The Board is Yours (2026)

Developer: Draelent
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Indie, Simulation, Strategy
Rating: 4.9 of 5, 43 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 5.2 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A slow-burn, brain-bending puzzle where every purchase forces you to rethink your entire strategy.

complexstrategicthoughtfulincrementalchess-likeoptimization-heavydeliberate

What players say

Players praise the clever mix of chess movement and idle progression, with upgrades that feel meaningful and a short 6-8 hour runtime that doesn't overstay its welcome. A minority finds the repetition loses its appeal after a few hours, and some note the only player agency is piece placement.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.