I Checkmate Thee

I Checkmate Thee is a horror game that combines chess with combat on a chessboard. You are a lonely Hero trapped in the body of the King, who must face several games against enemy chess pieces that move according to chess rules. A sword that kills an enemy with one blow is your weapon; each move creates a new path for the King and brings him closer to death.

The chessboard

The King encounters animated, three-dimensional enemy pieces as well as his own dead pawns, bishops, knights and queen. You can hide behind the dead pieces to avoid attacks and find scrolls on some of them. Collecting the scrolls reveals the secret of escaping the chess trap.

Light and clues

Fading torchlight marks the time available for each move, while the growing darkness conceals opponents. Their eerie voices and glowing symbols provide clues to help the King avoid checkmate. A wrong move brings up the inscription “I Checkmate Thee!” and starts the game again.

The game uses little text and no spoken words; important information is shown through the surrounding world.