Checkmate Showdown

Checkmate Showdown is an online multiplayer game that combines chess with fighting-game combat. You position chess pieces on the board and challenge other players; when a piece attacks an opponent, a fight begins. Each piece has its own fighting style and abilities, based on archetypes such as zoner, grappler and rushdown.

Board and battles

Piece placement shapes your options in fights and the endgame. Pieces within movement range can provide tag-assists, and the attacking piece starts its fight with its Ultimate ready. Choosing which piece to use matters because each corresponds to a different fighting-game archetype.

You need to learn both board strategy and fight combos, as well as the skillset of every chess piece. The combat includes mixups, the strike-defense-throw triad, special moves, cancels, combo breakers and guard breaks. The controls are designed to be approachable for newcomers while offering depth and precision for experienced fighting-game players.

Online competition

The game includes matchmaking and balancing for competition, and uses rollback netcode. Chess expertise and fighting-game experience can both help in competitive play, but neither guarantees an advantage: chess-savvy players can catch opponents with unexpected attacks, while fighting-game experts still need to adapt to board tactics and may have to fight with a damaged piece.