RPG Chess

RPG Chess reworks chess as a turn-based strategy game with RPG combat. You move pieces across the board, develop them through play and fight the enemy King to win. Capturing a piece triggers a duel, and damage carries over between battles.

Battles and growth

When you move onto an enemy piece, the board gives way to a 1v1 battle. Both sides queue two commands; the capturer acts first, then the pieces alternate. A battle ends when one piece is knocked out or, if both survive, when one has more HP. The winner claims the square.

Pieces gain experience by moving on the board and can level up to become stronger and unlock abilities. You can advance a pawn up its file or position a bishop to threaten the King, with every move offering a chance to develop a piece.

Abilities and elements

The game has over 100 abilities, each with its own cinematic animation and effect. A piece’s primary ability determines its element, making loadout choices a matter of both ability and elemental strengths and weaknesses. Fire, Water, Air and Earth counter one another in a cycle, while Light and Void are rivals that counter each other. Matching a piece’s element to its attack grants bonus damage. You start with 64 abilities and unlock the rest as you play.

Build your team

Use the Team Builder and your ability collection to assemble an army and choose your team’s elemental coverage across the board. The King’s primary ability sets the King’s element and also becomes your team ability, strengthening every piece you field and granting a passive effect across the board for the entire game.

Ascension campaign

In Ascension, draft a starting army and climb the King’s Tower across 16 hand-built floors. Each floor is guarded by a unique King with a signature power. You can recruit defeated enemies into your army, adapting as the board shape changes from floor to floor. If you enable permadeath, losing a game ends the run.

Game modes

You can play the tutorial, challenge the CPU at multiple difficulty levels or play local couch multiplayer on a shared screen. Online games take place in private Steam lobbies, where you can invite friends directly.

Chess variations

Castling, en passant and promotion work as expected. You can also play Chess960 or use smaller 4x4 and 5x5 boards. Moving into check is legal, and victory comes only by defeating the enemy King in battle.