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Battleship is a guessing game at heart: you hide something, your opponent hunts for it, and every miss narrows the search. These games like Battleship keep that hidden-information tension with flags, color codes, faces and even a full submarine crew. Most are two-player games that teach in minutes, and one turns the hunt into a loud team event.
Closest game to Battleship: Stratego
Hide your army's ranks, then attack and reveal pieces until someone captures the flag. It costs about $29.
Price band: $20–$30 (about $29) · Check today’s price on Amazon
1. Stratego — the closest hidden-army game
Players: 2, ages 8+ · Price band: $20–$30 (about $29) · Pick for: The closest hidden-army game · See Stratego on Amazon
Each player sets up forty pieces with their ranks facing away from the opponent, then moves them across the board. When pieces meet, both are revealed and the higher rank wins. Bombs, scouts and a lone spy make every attack a guess, just like calling a shot in Battleship.
Our Battleship vs Stratego comparison covers how the two classics differ.
Skip it if: the player wants pure luck; Stratego rewards planning and bluffing.
2. Mastermind — a pure code-breaking puzzle
Players: 2, ages 8+ · Price band: $20–$30 (about $27) · Pick for: A pure code-breaking puzzle · See Mastermind on Amazon
One player hides a row of colored pegs and the other guesses, getting key-peg clues after each try. It is Battleship's search-and-deduce loop boiled down to its core, and a round takes about ten minutes.
Skip it if: you want a game with any theme; Mastermind is abstract.
3. Captain Sonar — teams and game nights
Players: 2 to 8, ages 14+ · Price band: $30+ (about $49) · Pick for: Teams and game nights · See Captain Sonar on Amazon
Two teams crew rival submarines, with a captain, first mate, engineer and radio operator on each side. The radio operator listens to the other team's moves and tries to plot where they are, then the crew fires torpedoes. It is Battleship played in real time, and it gets loud.
Skip it if: your group is fewer than four; it shines with six to eight.
4. Guess Who? — younger kids learning to deduce
Players: 2, ages 6+ · Price band: $10–$20 (about $17) · Pick for: Younger kids learning to deduce · See Guess Who? on Amazon
Each player picks a secret face and asks yes-or-no questions to rule out the other's. It teaches the same process of elimination as Battleship without a grid, so it is a good first step for preschoolers and early readers.
Skip it if: the players are older kids or adults looking for strategy.
5. Battleship with Planes — families who want more of the original
Players: 2, ages 7+ · Price band: $10–$20 (about $20) · Pick for: Families who want more of the original · See Battleship with Planes on Amazon
This version adds aircraft to each fleet, so there is more to hide and more to hunt. It plays exactly like the classic, which makes it an easy upgrade for families who wore out their old set.
Skip it if: you already own Battleship and want something genuinely different.
Battleship alternatives compared
| Game | Players | Core idea | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battleship | 2 | Call shots on a hidden grid | about $15 |
| Stratego | 2 | Hidden army ranks | about $29 |
| Mastermind | 2 | Crack a color code | about $27 |
| Captain Sonar | 2 to 8 | Team submarine hunt | about $49 |
| Guess Who? | 2 | Yes-or-no deduction | about $17 |
| Battleship with Planes | 2 | Classic plus aircraft | about $20 |
What makes a game feel like Battleship
Battleship works because each player knows something the other does not, and every turn gives away a little more. Stratego and Captain Sonar keep the military theme. Mastermind and Guess Who keep the deduction and drop the theme. All of them reward keeping notes and thinking about what a miss tells you.
If you need the original, classic Battleship (about $15) is still the easiest place to start, and our how to play Battleship guide covers setup and rules.
Picking by age and group
- Ages 6 to 7: Guess Who? and Battleship with Planes.
- Ages 8 to 12: Stratego and Mastermind.
- Teens and adults: Stratego for duels, Captain Sonar for parties.
- Big groups: Captain Sonar, the only game here built for teams.
Games like Battleship FAQ
What is the closest board game to Battleship?
Stratego. Both hide your forces from the opponent, and attacks reveal information turn by turn.
Is there a Battleship-style game for more than two players?
Captain Sonar supports up to eight players in two teams.
What is a good Battleship alternative for young kids?
Guess Who? teaches the same deduction for ages 6 and up.
