Check vs Mate

About Check vs Mate

Check vs Mate is a single player and multiplayer casual turn-based strategy game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Targem Games and was released on August 16, 2012. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Commanders, assemble your armies! CHECK vs. MATE calls for an interactive feather duster, chartering the successful chess game principle into the present day multimedia world. Animated fantasy figurines assemble in magical worlds and await your command! As a Commander, execute skillful maneuvers on the game board and catapult yourself directly into the battle with devastating attacks, chessman vs.…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip Games Like Check vs Mate

Looking for games like Check vs Mate? Here are top casual turn-based strategy recommendations with a fantasy focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with Battle vs Chess, Chess Ultra or Simply Chess.

65%492reviews

Battle vs Chess

2012

Casual Turn-based Strategy

76%1.4kreviews

Chess Ultra

2017

Tactical Role Playing

+10

72%2.3kreviews

Simply Chess

2015

Casual Turn-based Strategy

66%2kreviews

Warhammer 40,000: Regicide

2015

Survival Turn-based Strategy

86%740reviews

ChessCraft

2021

Casual Strategy

80%670reviews

Hasbro's BATTLESHIP

2018

Tactical Turn-based Strategy

71%85reviews

Chessaria: The Tactical Adventure

2018

Tactical Turn-based Strategy

79%4.6kreviews

Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers

2013

Tactical Turn-based Strategy

+10

87%1.8kreviews

Warstone TD

2018

Casual Real-time Strategy

Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 Image

85%1.5kreviews

Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013

2012

Tactical Turn-based Strategy

More games like Check vs Mate

Skip User Reviews

Reviews

65%Audience ScoreBased on 498 reviews

graphics36 positive mentions

story5 negative mentions

Visually impressive with beautifully animated chess pieces and atmospheric fantasy-themed boards and soundtracks, enhancing the chess experience.
Offers a variety of game modes including classic chess, campaigns with unique challenges, puzzles, mini-games, and alternative battle modes adding fresh, strategic twists.
Strong AI provides challenging gameplay especially for chess enthusiasts; useful tutorials and learning tools make it accessible for beginners as well.

Lacks functional online multiplayer; only LAN or local multiplayer works, causing difficulties or inability to play with others online.
AI at higher difficulty levels can take an excessively long time to compute moves, negatively impacting game flow and player engagement.
The game's DRM and activation process has caused frustration, with multiple steps and personal information requests, although some issues have been resolved.

