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Chess Ultra

Chess will always be chess, but with its glorious presentation and wealth of options, Chess Ultra is a Queen in a genre filled with Pawns.
Chess Ultra Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
graphics, music
stability, story
71% User Score Based on 1,350 reviews
Critic Score 84%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPlayStation VROculus RiftPlaystation 5Playstation 4XboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStationXbox Series X|SPCVirtual RealityXbox One
Chess Ultra Game Cover

About

Chess Ultra is a single player and multiplayer casual role playing game with a kids theme. It was developed by Ripstone and was released on June 21, 2017. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Chess Ultra" is a realistic and immersive chess game that features stunning visuals and multiple game modes, such as online multiplayer, local matches, and a variety of challenging AI opponents. Players can customize their experience with various chess sets and environments, and take advantage of the game's tutorials and tutorials to improve their skills. The game also includes augmented reality and virtual reality modes for an even more immersive experience.

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71%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,350 reviews
graphics196 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions

  • Stunning graphics and beautiful environments enhance the chess experience.
  • The game includes a variety of tutorials and challenges, making it beginner-friendly.
  • Solid AI with multiple difficulty levels provides a good challenge for players of all skill levels.
  • Camera controls are frustrating and often reset, making it difficult to maintain a good view of the board.
  • Online multiplayer is lacking, with a low player base and issues with players not making moves.
  • The game lacks essential features like move analysis, custom time controls, and a proper 2D view.
  • graphics
    324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and aesthetic appeal, with many users highlighting the beautifully designed environments and chess pieces. However, some players report issues such as blurriness during movement, poor camera controls, and a lack of customization options, which can detract from the overall experience. While the graphics are a major selling point, they may not compensate for the game's shortcomings in gameplay mechanics and features.

    • “Honestly, the most aesthetic chess game.”
    • “The graphics are stunning and the music is so relaxing.”
    • “Developed by Ripstone, it takes the traditional chess experience and elevates it with gorgeous visuals, robust features, and an atmosphere that immerses you in the game's strategic depths.”
    • “Cannot easily distinguish the pieces due to poor graphics.”
    • “The camera view is a disaster; the camera is totally unstable and makes me sick. The in-game graphics are lit horribly, and the pieces are fuzzy from light diffusion unless in a total close-up view where you can only see three or so pieces.”
    • “Looks like absolute shit; all these reviews selling the game on its visuals can't actually see the detail since the game is too blurry.”
  • music
    185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its calming and relaxing qualities, particularly the selection of classical pieces that enhance the overall atmosphere. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive due to a limited number of tracks, and one specific track resembling a ticking timer was mentioned as uncomfortable. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the gaming experience, there is a desire for more variety and customization options.

    • “The music selection is well-chosen and adds to the cozy atmosphere the game aims for.”
    • “The relaxing music and the ambience of each setting complete the experience.”
    • “The music is fantastic and well done and fits the atmosphere.”
    • “Most of the music is okay, but one track sounds like a timer ticking down, which makes me feel rushed and uncomfortable.”
    • “The music is very repetitive as there are only 4-5 short tracks.”
    • “The music is relaxing, but becomes repetitive after a while given the lack of variety and unchanging order--I turned my volume down after about 20 minutes.”
  • gameplay
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Chess Ultra" is generally solid and faithful to traditional chess mechanics, offering both single-player and multiplayer modes with a range of tutorials for various skill levels. While the graphics and presentation are praised for their beauty, some users criticize the gameplay experience due to issues like camera control and online play problems. Overall, it is seen as a visually appealing chess game with decent mechanics, though some players feel it lacks depth and innovation.

    • “Beyond its stunning presentation, Chess Ultra offers a robust and well-balanced range of gameplay options.”
    • “The gameplay itself remains faithful to the traditional rules of chess, offering both single-player and multiplayer modes.”
    • “Beautiful animations and intuitive gameplay.”
    • “This game is laughable and has no constructive improvements on the game nor gameplay; it's just an overpriced and over-glamorized digital chess board.”
    • “The graphics are amazing but the gameplay is awful.”
    • “Gameplay suffers on nearly every front.”
  • atmosphere
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, enhanced by a well-curated music selection and stunning visuals. Players appreciate the variety of thematic settings, which elevate the traditional chess experience into a cinematic and meditative journey. Despite some criticisms regarding camera controls, the overall ambiance and attention to detail create a captivating environment that encourages players to enjoy their matches.

