to Arimaa? Compare the top Chess Variant options ranked by our AI scoring system.

You're looking at alternatives to:
Arimaa

Arimaa

Arimaa is a two-player abstract strategy board game invented in 2002 by Omar Syed. It is played on an 8x8 board using six different types of animal pieces, including elephants, camels, horses, dogs, cats, and rabbits. Syed specifically designed the game to be difficult for artificial intelligence to...

8.9 Great

apps Top Arimaa Alternatives

The top alternative to Arimaa in 2026 is Ultima with a score of 8.2/10, followed by Cambodian Chess (8.1) and Gothic Chess (7.9).

1
Ultima

Ultima

Ultima is an abstract strategy game invented by Robert Abbott and first published in 1962. Played on an 8 by 8 board, it...

Baroque Western 8x8 Fairy Pieces
8.2 Great
2
Cambodian Chess

Cambodian Chess

Cambodian Chess, known as Ouk Chaktrang, is the traditional chess game of Cambodia, closely related to Thai Makruk and d...

Variant Historical Regional Asean
8.1 Great
3
Gothic Chess

Gothic Chess

Gothic Chess is a chess variant played on a 10-by-8 board containing 80 squares, patented by Ed Trice in 2002. It builds...

Modern Commercial Extended 10x8 Board
7.9 Good
4
Italian Progressive Chess

Italian Progressive Chess

Italian Progressive Chess is a chess variant where players sequentially increase the number of moves they can make per t...

Speed Incremental Variant Western
7.8 Good
5
Omega Chess

Omega Chess

Omega Chess is a commercial chess variant created by Daniel MacDonald in 1992. It uses a 10 by 10 board with four additi...

Champion Commercial Extended Wizard
7.5 Good
6
Cylindrical Chess

Cylindrical Chess

Cylindrical Chess is a historical variant of standard Western chess that operates on the concept of a cylindrical board....

Variant Western Cylindrical Wrap Around
7.5 Good
7
Musketeer Chess

Musketeer Chess

Musketeer Chess is a modern chess variant invented by Tunisian designer Zied Haddad. It is played on a standard 8×8 ches...

Modular Modern Commercial Extended
7.4 Good
8
Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess

Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess

Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess is a multi-board variant popularized by the 1960s television series, featuring movable a...

Commercial Three Dimensional Scifi 3D Chess
7.2 Good
9
Centennial Chess

Centennial Chess

Centennial Chess is a large variant played on a 10x10 board, featuring an expanded array of pieces and specialized leape...

Modern Commercial Centennial Extended
7.1 Good
10
Knightmare Chess

Knightmare Chess

Knightmare Chess is a commercial board game that introduces variable elements to traditional chess through the use of pl...

Modern Commercial Card Game Cards
7.1 Good
11
Kinglet

Kinglet

Kinglet is a fairy chess variant invented by the British game designer Vernon Ryland Parton in the mid-20th century. Pla...

Variant Western 8x8 King Elimination
7.1 Good
12
Falcon-Hunter Chess

Falcon-Hunter Chess

Falcon-Hunter Chess introduces two asymmetrical compound pieces: the Falcon, which moves forward as a bishop and backwar...

Modern 8x8 Falcon Piece Hunter Piece
6.9 Fair
13
Smess

Smess

Smess, originally released by Parker Brothers in 1970, is a variant where pieces move according to printed arrows on the...

Commercial Western Arrows 7x8
6.9 Fair
14
Circular Chess

Circular Chess

Circular Chess is played on a round board divided into concentric rings and radial files, reviving a historical medieval...

Modern Commercial Ring Topology
6.5 Fair
15
Heian Shogi

Heian Shogi

Heian Shogi is an early form of shogi played in Japan during the Heian period (794–1185 CE), considered a direct predece...

Japanese Historical Early 8x8
6.4 Fair
16
Plunder Chess

Plunder Chess

A chess variant where a capturing piece temporarily acquires the movement type of the captured piece, adding combinatori...

Modern Commercial Fairy Capture Variant
6.4 Fair
17
Millennium 3D Chess

Millennium 3D Chess

Millennium 3D Chess, created by William D'Agostino in 2001, expands traditional chess into a three-dimensional format by...

Modern Commercial Three Dimensional 3D Chess
6.3 Fair
18
Dragonfly Chess

Dragonfly Chess

Dragonfly Chess is a variant featuring a unique fairy chess piece called the dragonfly, which combines the movements of...

