Chess Evolved Online

About

Chess Evolved Online is a multiplayer tactical turn-based strategy game with fantasy and mystery themes. It was developed by TheGrandestine and was released on February 22, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

CEO is a multiplayer tactics game that offers chess-like army creation, collectible units, and a dynamic global economy. It is currently available on Steam.

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 602 reviews

humor6 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Chess Evolved Online offers a unique twist on traditional chess with a vast array of customizable pieces and strategies, making each game feel fresh and engaging.
The game is free to play and provides a fair monetization model, allowing players to earn premium currency through gameplay without feeling pressured to spend money.
The community is active and supportive, with a variety of daily challenges and a ranking system that encourages competitive play.

The player base is quite small, leading to frequent matches against AI rather than real players, which can diminish the competitive experience.
The user interface can be overwhelming for new players, making it difficult to navigate the numerous pieces and their abilities.
There are balance issues with certain pieces being overpowered, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences and a lack of diversity in strategies.

gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The gameplay is generally praised for its solid core mechanics and engaging PvP strategy, with unique pieces that add depth beyond traditional chess. While the free-to-play coin-based system and various mechanics, such as morale and unique abilities, enhance the experience, some players note issues with AI behavior and balance, particularly regarding the morale decay mechanic and the small player base. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on chess that is both accessible and entertaining, despite some minor flaws.
- “The gameplay core mechanics are solid and easy to pick up if you have even a passing familiarity with chess.”
- “Very cool game with interesting mechanics and entertaining gameplay.”
- “The sheer amount of different pieces, most of which have unique mechanics that never appear in regular chess, might seem daunting at first, but this game does a great job of showing what each piece does.”
- “The only issue I'd mention is that the AI is a little broken - it doesn't understand some mechanics, like armor and 'attack minion' - and will sometimes blunder into checkmate because of that.”
- “There is an incredibly slow 'morale decay' mechanic where you lose a stupidly low amount of morale per turn after turn 50, which allows a player performing infinite checks to win by a method that takes about 120-130 turns to take effect.”
- “You can find a few new players blissfully unaware there is this mechanic and will do the things that are supposed to be disincentivized because it takes 100 turns for them to get punished for it.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The graphics in the game are generally described as average, with a mix of minimalistic and pixel art styles that some players find charming, while others criticize the visuals for attack patterns and overall aesthetic quality. Despite the lack of advanced graphical features, many reviewers appreciate the game's unique style and feel that the visuals adequately support the gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as functional but not a standout aspect of the game.
- “I found the flash aesthetic and the plainly drawn pieces to be charming.”
- “The colourful, dynamic, and eclectic graphic interface and the creative twist on an old favourite has endeared me to this game.”
- “Graphics and sound are adequate for this genre of game and while only a 2D board is represented with no options for zoom or changing the angle, these features are not really required anyway.”
- “Plus the visuals for attack patterns are really bad.”
- “As the screenshots show, this is certainly a game that's in need of an art design and graphics team.”
- “The graphics aren't great, but hey, it's chess.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" are mixed; while some players find the game enjoyable and not overly grindy, others express frustration with the time investment required to obtain certain items or upgrades, especially for free-to-play users. Overall, the game features a balance of challenges and competitive play, but players should be prepared for some grind if they aim for higher achievements or specific items.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Only complaint is how grindy it is to get things without paying.”
- “Having at least some trickle of resources keeps me playing, but in its current state, the game feels very grindy.”
- “My main criticism is that fully upgrading pieces takes a lot of grinding as free to play.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's monetization is primarily free-to-play (F2P) with microtransactions, which some players find fair and manageable, allowing access to game pieces through regular play. However, the lack of promotion has limited its player base, resulting in frequent matches against bots. Overall, while the monetization model is seen as reasonable, it could benefit from increased visibility to enhance matchmaking quality.
- “A great combination of CCG and chess, intense tactics, and very fair monetization to the point of rigging in favor of the player.”
- “Only downside is it has microtransactions, but it's free and easy to get pieces if you just play.”
- “Though I understand the way it works now is simply optimized for free-to-play monetization.”
- “The gameplay is already fleshed out; any changes will be to the monetization, game modes, new pieces, or balance, which is within the realm of normal game patches.”
- “There are microtransactions, though.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is noted for having no story, with users emphasizing the absence of a narrative and indicating that side quests do not contribute to any overarching plot.
- “This game has no story.”
- “There is zero story content.”
- “Side quests - still looking for a narrative.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing chess concepts and quirky character designs, making it visually entertaining. Players appreciate the funny elements integrated into gameplay, such as random generators and daily challenges, which add a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
- “Funny chess pieces”
- “The game is fun and also provides singleplayer daily challenges and funny random generators and a gacha shop (if somehow you're into that, uh).”
- “It is funny to look at it”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The music aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users noting the absence of background music and minimal sound effects, leading to a lackluster auditory experience. Despite these shortcomings, some players still enjoy the game overall, indicating that the gameplay may outweigh the music's deficiencies.
- “No music, and only minimal sound effects.”
- “Very bad sound effects, not very colorful, no music in the background but it's still my favorite chess game.”
- “The Discord is just the developer posting nonsense and his music playlist (poor taste).”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game offers exceptional replayability, with players noting its infinite variability and the ability to create diverse armies with unique effects. Many users report investing hundreds of hours into the game, highlighting that each session feels distinct despite using the same army. Overall, it is praised for its engaging mechanics and balanced design, ensuring players return for more.
- “Great game with lots of replayability. I have probably more than 500 hours in it before it came to Steam. You can design really creative armies with a ton of different pieces with all kinds of effects (poison, freeze, void). Its variability makes every game different, even when playing with the same army, and it is not pay to win.”
- “Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
- “The replayability of this chess-turned-deck-builder has kept me coming back for more.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization appears to prioritize free-to-play monetization, often leading to mismatches where newer players face off against veterans with highly specialized boards. This can create a frustrating experience for those who are still learning the game.
- “I understand that the current system is optimized for free-to-play monetization.”
- “If you get matched against someone, you'll be facing a long-time veteran with a highly specialized and optimized board.”
- “Though I understand the way it works now is simply optimized for free-to-play monetization.”
- “If you do get matched against someone, you'll be facing a long-time veteran who has a highly specialized or optimized board.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional response to the game, with some feeling a deep sense of frustration and dislike that transcends mere gameplay, indicating that the game's impact is both profound and polarizing.
- “This game has made me feel many different things, and ultimately I've decided that I hate it on an emotional and metaphysical level.”