Checkborne: A Chess Adventure

Checkborne: A Chess Adventure is a chess game in which you travel between cities and challenge 20 masters on the way to becoming the CHECKBORNE Champion. Each chapter brings a new destination and opponent; defeating a master unlocks the next stop.

The 20 masters

Each master has a distinct personality and playing style. Some favor patient positional play, while others seek sharp attacks, tactical complications or relentless pressure. The game uses the Rodent IV chess engine as the basis for its computer opponents, with each master given a distinct Rodent IV personality and shaped by a move-selection system that influences which moves the engine can choose. Their styles affect both how they play and the kinds of mistakes they make. Stockfish is used to benchmark and balance their strength.

Masters may pursue initiative and attacks, simplify into strong endgames, build pressure patiently, activate their rooks, launch pawn storms, seek tactical complications or punish loose pieces. As they become stronger, they have less freedom to deviate from the strongest moves, but their individual preferences remain. The final opponent, AURORA, has no human personality bias: it uses Stockfish at high strength.

Play each match

You can choose between three difficulty levels, from good hobby-player strength to experienced club-player strength and beyond. On Normal difficulty, you can take back up to three moves per game. During a match, you can review previous moves, and after a defeat you can retry an opponent.

Matches take place on an atmospheric 3D chessboard with scenery inspired by the opponent’s home city. You can rotate and adjust the view or switch to a traditional 2D board. Choose to play White or Black, or let a coin toss decide. You can leave a match at any time and continue where you left off later.

Local two-player chess

You can also play a classic chess match with a friend in local two-player mode, separate from the journey.