Modern Fairy Extended 8x8
6.3 Fair
19
Amazon Chess

Amazon Chess

Amazon Chess is a chess variant in which the queen is replaced by an amazon piece that combines the movement powers of b...

Modern 8x8 Fairy Pieces Amazon Piece
5.9 Mediocre
20
Chess 2: The Sequel

Chess 2: The Sequel

Chess 2: The Sequel is a 2014 asymmetrical video game designed by David Sirlin that introduces six distinct armies and a...

Modern Commercial Alternative Goal Multiple Armies
5.8 Mediocre

summarize Quick Comparison Summary

Alternative Score vs Arimaa Action
Ultima
Ultima
Chess Variant Baroque Western 8x8
8.2 Great -0.7 Compare
Cambodian Chess
Cambodian Chess
Chess Variant Variant Historical Regional
8.1 Great -0.8 Compare
Gothic Chess
Gothic Chess
Chess Variant Modern Commercial Extended
7.9 Good -1.0 Compare
Italian Progressive Chess
Italian Progressive Chess
Chess Variant Speed Incremental Variant
7.8 Good -1.1 Compare
Omega Chess
Omega Chess
Chess Variant Champion Commercial Extended
7.5 Good -1.4 Compare
Cylindrical Chess
Cylindrical Chess
Chess Variant Variant Western Cylindrical
7.5 Good -1.4 Compare
Musketeer Chess
Musketeer Chess
Chess Variant Modular Modern Commercial
7.4 Good -1.5 Compare
Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess
Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess
Chess Variant Commercial Three Dimensional Scifi
7.2 Good -1.7 Compare
Centennial Chess
Centennial Chess
Chess Variant Modern Commercial Centennial
7.1 Good -1.8 Compare
Knightmare Chess
Knightmare Chess
Chess Variant Modern Commercial Card Game
7.1 Good -1.8 Compare

See all Chess Variant ranked by score

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help Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best alternatives to Arimaa?
The top alternatives to Arimaa in 2026 include Ultima, Cambodian Chess, Gothic Chess, Italian Progressive Chess, Omega Chess. Each offers unique features and is objectively scored on Lunoo to help you compare.
How does Arimaa compare to its competitors?
Our AI-powered comparison system analyzes features, pricing, user reviews, and expert opinions to provide objective scores. Arimaa scores 8.9/10. Click any alternative above to see a detailed side-by-side comparison.
Is Arimaa worth it in 2026?
Arimaa scores 8.9/10 on Lunoo, making it a highly-rated option in the Chess Variant category. However, alternatives like Ultima may better suit specific needs.
What is the best free alternative to Arimaa?
Several alternatives to Arimaa offer free plans or free tiers. Check the alternatives listed above and visit their websites to compare pricing and free options.
Why should I switch from Arimaa?
Common reasons users look for Arimaa alternatives include pricing, specific feature gaps, better integration needs, or simply exploring newer options. Our objective scoring helps you compare without bias.
How many alternatives to Arimaa are there?
Lunoo currently lists 20 scored alternatives to Arimaa in the Chess Variant category, ranked by our AI-powered evaluation system.
Which Arimaa alternative has the highest rating?
Ultima currently holds the highest rating among Arimaa alternatives with a score of 8.2/10.
Can I use Ultima instead of Arimaa?
Ultima is one of the top-rated alternatives to Arimaa. While they serve similar purposes in the Chess Variant space, each has distinct strengths. Use our comparison tool above for a detailed side-by-side analysis.
What is the cheapest alternative to Arimaa?
Pricing varies among Arimaa alternatives. We recommend checking each alternative's website for current pricing. Many options in the Chess Variant category offer free tiers or competitive pricing.
How are Arimaa alternatives ranked on Lunoo?
Lunoo uses an AI-powered scoring system that analyzes category fit, feature coverage, pricing signals, public reception, recency, and value to provide 0 to 10 scores. Rankings are updated continuously.
Arimaa vs Ultima: which is better?
Arimaa scores 8.9/10 while Ultima scores 8.2/10 on Lunoo. The best choice depends on your specific needs. Use our detailed comparison tool for a full breakdown.
Arimaa vs Cambodian Chess: which is better?
Arimaa scores 8.9/10 while Cambodian Chess scores 8.1/10 on Lunoo. The best choice depends on your specific needs. Use our detailed comparison tool for a full breakdown.
Arimaa vs Gothic Chess: which is better?
Arimaa scores 8.9/10 while Gothic Chess scores 7.9/10 on Lunoo. The best choice depends on your specific needs. Use our detailed comparison tool for a full breakdown.

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