Screenshots
Why Play on Stone Online?
Free to Play
All games are completely free, no hidden costs
No Signup Needed
Jump right in — no account or download required
Real-time Multiplayer
Play with real opponents from around the world
Practice with AI
Sharpen your skills against AI at 4 difficulty levels
Play vs AI
Choose your difficulty level and start playing instantly
About this Game
Play Japanese chess online — free, no download, no signup. Shogi is Japan's iconic strategy game with a twist: captured enemy pieces become yours to drop back onto the board. Pieces never leave the game, keeping the action intense from start to finish.
Stone Online gives you four AI difficulty levels for practice and instant multiplayer for real competition. Build your skills at your own pace, then test them against human opponents. Completely free, runs right in your browser.
With centuries of history and a professional player system dating to the Edo period, Shogi belongs to the chess family but the drop rule creates an entirely different strategic dimension. Title matches in Japan are major cultural events — experience what makes this game so captivating.
How to Play
Play on a 9×9 board — Sente (first player) moves first. Eight piece types: King, Rook, Bishop, Gold, Silver, Knight, Lance, and Pawn. Move pieces into the enemy camp (farthest three rows) to promote them to stronger forms.
Drop captured pieces onto any empty square as your own. No two unpromoted Pawns on the same column (nifu rule). Checkmate the opponent's King to win. Try a game against the AI — the drop rule clicks after just one game!
Game Modes
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I play Shogi online?
Click Play Now, create a room or join an existing one. Once all players are ready, the game starts automatically.
Is Shogi free to play?
Yes, Shogi on Stone Online is completely free. No downloads, no ads, no subscriptions.
How many players can play Shogi?
Shogi supports 2 to 2 players on Stone Online.
Do I need an account to play?
You can play instantly with anonymous login. No email or registration required.
No Signup Needed
Start Playing