Five Modern Shogi Variants People Actually Play (and Why You Should Try Them)

I love standard shogi: the 9×9 board, the quiet tension, and the “wait… you can drop THAT?!” moments.

But sometimes I want something faster. Or something I can teach in minutes. Or a shogi‑flavored game that works with kids and friends who don’t know the pieces.

Japan has a whole world of “casual shogi” (カジュアル将棋) and shogi-inspired games. I dug up these five modern variants that show up again and again as popular, selling well, or widely played shogi variants.

Note: there isn’t one official popularity ranking for every variant. So when I say “popular,” I mean it’s widely talked about and/or has clear signs of real-world reach (like strong sales or mainstream coverage).

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A 60‑second refresher: what makes standard shogi “standard”?

Standard shogi is played on a 9×9 board, and the goal is to checkmate the enemy king.

Two rules give shogi its personality:

• Drops: captured pieces become yours, and you can drop them later.
• Promotion: many pieces can promote, changing how they move.

Most variants below either shrink the board, cut piece types, or change how you win.

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Why these variants get popular (the common pattern)

Across the successful modern variants, a few themes repeat:

• Short games (small boards, fast endings)
• Less memorizing (fewer piece types, clearer moves)
• Big moments, fast (one clever drop or trap can decide it)
• Great for teaching (“shogi thinking” without the full overload)

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1) Dōbutsu Shōgi (どうぶつしょうぎ): the tiny shogi that tricks adults

If you’ve never played a shogi variant before, start here.

Fast facts

• Board: 3×4 (12 squares)
• Pieces: Lion, Elephant, Giraffe, Chick (Chick can promote to Hen)
• Win: catch the opponent’s Lion, or “Try” (reach the far back row with your Lion and keep it safe for one turn)

Why people love it

It looks like a children’s game. Cute animals. Clear movement marks.

Then you play it… and suddenly you’re thinking hard.

Because the board is tiny, every move matters. Every drop is dangerous. And the Try rule creates a second kind of tension: sometimes you don’t need a big attack—you need one clean sprint.

It also has serious “gateway” energy in Japan. It was announced in 2008 and became popular among younger players. And it’s a real hit as a product line, with sources noting about 700,000 copies for the series.

How it’s different from standard shogi

• Much smaller board and fewer pieces, so it’s teachable in minutes.
• The Try win condition doesn’t exist in standard shogi.
• Some standard “nope” rules (like double pawn) aren’t treated as fouls here, so play feels freer.

Who it’s perfect for

Families and beginners… but also adults who want a quick tactical fight.

Quick tip: Play a best-of-three. You’ll be surprised how quickly it stops feeling “simple.”

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2) 9‑Masu Shōgi (9マス将棋): training wheels that still bite

If you want “real shogi skills” without the full 9×9 commitment, 9‑Masu is the best bridge I know.

Fast facts

• Board: 3×3 (nine squares)
• Pieces: 8 types (so you still see real shogi variety)
• Starting setups: 40 different initial positions, from beginner to advanced
• Goal: learn check, checkmate, and the basics—fast

Why people love it

Instead of one fixed starting position, you choose from many setups. That means you can pick an “easy” position for beginners, or a nasty one that makes strong players pause.

The tiny board also forces good habits. If you miss a threat, it often becomes immediate pain. But that’s also why it’s such a great teacher.

It had real buzz in Japan. A Japan Shogi Association column notes it drew big attention even before release, leading to increased production. And a publisher press release described it as a popular shogi game that passed 50,000 copies issued.

How it’s different from standard shogi

• No slow opening phase. Tactics happen right away.
• Many starting patterns let you “choose your difficulty.”
• It feels a little like “shogi puzzles you can fight over.”

Quick tip: Use it as a warm-up: one 9‑Masu game before a standard game is like doing tactics puzzles before a workout.

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3) Kyōto Shōgi (京都将棋): every move flips your piece (and your brain)

Kyōto Shōgi is what I show people when they say, “Okay, give me something REALLY different.”

