- BGG rank
- BGG #182
- BGG rating
- 7.8
War Chest
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,561
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Mini Shogi
1970
Rules assistance for Mini Shogi
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 15 min
- 8+
- Complexity 3.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Mini Shogi
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mini Shogi is a board game released in 1970 for 2 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Shigenobu Kusumoto and its main mechanics are Grid Movement.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #262
- BGG rating
- 7.7
YINSH
- 2 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2003
- BGG rank
- BGG #317
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Santorini
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #338
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Hive
- 2 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2001
- BGG rank
- BGG #366
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Onitama
- 2 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #464
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Chess
- 2 players
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 1475
- BGG rank
- BGG #661
- BGG rating
- 7.7
TZAAR
- 2 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #682
- BGG rating
- 7.5
DVONN
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2001
- BGG rank
- BGG #838
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Mexica
- 2–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #857
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Torres
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 1999
- BGG rank
- BGG #894
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #925
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Ricochet Robots
- 1–99 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1999
About the game
This Shogi variant was invented (or, perhaps, rediscovered) by Shigeo Kusumoto in 1970. It is played on a 5x5 board and features pieces from standard shogi (king, gold, silver, bishop, rook, pawn). Pieces promote on the final rank. It also makes use of the standard shogi drop rule. Although played on a small board, mini shogi has not been solved, and it can serve as a simple introduction to shogi.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Web published)
- Gentosha Education
Questions and answers
Mini Shogi supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Mini Shogi is 15 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Mini Shogi for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Mini Shogi has a complexity rating of 3.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Mini Shogi belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Mini Shogi are: Shigenobu Kusumoto. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Mini Shogi as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.