Simply Chess

About

Simply Chess is a single player and multiplayer casual turn-based strategy game with a horror theme. It was developed by BlueLine Games and was released on September 11, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Everything you need in a chess game. If you are a chess enthusiast or someone who just likes to play a game now and again, this is what you've been looking for. This is Simply Chess.

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72%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,250 reviews

music45 positive mentions

monetization100 negative mentions

Free to play with no upfront cost and minimal ads
Wide range of AI difficulty levels (1-100) suitable for beginners to intermediate players
Supports both local and online multiplayer modes and various customization options for boards and pieces

Multiplayer is often broken or difficult to connect, with low player base and server issues
No undo/take back move feature, and some UI/controls are clunky and unintuitive
Occasional bugs and crashes, poor graphics especially on 3D mode, and ads can be intrusive

music
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
54%
10%
The game's music features soothing classical pieces that many players find relaxing and mood-enhancing, making it a strong positive aspect. However, the selection is limited, often repetitive, and some users report poor audio quality, glitches, or bugs causing music to malfunction. While appreciated for creating a calming atmosphere, the music could benefit from more variety and stability.
- “The music is by far the greatest soundtrack of all time, a beautiful piano score on loop really just blows me away every time, I've listened to that piano score on Spotify over 30 times now and it never gets old.”
- “The simplicity of the classic chess board and pieces, blended with a decent game engine and relaxing classical music, provide for a very calming yet mentally stimulating experience.”
- “The soundtrack makes every game so tragic and dramatic, I love it!”
- “Classical music simulator and the game hasn't had an update in 500 years, it's simply unplayable.”
- “Music is not neat and the game has some bugs like randomly switching your player role/color or making music blast loud when muted.”
- “The music is really limited and clearly taken from somewhere else instead of made for the game: we can hear the public.”
monetization
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game features frequent, albeit short (around 5-7 seconds), ads primarily between matches that promote the developer's other games, which many users find intrusive and inappropriate for a paid Steam title. While ads can be removed by purchasing a premium version, some players feel monetization through ads detracts from the chess experience, especially since free and ad-free alternatives exist. Despite the complaints, some users acknowledge the ads are relatively unobtrusive and justified given the game’s free-to-play model.
- “Despite their admitted inexperience in handling free to play games, the developer managed to make the game's monetization scheme mostly unobtrusive for free players but still enticing for those willing to spend money.”
- “Lmfao no ads, it's simply chess.”
- “I don't know about anyone else, but I have seen no advertisements (possibly a Linux thing?).”
- “Not only does it constantly play ads unless you pay premium, but the game doesn't even implement the rules of chess properly, which leads to outcomes differing from actual chess.”
- “And these ads won’t cease no matter how many dozens of times this game session you’ve been shown them, or even if you go out of your way to download the same devs’ game which are being advertised on-screen - at which point I assume the ads only stay because the Simply Chess team’s artist wanted to demonstrate their exceptional ability at making intrusive pop-ups.”
- “Last move's not shown, next move can't be chosen, no internal chat system, not so impressive visuals, slow servers and matchmaking... and ads... unless you pay.”
graphics
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The graphics in the game are generally described as simple, sometimes blurry or outdated, with limited customization options and occasional visual glitches. While some praise the clean, classic 2D and distinguishing 3D modes, many find the visuals lack polish or sophistication compared to competitors. Overall, the graphics are functional but unimpressive, suited for players prioritizing gameplay over aesthetics.
- “Every detail, down to the pieces and board aesthetics, was precisely designed to establish a unique style that resonates with both tradition and innovation, hinting at deeper, classic themes.”
- “The graphics are impeccable and truly make me feel as if I am looking at a real chessboard.”
- “The 3d chess mode is also a really cool graphical detail.”
- “The actual chess board is blurry when I play fullscreen on 1920x1080, and the 3D version is covered in jaggies and looks like something from the early 90s in terms of graphics.”
- “The graphics aren't eye-catching but tolerable for a free-to-play game; however, it is ridiculous that it has a premium upgrade.”
- “Very poor graphics; terrible graphics, shadows and lighting, straight from the 90s.”
stability
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The game suffers from frequent bugs and crashes, especially in multiplayer modes where freezes, disconnects, and matchmaking issues are common. While some users note that once a game starts it can run smoothly, overall stability is poor, with glitches affecting gameplay and causing frustration. Despite active developer updates, the game remains unpolished and unreliable.
- “Works great, runs great.”
- “Game works great, played with a friend and there were no glitches, especially like the price, free.”
- “I just love to play chess, it's not that buggy.”
- “Tried setting up and playing a game, but when your friend is in a private pre-game lobby and you try to launch it, it freezes and then kicks the joining player out of the pre-game lobby back to the main lobby while leaving the host at a waiting screen.”
- “I ran into numerous glitches: clock time jumps leading to losses when ahead on time, legal moves not allowed, online disconnects, very poor game counts registering every 2nd or 3rd game making it difficult to reach online achievements.”