Fast facts

• Board: 5×5
• Pieces: 5 types total
• Twist: every non‑king piece flips to its other side after it moves
• Captures: captured pieces can be dropped back, and you can choose which side is up when you drop
• Win: capture the enemy king

Why people love it

It’s simple to explain, but it feels wild to play.

In standard shogi, you learn “this piece does this.” In Kyōto Shōgi, each piece is basically two pieces, and you’re forced to swap between them. Even a “safe” move can create a new weakness next turn.

Because it’s 5×5, games end quickly. It’s all sharp decisions. Japanese media has even pointed to Kyōto Shōgi as one of the “casual shogi” games that are selling well.

How it’s different from standard shogi

• Forced flipping every move. You can’t choose “don’t flip.”
• Smaller board makes it tactical and fast.
• Some standard restrictions (like double pawn) aren’t banned.

Quick tip: Before you move, ask: “What will this piece become after it moves?” Half your blunders come from forgetting the flip.

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4) Hasami Shōgi (はさみ将棋): the “sandwich” game

Hasami Shōgi isn’t really “mini shogi.” It’s more like a classic board game that uses shogi gear.

Fast facts

• Board: usually a shogi board (9×9)
• Movement: every piece moves any number of squares up/down/left/right (like a rook), but cannot jump
• Capture: sandwich an enemy piece between two of yours (orthogonally)
• Reuse: captured pieces do NOT come back as drops

Why people love it

Kids understand “sandwich to capture” instantly. And games move fast.

At the same time, it teaches real strategy: lines, traps, and tempo. It’s also great for learning how to “limit” an opponent’s movement. You start seeing the board as lanes and walls.

The Japan Shogi Association’s rule page lays it out clearly, and many families tweak the win condition (“first to X captures,” “win by a certain lead,” etc.), so it stays flexible.

How it’s different from standard shogi

• No king, no checkmate. It’s a capture game.
• No drops. Gone is gone.
• All pieces move the same way, so there’s less memorizing and more board sense.

Quick tip: If someone is scared of learning shogi pieces, teach Hasami first. It builds confidence fast.

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5) Mawari Shōgi (まわり将棋): a shogi-board party game

Mawari Shōgi is what you play when someone says, “I don’t know shogi… can I still play?”

Yes.

Fast facts

• Type: sugoroku-style race game played with shogi pieces
• “Dice”: throw four Gold Generals and count based on how they land
• Players: often 2–4
• Local rules: lots of regional variations exist

Why people love it

It’s social and loud. The throw can save you or crush you.

There’s also a nice hidden benefit: kids learn piece names and get comfortable touching the board and pieces. That removes a lot of fear when they later try real shogi.

An All About article calls it “very popular with children,” and Japanese Wikipedia describes it as a sugoroku-like game where you throw four pieces instead of rolling dice (also called “Maru Shōgi”).

How it’s different from standard shogi

• It’s a race game, not a battle game.
• Randomness is the main feature.
• It works naturally with more than two players.

Quick tip: Before you start, agree on the local rules. Half the fun is that every family has “their” Mawari rules.

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How to use these variants

With a shogi set on the table, these variants make great “default games.”

• Teaching: Start with Dōbutsu Shōgi or Hasami so people can play immediately.
• Practice: Use 9‑Masu as a fast tactics warm‑up before real shogi.
• Game night: Kyōto Shōgi is a great go-to when you want something sharp and surprising, and Mawari Shōgi is perfect when you have 3–4 players and want laughs.

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Which one should you try first?

• Best first variant: Dōbutsu Shōgi
• Best “get better at real shogi”: 9‑Masu Shōgi
• Weirdest brain workout: Kyōto Shōgi
• Simple family strategy game: Hasami Shōgi
• Party game anyone can join: Mawari Shōgi

If you try one, tell me what surprised you most—and which game made you say, “Wait… this is actually deep.”

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Links (Japanese)