Chess Brain: Dark Troops (2021)

Developer: Caio Flavio
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: Casual, Indie, Strategy
Rating: 4.7 of 5, 64 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 51 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

A minimalist puzzle game where you guide a king through grid-based chess challenges, with every piece moving each turn, creating a tense but relaxing logical flow.

puzzlechess-liketurn-basedminimaliststrategicrelaxingtense

What players say

Players say it is a short set of 30 puzzles that takes about an hour to finish. The sequel introduces a visualization mode and an undo button, but some find it easier than the first game. A new piece class mid-way adds complexity, and there is a story ending. Reviews split on difficulty.

Screenshots

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More by QUByte Interactive

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.