Chess first
The main decision is still a board move, so each turn stays readable.
Chess. Cards.
Inspired by Tempête sur l'échiquier, ChMess keeps the clear idea of chess: move a piece, read the board, prepare a plan. Cards add just enough chaos to make each match funnier, livelier, and less frozen by the gap between two Elo levels.
CHMESS SCREENSHOT
GAMEPLAY
Gameplay screenshot
Game shots
These black blocks mark the places reserved for real game screenshots. They will show the board, lobby, hand, and card effects once the final captures are ready.
Gameplay
Lobby
Cards
Rules in short
ChMess starts from chess: read the board, move one piece, protect your king. The twist is a hand of cards that can change timing, movement, or board state while keeping the server authoritative.
Five cards
Players keep a hand of cards and choose the right timing window.
Balanced chaos
Cards give both players tactical levers without deleting chess skill.
Find the game
The itch.io page is the main place to get builds and follow playable releases.
Card timing
Cards stay private in hand until they are played or triggered. Their timing matters as much as their effect.
Before move
Played before moving a piece. These cards prepare the turn, alter a threat, or change what a piece can do before the board move happens.
After move
Played after your piece move resolves. They reward positioning, follow up a capture, or turn a quiet move into pressure.
Reaction
A reaction card behaves like a secret card: it waits hidden, then activates during the opponent's turn if its trigger event happens.
Example cards
Black Hole
Removes a square from the board and forces future paths to shift.
Fusion
Combines two pieces: one visible piece, two tactical identities.
Private Jet
Moves the real king with a public, readable animation.
Temporary Hallucination
Temporarily changes how a piece is read at the right moment.
Current build
A short changelog keeps the page alive without turning it into technical documentation.
- Indie-game style website with screenshot slots, cards, and the itch.io link.
- Server-authoritative chess, 5-card hands, public reveals, and private discards.
- Pixel-art polish, card effects, UX readability, and deck balancing.