- “Buggy, online games are totally unplayable.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
72%
9%
The gameplay of Simply Chess stays true to traditional chess mechanics, offering a straightforward and familiar experience enhanced by smooth online play and customizable visuals, though some find it repetitive and lacking innovation. While praised for its stability and casual accessibility, critiques highlight unbalanced or confusing elements and occasional bugs that detract from depth and replayability. Overall, the gameplay is solid but basic, appealing mainly to casual players rather than those seeking novel or complex mechanics.
- “Simply chess brought the classical intensity that chess is known for to a new level, adding a layer of visual immersion that enhances the gameplay.”
- “Simply chess remains a stunning achievement, a game that was truly ahead of its time, blending traditional chess with modern gameplay and creating an experience that’s as thrilling today as it was the day it was released.”
- “Smooth gameplay, easy to connect with and find friends, nice graphics, and different types of board and pieces.”
- “The gameplay itself is a basic chess engine which, to the devs’ credit, does not fatally crash on average four times out of five.”
- “The graphics, sound, and gameplay options are severely lacking in this chess game.”
- “Confusing gameplay mechanics and odd ELO ratings (you do not get points for forfeits).”
story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The reviews for the story aspect are mixed, with some praising deeply emotional, compelling narratives and meaningful moral choices, while others note the absence of any story, particularly in simpler or chess-based games. For those games with a storyline, players appreciate strong character development and emotional impact, though some criticize DLC or plot elements as irrelevant or lacking replay value. Overall, story quality varies widely depending on the game genre and design focus.
- “This is the greatest game I have ever played in my entire life, visually stunning, story is grounded, funny and towards the end it gets really emotional.”
- “This game has some serious story telling 10/10.”
- “A compelling story and next gen graphics make this a dead ringer for GOTY award.”
- “Locked paths encourage New Game Plus playthroughs to see more, but the story doesn't offer much replayability.”
- “In the end, the DLC was irrelevant to the story and could have done without it.”
- “The moral choices you make within that area mean absolutely nothing to the main story, which makes me feel as though I just wasted my time and despise the missing link.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is praised for being genuinely funny and emotionally engaging, with clever references and entertaining achievements adding to the experience. However, some abrupt difficulty spikes and quirky design choices, like the fixed board view when playing black, create unintended humorous moments. Overall, players appreciate the blend of humor with grounded storytelling and funny in-game elements.
- “1-6 was hilarious, then suddenly at level 7 it's like Kasparov sat down to play me.”
- “I'm not a very good player, I admit it, but when I'm laughing at the computer player one minute, and then being humiliated in a massive multi-piece annihilation the next minute, there's something wrong with the game.”
- “This is the greatest game I have ever played in my entire life, visually stunning, story is grounded, funny and towards the end it gets really emotional.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers strong replayability through its challenging AI and multiple playstyles, with locked paths encouraging new game plus playthroughs. While chess itself provides near-infinite replay value despite minor balance issues, the story elements contribute less to replayability. The 2D mode is preferred for better play experience over the 3D board.
- “Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
- “Despite slight balance problems (nerf white), chess offers endless replayability and 'Simply Chess' has escalating AI which offers a challenge for new players.”
- “Simply Chess has so much replayability in terms of paths and playstyles.”
- “Locked paths encourage new game plus playthroughs in order to see much more, but the story doesn't offer much towards replayability.”
- “Arguably, the game is more playable in 2D than with the 3D board.”
- “Despite slight balance problems (nerf white), chess offers endless replayability, and 'Simply Chess' has escalating AI which offers a challenge for new players.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its classy, pleasing music that complements gameplay without distraction and its distinctly different city hubs, Detroit and Hengsha, which offer refreshing environments. Players feel immersed and in control, enhancing the overall experience with a compelling blend of story, characters, and action.
- “The music sets a pleasing atmosphere without invading gameplay.”
- “The 2 city hubs, Detroit and Hengsha, are drastically different in both size and atmosphere which is refreshing.”
- “Great atmosphere, story, characters and action sequences are a blast.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a powerful emotional experience, combining stunning visuals and a touching soundtrack with a story that is both grounded and deeply moving. Players highlight its ability to evoke strong feelings through well-crafted plot twists and a progression that builds to an impactful, emotional climax.
- “The game has stunning and otherworldly graphics with touching soundtracks with a splash of tragedy.”
- “This is the greatest game I have ever played in my entire life, visually stunning, story is grounded, funny and towards the end it gets really emotional.”
- “A high-octane experience with an emotional rollercoaster and huge plot twists.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect notably tedious and repetitive, particularly when pursuing AI-level achievements like the AI-25, which require significant time investment. The game's pace and mechanics contribute to a sense of slow, arduous progression.
- “The AI-25 achievement is very grindy.”
- “AI level achievements are grindy.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly with minimal to no performance issues.
- “At this point the game runs smoothly with little to no issues.”