We report on the low-dimensional magnetic behavior of the series of compounds NiNb2−xVxO6 (0 x 2), with a columbite-type crystal structure stabilized at high pressure and temperature. Based on susceptibility, magnetization, and specific-heat measurements, the system is characterized as presenting quasi-one-dimensional magnetism, with Ni2+ magnetic moments that can be modeled as Ising spins, placed along zigzag chains in the crystal structure. The low-temperature phase is found to consist of an antiferromagnetic arrangement of ferromagnetic chains, and a metamagnetic transition to uniform ferromagnetic order is observed under magnetic fields slightly above μ0H = 1 T. We discuss the effects of substituting vanadium for niobium, maintaining the same crystal structure along the whole series of samples. In particular, the long-range magnetic order, most clearly seen for x = 0, tends to be suppressed as the vanadium content is increased. The exchange interactions are quantified, revealing that the ferromagnetic intrachain interactions vary from about 7 K for NiNb2O6 to 2 K for NiV2O6, remaining one order of magnitude larger than the mean antiferromagnetic interchain coupling
