Chess Knights: Shinobi

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 53 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Chess Knights: Shinobi Game Cover
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Chess Knights: Shinobi is a turn-based puzzle game inspired by Chess, where you play as a stealthy Shinobi knight moving through levels full of Samurai enemies. With 50 hand-crafted levels, set in ancient Japan's Edo era, and an original chess-based game concept, this title offers a fresh take on the classic board game. No chess knowledge is required, making it accessible for both chess lovers and newcomers.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews
music11 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and engaging concept that combines chess mechanics with puzzle-solving in a ninja-themed setting, providing a fresh experience.
  • The level design is well-paced, gradually increasing in difficulty and introducing new mechanics that keep the gameplay interesting and challenging.
  • The graphics and sound design are polished and immersive, enhancing the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game.
  • The game suffers from significant bugs and crashes, with limited quality of life features such as only one undo option and no clear instructions on gameplay mechanics.
  • Many players find the lack of guidance on enemy movements and objectives frustrating, leading to repetitive gameplay as they struggle to figure out solutions.
  • The game can be resource-intensive and may not run well on lower-end systems, causing performance issues that detract from the experience.
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its polished quality and ability to enhance the immersive experience, effectively capturing the feudal Japan theme. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as both relaxing and engaging, complementing the game's art and sound design while aiding in puzzle-solving. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere, making it a standout feature.

    • “The art is very polished, and the game has an amazing soundtrack and sound effects that help you get into the feudal Japan mood!”
    • “The music helps to set the perfect mood for the story.”
    • “The shinobi theme is awesome: the soundtrack and sound effects really give you the theme immersion and peace of mind that the puzzles demand.”
    • “The in-game music is just mediocre.”
    • “The soundtrack lacks variety and quickly becomes repetitive.”
    • “The music doesn't enhance the gameplay experience and feels forgettable.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some users noting a simplistic quality and occasional blurriness, particularly on lower-end hardware. However, many praise the vibrant visuals, excellent level design, and polished art style, which contribute to an immersive atmosphere. Overall, the combination of charming graphics and a well-crafted soundtrack enhances the gaming experience significantly.

    • “Incredible atmosphere, great artwork, and soundtrack.”
    • “The game has amazing and colorful graphics, nice sound, and it is quite well polished!”
    • “Great graphics (with some great cinematics too!) and amazing music and sound effects that puts you into feudal Japan!”
    • “Those have a somewhat tacked-on feel, with blurry visuals, near-identical pieces that act differently, and entry/exit bugs.”
    • “The game graphics are simple, but it doesn't strip the experience because the level design is excellent.”
    • “We usually see puzzles like this being done with little to no graphics, with stock audio and whatnot.”
  • gameplay11 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by innovative mechanics that build on traditional chess elements, such as hiding in tall grass, using teleporters, and navigating multi-layered levels with traps. Players appreciate the intuitive introduction of new mechanics, which enhances the challenge and keeps the experience engaging. Overall, the games effectively blend chess strategies with unique themes and environments, particularly excelling in atmosphere and pacing.

    • “Other mechanics include tall grass you can hide in, teleporters, strong enemies which can survive one attack, multi-layered levels, traps with bells that sound the alarm when you move on them, pieces you have to capture, and treasure you must bring back to the starting zone.”
    • “The mechanics are introduced at a great pace and it quickly evolves to more challenging levels.”
    • “The way the game introduces new mechanics is very intuitive if you know how chess pieces move.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, we verify a very well-paced evolution in the challenge that is a characteristic of the chess knights games.”
    • “The games certainly share the base mechanic, with the two chess knights games adding some bells and whistles.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting persistent bugs and a lack of ongoing maintenance from the developers. While the puzzles are enjoyable, the overall quality of life is poor, leading to a frustrating experience.

    • “The developers have no intention to keep maintaining this, so be forewarned that the game is buggy and will continue to be buggy.”
    • “So, to recap, good idea, decent puzzles, but terrible quality of life and buggy.”
    • “Their other chess-inspired puzzles, although also buggy and with limited quality of life, are good mental exercises.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Shinobi" is highly praised for its incredible art and soundtrack, creating a relaxing and immersive experience. In contrast, while "Viking Lands" excels in mechanics, it does not match the atmospheric depth found in "Shinobi."

    • “Incredible atmosphere, great artwork, and soundtrack.”
    • “This combination creates a very relaxing atmosphere.”
    • “And while Viking lands look the most advanced from a mechanics point of view, Shinobi is the definite winner for atmosphere.”
  • story3 mentions

    The story is enhanced by a fitting ambience and evocative music that immerses players in the narrative. This installment introduces more elaborate goals and missions, complemented by cinematic elements that enrich the storytelling experience.

    • “The ambience is really fitting for the theme and it immerses you in the story.”
    • “The music helps to set the perfect mood for the story.”
    • “In this installment, the novelty is the introduction of more elaborate goals and missions, including the use of cinematics.”
    • “The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative arc.”
    • “Character development is shallow, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
    • “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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