5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel
- July 22, 2020
- Thunkspace, LLC
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel" is a unique chess variant that introduces spatial, temporal, and parallel dimensions to the classic game. It features multiverse time travel, puzzles, different AI personalities, and various starting positions. Players can also enjoy online play with friends or strangers. The game offers an intuitive interface for easy learning and highly-polished diagrams for visual clarity.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- gameplay196 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "5D Chess with Multiverse Time Travel" is a complex and innovative twist on traditional chess, incorporating time travel and multiverse mechanics that create a unique strategic experience. While many players find the mechanics engaging and rewarding once understood, the steep learning curve and lack of clear explanations can lead to initial confusion and frustration. Overall, the game is praised for its creativity and depth, though some players feel it could benefit from improved tutorials and a more polished interface.
“The gameplay is engaging and varied; every action is already read from the future and furnished with traps before you were born, and I constantly felt like I was part of this world where everything is absolutely clear and understandable.”
“The mechanics of time travel and multiverse hopping are seamlessly integrated into the chess gameplay, creating an experience that is both familiar and completely new.”
“This is a delightfully creative twist on a legendary game that yields surprisingly balanced and deep strategic gameplay.”
“Even if there is some logic behind any of the mechanics, they are not presented well (or at all it seems).”
“I'd like to recommend the game to my more masochistic friends, but it is just too poorly explained to ever feel like you've got a handle on gameplay, leaving most CPU matches even against the easiest AI to feel arbitrary and unfair.”
“The mechanics of this game are illogical; sometimes bishops will just move horizontally, you may attain checkmate without cornering the king at all in your timeline, and the introduction of new pieces like the unicorn and dragon make it even more confusing.”
- humor70 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as absurd and dry, appealing to those who appreciate intellectual comedy. Players find the chaotic and complex mechanics lead to hilariously unexpected outcomes, making it a fun experience despite its steep learning curve. Overall, the game is seen as a humorous take on chess, filled with funny moments that can leave players laughing, even as they struggle to grasp its intricacies.
“This game is extremely funny, and your $12 is so much better spent here on a joke of a chess game than $60 on any modern AAA buggy garbage.”
“I never thought I'd be laughing that hard at chess of all things, but there is some level of beautiful absurdity to the concepts conjured up by the games I've played of 5D chess.”
“The game is hilarious, complex, ridiculous, and genius all at the same time.”
“The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
“I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
“The attempts at comedy just missed the mark entirely.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the detailed visuals and immersive sound design that enhance the overall atmosphere, particularly in survival horror contexts. Others note a clean and simple art style that effectively supports gameplay, while a few criticize the minimal production value and low-effort design. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good, with a focus on functionality and clarity rather than high-end aesthetics.
“Graphics impress with its detailing, and music and sound accompaniment immerse you in what is happening, creating an inexpressible atmosphere of survival horror.”
“The graphics and sound design add an extra layer of polish to the overall experience.”
“As a game, it is great; it has fun animations, a nice graphical style, and a very well-built UI/UX experience.”
“There is little to no production value, with minimal, low-effort graphic design, not much in the way of music or sound effects, certainly nothing resembling a story or campaign, and only a small amount of what might be called level design.”
“Very few would play this game for the graphics.”
“It's not AAA graphics (no sweat beads on the king's forehead) but the gameplay, explanations, and general feel of the game are perfect.”
- story38 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging plot and unexpected twists that maintain suspense, while others criticize it for lacking a coherent narrative or production value. Notably, a few users found the storytelling elements, particularly in the context of chess mechanics, to be innovative and enjoyable, likening it to classic narratives like "The Terminator." Overall, the effectiveness of the story varies significantly among players, with some finding it compelling and others deeming it nonexistent.
“The game struck me from the first minutes with its exciting plot and music (abysses of oppression drum roll).”
“In addition, the plot twists and surprises keep you in suspense until the end.”
“Of course, the biggest achievement in the creation of this game is the storytelling.”
“☑ no story”
“There is little to no production value, with minimal, low-effort graphic design, not much in the way of music or sound effects, certainly nothing resembling a story or campaign, and only a small amount of what might be called level design.”
“In fact, it's comparable to compressing the entire plot of Game of Thrones into a single fortune cookie, then mass producing said fortune cookie until they eventually implode into a black hole, measuring the extent of its event horizon with a ruler, and dividing the sum by zero.”
