Best Logic Puzzle Games Like Chess for Mobile (2025)
Chess is timeless because it rewards planning, pattern recognition, and calm decision-making under pressure. If you’re looking for mobile puzzle games with a chess-like strategic feel, here are the best options to try in 2025 — with a quick explanation of what makes each one worth your time.
What “like chess” really means
A chess-like puzzle game usually has at least a few of these traits:
- Small set of rules, big depth
- No randomness (or very little)
- Punishes impulsive moves
- Rewards long-term planning
- Clear feedback: you instantly know when you blundered
Top picks (with “why it clicks”)
1) Queens (grid strategy puzzle)
If you enjoy structure, constraints, and tactical planning, a queens-style grid puzzle feels like chess tactics: every placement changes the future.
Why you’ll like it
- Positioning matters
- Mistakes cascade
- You can improve fast with strategy
2) Chess puzzles (tactics trainers)
Not a game recommendation so much as a training category: tactics apps are the quickest way to get the “one best move” dopamine loop.
Why you’ll like it
- Short sessions
- Skill progression is obvious
- Great daily habit
3) Sudoku variants (Killer / Thermo / Arrow)
Classic Sudoku is “calm calculation.” Variants add layers that feel like opening theory: the same base rules, new constraints.
Why you’ll like it
- Pure logic
- No ads needed if you choose the right app
- Great for long focus
4) Nonograms (Picross)
Nonograms hit the same “calculated certainty” feeling as endgames: slow, deliberate, consistent.
5) Hashi (Bridges)
Build connections under constraints. It’s surprisingly strategic, and candidates eliminate each other like tactical motifs.
6) Slitherlink
Loop-building logic. Very puzzle-forward, and rewards careful constraint tracking.
7) Minesweeper (classic, no guessing modes)
With “no-guess” boards, Minesweeper becomes pure deduction and planning.
How to choose the right one for you
Pick based on what you loved most in chess:
- Tactics → chess puzzles, queens-style grids
- Positional play → Hashi, Slitherlink
- Calculation → Sudoku variants
- Endgame clarity → Nonograms
A simple weekly routine
If you want consistent progress (without burnout):
- Mon/Wed/Fri: 10–15 minutes of a constraint puzzle (Queens / Hashi)
- Tue/Thu: 5–10 minutes of fast tactics (chess puzzles)
- Weekend: one longer session (Sudoku variant / Nonogram)
Final thought
The best chess-like mobile games are the ones that make you pause before tapping. If a puzzle forces you to think “what does this move unlock?” — you’re in the right genre.