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A happy cartoon child playing shogi at a wooden board with clear English-letter pieces, holding up a captured piece to drop back in, a warm mentor looking on

DropTale

Learn every piece, promote in the last three ranks, and master shogi’s soul: the drop — a piece you capture switches sides and waits in your hand to re-enter the game. Shogi (Japanese chess) — pieces shown as clear English letters, not kanji.

Play the board Learn to play
Level 1

Most popular

Play the board A full game of shogi against a graded computer — Gentle to Sharp. First Moves — learn to play New to shogi? Learn every piece one at a time, then the drop — no Japanese reading needed. Pass & Play Two players, one device — take turns on the real board, no computer. Checkmate Trainer Find the drop mate in one — shogi’s signature finish.
Brain Break Take a quiet moment between games — a fun shogi brain-teaser or a short breather. Brain breaks help you remember what you learn.

All activities

Learn to play

First Moves Learn every piece one at a time, then the drop — no Japanese reading needed. See the Pattern The three ideas that make shogi its own game — the drop, promotion, and the Rook’s reach. Teach the Cast Teach a piece to a cast member still learning it — teaching makes it stick.

Play a game

Play the board A full game of shogi against a graded computer — Gentle to Sharp. Pass & Play Two players, one device — take turns on the real board. Play a Friend Share a room code and play a friend on another device. No chat, no sign-in. Animal Chess (Dōbutsu 3×4) The friendly 3×4 way into shogi: four animals, two ways to win (catch the Lion, or walk yours safely to the far row). Captured animals join your side. Perfect for a first game. Mini-Shogi (5×5) All of shogi in a small game — King, Rook, Bishop, Gold, Silver and Pawn on a 5×5 board, with promotion and the drop. A gentle on-ramp to the full 9×9. Adventure Map A progression trail through every idea — clear each stop, then move on. My Games Every game you play against the computer is saved on this device — replay it move by move and get a kind, move-by-move review. Nothing leaves the device.

Sharpen your game

Board Vision Read the board first: name the marked square and the piece on it. Every answer from a real engine. Tactic Drills Spot the winning move — engine-checked positions where one move wins material. Spot the Fork Find the move that forks two enemy pieces at once. Engine-verified. Guess the Move Predict the winning move, then watch it play out — predict-observe-explain. Checkmate Trainer Find the drop mate in one — shogi’s signature finish. Tsume — force the mate The classic shogi puzzle: a Mate-in-3 and Mate-in-5 ladder — every puzzle engine-verified. Tactic Rush A calm 90-second sprint: how fast can you see the winning move? Mixed Practice A short round across the kits you have played — brought back to make it stick. Progress Your levels, streak, and how each idea is coming along — saved on this device.
Concept Kits — 16 kits · 400 questions

Every piece, promotion, and shogi’s soul: the drop rule. A short round with a hint whenever you get stuck — every answer explains the idea. Progress stays on this device.

Kit 1: The Board & The Goal Foundations — the board, promotion & castles · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 2: Pawn And Lance The pieces — pawn to rook · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 3: The Knight The pieces — pawn to rook · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 4: The Silver General The pieces — pawn to rook · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 5: The Gold General The pieces — pawn to rook · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 6: The Bishop The pieces — pawn to rook · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 7: The Rook The pieces — pawn to rook · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 8: King Safety And Check Tactics, checkmate & tsume · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 9: Reading A Checkmate Net Tactics, checkmate & tsume · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 10: The Promotion Zone Foundations — the board, promotion & castles · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 11: The Drop Rule The drop rule & its restrictions · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 12: Drop Restrictions The drop rule & its restrictions · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 13: Tsume Mate In One Tactics, checkmate & tsume · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 14: Tsume Mate In Three Tactics, checkmate & tsume · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 15: Opening Shapes And Castles Foundations — the board, promotion & castles · 5-7 · 25 questions Kit 16: Tactics And Mating Nets Tactics, checkmate & tsume · 5-7 · 25 questions

More ways to play

DropTale Run Best Moves Skills Castle Builder

Meet the cast — the characters who teach this

Each one stands for an idea you’ll practice. Tap a character to read their illustrated story and hear their audio drama.

Ensemble stories — the cast together

Explore all the stories →

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