© 2026
A fantasy chess variant. An enchanted board where pawns hide magical secrets. Hatch dragons, transform enemy pieces into unicorns. Outwit clever computer opponents: Jester, Bard, or Wizard —or pass and play. Beginner-friendly to deliciously strategic. Handcrafted pixel art. Local gameplay, so retro!
A family-friendly local game for two players — or one player vs. computer.
Millions of unique possible starting configurations help to level the playing field, and keep the magic fresh.
Finally** updated after several millennia:**
There's no check – no checkmate! Kings can be captured. Rooks can be boarded. And before every match, each player has the chance to equip the chests of up to three pawns with powerful arcane artifacts. Only you know which of your pawns chests are empty -- and which carry mighty magical items. Your opponent is up to the same tricks, tho! Thus, every pawn becomes a riddle to solve.
Pass your device. Trade turns. Play CHESST across a couch, a kitchen table, or a quiet café. CHESST is a local two-player game — no logins, no servers, no strangers. Just you and someone you like, sharing a board.
Single players face off against a custom AI, featuring three difficulty tiers. Whether you’re a chess veteran or utterly new to the field: prepare to meet your match!
Pawns with magical secrets (hidden items on pawns — charm, bluffing, intrigue, mind games)
Seven magical items with distinct effects
Pre-game Magic Item Mart
New piece types: Sages, Sorcerers, Wizards, Dragons, Unicorns
Rook Express — pawns ride rooks across the board
Two distinct victory conditions
Local two-player pass-and-play — no internet required
Three clever AI difficulty levels for solo play
20 achievements across Normal, Advanced, and Expert tiers
Lovingly hand-crafted pixel art and custom sound design
Score tracking across matches
Family-friendly — suitable for all ages
CHESST is the debut release from Ancient Moai Cooperative — a small studio thoughtfully making games worth lingering in. Beautiful worlds. Hidden depths. Cozy at cosmic scale.
A bespoke fantasy variant of chess for the curious and young at heart, CHESST is for people who enjoy whimsy. For people who play to discover. For people who want to feel, when they pick up a game, that somebody made it with care. Questions? Feedback? Game Guide as a pdf? Reach us at hello@ancientmoai.com
I. The Queen's Reach
II. No More Twin Bishops
III. Pawn Rules, Rewritten
IV. Pawns Reimagined
I. The Queen's Reach
Standard Chess = QUEEN range unlimited
CHESST = QUEEN range: 5 squares
II. No More Twin Bishops
Standard Chess = Two Identical BISHOPS (they are exactly the same)
CHESST = Two Unique pieces:
Sage and Sorcerer replace Bishops
SAGE (light squares) & SORCERER (dark squares)
SAGE moves just like bishop.
SORCERER moves diagonally in two modes:
teleport-capture: to enemy piece at least two squares away --cannot repeat on very next turn/move.
move: only one square.
III. PAWNS, Reimagined (Rules Rewritten)
Standard Chess = en passante, Yes! & all may promote
CHESST = en passante, No!
PAWNS promotions are item-specific
IV. PAWNS, Reinvisioned
Standard Chess = no special abilities
CHESST = May carry & use a magic item; may board friendly rooks
Email us at hello@ancientmoai.com
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