graphics
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51% positive mentions, 45% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions
The graphics of Battle vs. Chess are widely praised for their beautiful 3D visuals, engaging animations, and appealing art style that bring chess battles to life, especially impressive considering the game's 2011 release. While some find the animations simple or dated, most agree the visuals add a fun, immersive layer that enhances gameplay and remain impressive even today. A few critics noted occasional graphical shortcomings and limited camera options, but overall, the game's graphical presentation is regarded as a standout feature.
- “Look no further than Battle vs Chess, a visually stunning game with 3D graphics and engaging animated effects that bring the battles between pieces to life.”
- “I was very impressed how this game has withstood the test of time considering that I am now playing it on an Asus ROG high-end laptop with all the graphical settings bumped up to maximum and this results in a staggeringly beautiful game and it outclasses Battlechess: Game of Kings in every way - and we are talking about graphics, sheer amount of boards, game options and sound.”
- “I bought this game for the graphics; each piece has its own animation when idle, moving and when capturing another piece.”
- “Very awful graphics.. the game is.. uninspiring..”
- “Battle vs chess is a very poor attempt to copy Battle Chess (1988-1994), it does a horrible job with uninteresting animations, poor graphics (even for its time), zoom-in option very limited and to round it up some chess puzzles and minigames.”
- “A poor remake of the classic Battle Chess... the graphics were already very outdated when it was made, the animations are dull and ugly, the 'kills' aren't funny, the camera interface isn't very interactive and it moves in a rough way and the CPU thinking is very slow.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32% positive mentions, 57% neutral mentions, 11% negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for fitting the fantasy theme and enhancing the mood with calm, orchestral, and epic tracks, especially during battles. However, some users find it repetitive or lacking variety over long sessions, with occasional criticism of limited customization and the need for more lively tunes. Overall, the soundtrack is regarded as a strong and enjoyable aspect contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The music in battle vs. chess is absolutely fantastic: orchestral and truly epic.”
- “You can and will listen to the soundtrack for hours on end.”
- “You'll see lava flowing, rocks crumbling beneath the board, skies filled with birds and all of that is being supported by smooth and easygoing instrumental music which really complements the whole setting in itself.”
- “I had to click 75 times on the lower audio button to mute the music.”
- “The music is rubbish.”
- “The music is a bit poor and could use more customization options.”
gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22% positive mentions, 67% neutral mentions, 11% negative mentions
The gameplay stays true to traditional chess while offering various modes like battlegrounds and mini-games that add fresh, challenging twists, though some find the action elements detract from deeper chess strategy. The campaign mechanics vary widely, providing unique experiences, but the overall appeal may diminish after several hours. Despite a few glitches and mixed reception on difficulty, the game’s combination of classic and innovative modes is praised for enhancing the chess experience.
- “While the core gameplay remains true to chess, the added modes and presentation make it feel fresh.”
- “The game brilliantly combines traditional chess gameplay with stunning animations and battlefield scenarios.”
- “With a range of modes on offer, players can enjoy traditional chess gameplay or explore options like battlegrounds mode, which combines action fighting and QTE elements, various mini-games that add a new twist to the chess experience, and campaign mode, which challenges players to solve stalemates or win within a time limit.”
- “The gameplay and the ideas behind it could be much more fleshed out, but it's still pretty nice.”
- “- Campaign mechanics are bizarre and wildly different from one battle to the next.”
- “I have to say; I came across two game ruining glitches within my first two hours of gameplay.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14% positive mentions, 63% neutral mentions, 23% negative mentions
The story aspect is generally appreciated for its fresh, charming approach, blending strategy and fantasy with campaign missions that add depth beyond classic gameplay. While some users find the storyline simple or minimal, others praise the engaging narrative and varied objectives that enrich the overall experience. Overall, the story mode enhances the game by providing a compelling context and variety through different challenges and fantasy elements.
- “Interesting story mode with a fresh approach towards chess with great narration.”
- “There are two single player campaigns with games that start with various starting content and format, requiring the achievement of certain objectives, such as converting one pawn to a queen, in order to progress through the story.”
- “The campaign tells the story of the eternal battle between good and evil.”
- “This game has no story.”
- “0 (no story).”
- “No story.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor in the game receives mixed feedback, with some players finding the chaotic skirmish mode and chess variations amusing and entertaining, while others criticize the outdated graphics, dull animations, and lack of genuinely funny moments. Additionally, some users view the game's data collection practices as ironically "funny" in a negative sense. Overall, humor is present but inconsistent and sometimes overshadowed by other issues.
- “There are two such action modes possible, one is a quick-time event like mode, which did nothing for me, and the other is a massive skirmish where all four figures on the board start moving and fighting, somewhat reminiscent of Dynasty Warriors. This is a mode I found quite funny.”
- “It also has chess puzzles and some funny variations to the game.”
- “It is merely intended to be a compilation of some more or less funny or even unfair chess variations where you have to think unorthodox to win.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60% positive mentions, -20% neutral mentions, 60% negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through multiple game modes and random piece placement, enhancing variety. However, limited AI unpredictability and the requirement of a LAN connection for online multiplayer may affect long-term appeal for some players.
- “Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
- “Different game modes as well as the random piece placement option offer great replayability, but note that a LAN connection (Hamachi works) is required for online multiplayer.”
- “Replay value rated 5.”
- “However, some might find the AI a bit predictable, impacting long-term replayability.”
- “Replay value - 5”
- “Different game modes as well as the random piece placement option offer replayability, but bear in mind you need a LAN connection (Hamachi works) in order to play multiplayer online.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
Users consistently praise the game's atmosphere, describing the boards as highly immersive and giving it a perfect rating of 10/10.
- “The boards are very atmospheric.”
- “Atmosphere 10/10”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The character development in the game is reminiscent of Interplay's 1988 Battle Chess, updated with modern UI and character design elements from the 2000s, blending classic appeal with a contemporary aesthetic.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The game features smooth and well-animated visuals that run efficiently, including on Linux systems, providing a seamless experience without causing annoyance from repetitive animations.
- “Good animations, they are not annoying even when seen constantly and run smoothly on Linux.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
Grinding is notably time-consuming and demanding, often requiring extensive effort or multiple attempts to progress effectively.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
The game's stability is compromised by significant glitches, with some users encountering game-ruining bugs early in their experience, impacting overall playability.
- “I have to say; I came across two game ruining glitches within my first two hours of gameplay.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
Users view the monetization of this game more favorably compared to the heavily criticized, cash-grab approach of the battle chess remake.