RPGIs ChessLocke worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Chess players who want campaign missions instead of standard checkmate
- Strategy players who enjoy choosing upgrades between battles
- Solo players who prefer puzzle-like board challenges with changing setups
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking traditional chess rules, since the win condition changes and captured Kings do not end a game
- Players wanting a fixed competitive format, since piece positions, forces, abilities, and obstacles can vary by mission
- Players looking for multiplayer matches rather than a single-player campaign and dungeon
Our take on ChessLocke
The chess framing may suggest a familiar match structure, but the central objective is reaching and holding the opposing King’s starting square. RPG abilities, altered setups, walls, and missions with uneven forces make this a puzzle campaign built around chess movement rather than conventional chess.
What is ChessLocke?
ChessLocke combines standard chess movement on an 8x8 board with RPG progression and special abilities.
Instead of checkmate, the objective is to occupy the opponent’s starting King square for one turn; capturing a King does not end the game. Pieces gain XP from wins, captures, and other achievements, which can be spent on abilities and upgrades. Each power piece has three abilities, covering attacks, defense, revival, promotion, and utility. The single-player Campaign contains 50 missions with altered starting positions, reduced forces, and possible wall barriers. Completing it opens a 50-mission Dungeon in which opponents have additional pieces and positional advantages, making each stage a puzzle.
How ChessLocke plays
- 01Piece Progression
- Experience earned during games can be exchanged for new abilities and improvements to existing ones.
- 02Ability Choices
- Power pieces each offer three abilities, including a Knight attack, a Bishop revival skill, and a King promotion effect.
- 03Campaign Missions
- The single-player Campaign has 50 stages with varied piece placements, forces, and starting rows.
- 04Dungeon Unlock
- Finishing the Campaign opens 50 further missions with opponents that receive extra pieces and positional advantages.
- 05Board Obstacles
- Some stages contain impassable wall squares, while Knights can jump over them.
Games like ChessLocke
RPG
RPGDemigod
Stardock EntertainmentFor:Strategy players who want direct control of a hero alongside support troopsSkip if:Players seeking a traditional turn-based strategy structure may bounce off the continuous real-time battles and simultaneous objectives.
RPGAttack on Hex Island
ProdigalSon GamesFor:Strategy players who enjoy turn-based token-capture matchesSkip if:Players seeking real-time combat instead of turn-based board matches
RPGShepherds of the Abyss
Impulse GamesFor:Tower-defense players who enjoy constructing new mazes each gameSkip if:Players seeking a story-led campaign or character-driven RPG progressionPicked by overlapping fit notes and genres, not an editorial comparison.
ChessLocke: platforms & release
Is ChessLocke worth it?
It is worth it if: chess players who want campaign missions instead of standard checkmate. Skip it if: players seeking traditional chess rules, since the win condition changes and captured Kings do not end a game.
Where can I download ChessLocke?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens ChessLocke's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is ChessLocke on?
Windows only.




