Yes, chess is the most popular board game in the world. Its global appeal is unmatched. There are other famous board games like Monopoly, Ludo, and Go, but they are nowhere near in comparison to chess.
In countries like USA, China, India, and Russia, chess is the most popular board game. In fact, some schools in Eastern Europe teach chess as a subject to children.
5 Reasons why Chess is the Most Popular Board game:
1. Chess has a strong public relations (PR)
Fun fact:
2. There is more money in Chess
Chess is more popular than other board games because there is more money in chess.
The winning prize of the chess world championship last year was €2 million, which is very low compared to mainstream sports like soccer and basketball, but compared to other board games, it’s huge prize money.
3. Chess is more Logical
In chess, logic, and skill plays a comprehensively major role compared to many other board games.
Unlike games such as Monopoly or Snakes and Ladders, where players rely heavily on the roll of the dice, the outcome of a chess game depends entirely on a player’s skill and strategy.
In fact, the almost absence of luck is one of the factors that makes chess such a highly-regarded game, as it allows players to test and develop their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
4. Chess is Still Evolving
While other board games are already solved by computers, chess is still an evolving game.
Even the strongest of computers haven’t solved chess yet, and there is innovation in playing styles that is increasing the competition each day.
No other board game is as hard as chess, and due to the level of competition and evolution, chess is still a living game that has an upper hand over other board games.
5. Chess is more Competitive
The number of possible chess games is around 10 to the power of 120. This means that two chess games are rarely the same. With so many possibilities, it is impossible to determine the best move for either player in every situation.
This means that chess is a highly competitive sport that is yet to be solved even by supercomputer engines like AlphaZero and Stockfish.
Some Important FAQs about Chess and Comparing it with other Board games:
1. What is the most trending board game other than Chess?
The most trending board game right now is Settlers of Catan.
The game is a strategy game that can be played by up to four players.
It is a tile-based game where players attempt to build settlements, roads, and cities on the board.
The player who can best manage their resources will ultimately win the game.
2. Is chess the best board game?
There are a lot of board games in the world, but chess is often considered to be the best.
This is because chess is a very creative game that can be played by people of all ages. It doesn’t matter if you are 900 rated or 2500 rated, there is thrill and emotion, excitement and happiness in chess for everyone.
3. Is Chess or Go more popular?
Chess is definitely more popular than Go. It has a larger global outreach, more money is involved and is getting more and more competitive compared to any other board game.
Also, chess has a bigger online presence and can be played anytime from anywhere in the world.
Read more about the popularity of chess compared to Go here.
4. What is the most common board game?
The most common board game in the world is Monopoly.
It has been around since 1935 and has been printed in over 110 countries and languages.
The objective of the game is to bankrupt your opponents by buying and developing properties and collecting rent.
Mr Beast’s video below is a fun way to get familiarized with Monopoly. It usually is played on the board but he did it with actual money and of the board in real.
5. Is there any board game like chess?
There are many board games but none of them is similar to chess.
Some of the most popular ones are Checkers, Backgammon, Connect Four, and Ludo.
Each of these games has its own set of rules and strategies that can be difficult to learn at first.
However, they are all enjoyable to play once you become familiar with them.
The only game that looks a bit similar to Chess is Checkers, in which pieces move only diagonally like a bishop in chess, but in chess, there are many other pieces like Rooks, Knights, Queen, King, and Pawns, that are totally different in movement then checker pieces.
Final Word:
This article looked at the reasons why chess is the most popular board game in the world and compared it to some of the other board games.
If you enjoyed reading it, please share it on social media.
And if you want to know more, check out this separate article on the popularity of chess in 2023.