- music23 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and immersion, particularly in survival horror contexts, while others criticize its lack of production value and variety. Many recommend pairing the game with external soundtracks, such as those from "Umineko" or "Bloodborne," to enrich the experience, as the game's own music is often described as minimal and lacking depth. Overall, while the sound design is noted as polished, the music is seen as a weaker aspect that could benefit from more development and variety.
“The game struck me from the first minutes with its exciting plot and music (abysses of oppression drum roll).”
“Graphics impress with its detailing, and music and sound accompaniment immersed in what is happening, creating an inexpressible atmosphere of survival horror.”
“The game itself is very polished, has a very fitting soundtrack, and immensely satisfying sound design when interacting with the game.”
“There is little to no production value, with minimal, low-effort graphic design, not much in the way of music or sound effects, certainly nothing resembling a story or campaign, and only a small amount of what might be called level design.”
“If I have to pinpoint something out, the music effects are kind of annoying, and it lacks some proper statistics tracking/ranking system.”
“It needs either a soundtrack (maybe like something from a Paradox game - look how many hours people spend doing that) or a more developed ambience system, something that also evolves during play and fits well with the current sound effects of time travel, piece movement, and turn progression.”
- emotional20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, often experiencing intense feelings ranging from frustration to elation. Many describe moments of crying, both from the challenges faced and the sense of accomplishment achieved, highlighting the game's ability to evoke deep emotional responses. The game is noted for its capacity to resonate with personal experiences, making it a unique tool for emotional exploration and reflection.
“10/10, I cried.”
“Has even been proved relevant to some emotional reconsolidation work I've done in therapy sessions, where I can't change the past but I can go back and imagine an alternate timeline, which changes my present possibility landscape.”
“After half an hour I won, don't know how, I cried.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find value in mastering the rules and engaging with puzzle modes, others feel it lacks substantial replay value outside of achievements. The presence of multiple variants and the enduring appeal of chess contribute to its replayability for some, but many reviewers suggest it may not hold long-term interest.
“When first playing the game, learning the mechanics can be very engaging, and it technically has some replay value in the puzzles section.”
“Very balanced and replayable (even with 42 variants included in the game).”
“Achievements really give some players a lot of replay value as well, though chess has a charming replay value on its own that has persisted for centuries.”
“It has low replayability for me.”
“It just doesn't have a lot of replayability for that reason.”
“I'm also convinced that all but the best players will spend their whole lives getting used to every rule, or even learning them, so there's some replayability in that.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for running smoothly on most systems, but some users report significant performance issues, particularly with slow AI processing that can lead to frustratingly long wait times. While the game is considered worth the price, there are calls for updates to enhance performance and address these AI-related delays.
“Optimization: excellent, runs smoothly on most systems.”
“Amazing game, well worth the price in optimization alone.”
“I like it, but I think they should bring some updates that improve the performance. Playing against the machine can lead to situations where it gets stuck thinking, and you end up waiting and staring at the machine for more than 20 minutes until it finishes processing and makes a move.”
“Then next there is the performance and optimization of the game.”
“Game performance is bad (slow AI), so you definitely need that nonexistent continue.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players consistently express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often likening it to needing a "second life" to manage the demands of leveling up or acquiring resources. This sentiment highlights a significant concern regarding the game's pacing and the potential for player burnout.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- stability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting rare bugs and glitches, while others experience significant issues with the interface and overall playability. Overall, the stability seems to vary widely among players, with some enjoying a smooth experience and others facing frustrating technical problems.
“No glitches as far as I can tell thus far.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
“I've experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
“Quite buggy and there is no point to actually use the time travel feature.”
“The game interface is terrible and is so unplayably buggy.”
“It's also buggy, which is super frustrating after putting a lot of effort into one game :/”
- monetization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for the absence of in-game purchases, with some users perceiving this as a missed opportunity for revenue generation, labeling it a "cash grab."
“The game offers a fair approach to in-game purchases, ensuring that players can enjoy the experience without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“I appreciate that there are no microtransactions, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the game without interruptions.”
“The monetization model is transparent and player-friendly, making it easy to enjoy the game without worrying about additional costs.”
“What a cash grab.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its impressive graphics and detailed environments, complemented by immersive music and sound design that effectively enhance the survival horror experience.
“The atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, drawing you into a world that feels both alive and eerie.”
“Every sound and visual element contributes to a palpable tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
“The graphics impress with their detailing, and the music and sound accompaniment immerse you in what is happening, creating an indescribable atmosphere of survival horror.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the tension and dread that a horror game should evoke.”
“Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere falls short, leaving players feeling disconnected and unengaged.”
