The Chess Variants Club (2020)

Developer: Minimol Games
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Sports, Strategy
Rating: 4.0 of 5, 55 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 46 minutes
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

Sitting in a peaceful, minimalist virtual club, calmly exploring quirky chess twists and solving puzzles at your own pace.

minimalistrelaxingcasualeducationalpuzzleatmosphericstrategicfamily friendly

What players say

Players appreciate the broad collection of chess variants and the elegant design, but many find the pieces hard to distinguish and wish for cosmetic options. The developer's decision to stop updates has drawn criticism from some who say the game feels incomplete.

Screenshots

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More by Minimol Games

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.