    • “The atmosphere is a nice break from 2D computer chess on popular sites.”
    • “The atmosphere is relaxing in all of the environments... even when you play against death himself.”
    • “Accompanied by a restrained ambient soundtrack and subtle sound effects, the atmosphere is meditative.”
    • “Chess Ultra is one of those games where there isn't a huge amount of content, but it does what it does well, and it is so lovingly crafted that the potent atmospheres it creates to play chess in is enough to keep you coming back.”
    • “When playing the AI, you don't see anyone sitting opposite apart from in one area, which is a shame because seeing your opponent (grim reaper) adds a lot to the atmosphere of the game when you see his hands move the pieces; I hope they add more virtual player characters soon.”
  • stability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly in the multiplayer mode and user interface. While some players have experienced smooth gameplay without issues, the overall consensus leans towards a frustratingly unstable experience, especially when it comes to online play.

    • “Runs great!”
    • “I ran the game in 1080p and it worked fine, no glitches.”
    • “Very buggy in the option menus and the multiplayer connection doesn't work sometimes.”
    • “This is the most buggy, glitch-ridden piece of software I own.”
    • “Great chess game for solo play, but buggy online play.”
  • optimization
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on higher-end systems and features appealing graphics, it struggles on lower-end machines, particularly in 4K and VR modes. Users have reported issues with the user interface and performance inconsistencies, especially with AI players, and some have experienced launch problems even on capable hardware. Overall, while the game offers a solid experience for many, its optimization leaves room for improvement, particularly for VR users and those with less powerful setups.

    • “Runs smoothly, lots of puzzles, PvP, online tournaments, friend games, and it looks awesome.”
    • “The game looks good, and I didn't run into performance issues.”
    • “Performance: 10.”
    • “Performance can also be demanding on lower-end systems, particularly in 4K or VR modes, where the game’s graphical ambition occasionally outweighs its simplicity of purpose.”
    • “It will not launch, even on a performance gaming machine.”
    • “It is not optimized to play with the Valve Index headset.”
  • story
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate a lack of a compelling story, with one user noting that the narrative becomes tedious after a long playtime but eventually improves. Overall, players express a desire for more engaging storytelling and interactive gameplay elements.

    • “Very clever chess ultra, however I know your plot and I will never let it come into fruition.”
    • “Short story - a lot of fun and if you have a Vive you will enjoy playing in VR.”
    • “☑ no story”
    • “The story also gets kind of boring at hour 65, but hang in there it picks up again at hour 120.”
    • “But everything else... meh... we need more education, interactive gameplay versus AI, maybe some kind of storytelling (probably etude based or kind of).”
  • grinding
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and occasionally overwhelming, with some noting that it can detract from the overall experience. Complaints include slow animations and a lack of options, which contribute to the feeling of monotony during gameplay, especially when attempting to engage with friends or compete against AI.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's a bit grindy.”
    • “Overall, the game is tedious to play.”
    • “The camera, UI, and lack of options is an incredible disappointment, and the slow animations are tedious.”
    • “It became kind of tedious to try and beat the AI in the game.”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often described as quirky and situational, with players finding it particularly enjoyable when playing with friends. Many reviews highlight the absurdity of certain game mechanics and the developers' intentional choices that add a comedic layer, making it a source of laughter, especially in multiplayer settings. Overall, the humor is seen as a unique and entertaining aspect that enhances the gaming experience.

    • “Very funny when playing with friends!”
    • “It's really a funny concept that because I am so good at chess, you had to give other players hacks in order to beat me, lol.”
    • “If you want to laugh, you can give this game a chance because the prices are so funny.”
  • monetization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game features in-game purchases, primarily for cosmetic items, which some players find acceptable while others criticize as glitchy and exploitative cash grabs. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some willing to spend money for enhancements, while others disapprove of the microtransaction model in a chess game.

    • “The game contains in-game purchases.”
    • “In-game purchases include some cosmetics.”
    • “The game contains in-game purchases that feel like obvious cash grabs.”
    • “All of the in-game purchases are glitchy and seem designed solely to extract money from players.”
    • “I'm not a fan of in-game purchases, but for a game like this, I'd be more than happy to spend a decent amount of money.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players highlight that the strong AI and online play contribute to a high level of replayability, offering endless challenges and experiences. Overall, the game is regarded as having excellent replay value.

    • “The strong AI and online play provide endless replayability.”
    • “Replayability is exceptionally high.”
    • “The game offers a wealth of replayability options.”
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6h Median play time
38h Average play time
4-139h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Chess Ultra is a casual role playing game with kids theme.

Chess Ultra is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 38 hours playing Chess Ultra.

Chess Ultra was released on June 21, 2017.

Chess Ultra was developed by Ripstone.

Chess Ultra has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its stability.

Chess Ultra is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Pure Pool, Pool Nation FX Lite, Pool Nation, Chess, Cue Club 2 and others.