Chess has been stimulating minds for a long time now. Traces of this iconic game can be found in Northern India about 1500 years ago. The game has since spread across the world and established itself as a pastime for others and a rigorous hobby.
Across history, chess has evolved in some ways too. Did you know that the treasured Queen, the strongest piece on the chessboard, originally only moved one block diagonally! Besides the rules, chess has adapted to the times as well. Nowadays, mainly owing to quarantine lockdown and the hit Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit, chess is taking over the remote, online world.
We’ve made a list of some of the best chess games you can get on your Android smartphone. The following games champion everything from a user-friendly play style to interesting spin-offs of the game.
1. Chess – Al Factory Limited
Al Factory’s chess is unarguably one of the best Chess games out there. It’s the go-to classic version of chess that has become a staple for the world of online chess. The app is smartly designed to keep the gameplay clean but without compromising on the content.
The game has a simple 2-D layout and options for both single-player and multiplayer game modes. Whether you’re just starting chess or have more furnished skills and in search of a challenge, the game comes with 12 difficulty levels to accommodate everyone.
While the game does come with ads, you have an option to upgrade it at a low cost of 0.99 dollars. Besides non-disruptive ad-free gameplay, you also unlock five different boards.
2. Play Magnus
If you’re a chess enthusiast looking for a real challenge, Play Magnus is the game for you. The game gives you a chance to face off against Magnus Carlsen, a Norwegian grandmaster, World Chess Champion, World Rapid Chess Champion, and World Blitz Chess Champion. But you obviously won’t be playing against the actual Magnus; the chess legend happens to be a busy man. Instead, the game has fed every Magnus has played into an AI, which replicated Magnus’s moves.
Another fun twist is that you can play against Magnus throughout the ages. But whether it’s five-year-old Magnus or 20-years-old, you shouldn’t take him lightly.
3. Really Bad Chess
Before you get confused by the game’s name and question our list, let us explain what this game is about. Really bad chess takes the delicacy and precision of chess and throws it out the window. The game can deceive you at first sight with its standard appearance, but a few moments in, you’d realize that you have some weird combination of pieces like three queens and five knights. This is a more chaotic, wild, and fun take on traditional chess.
Unlike common belief, chess is a game for anyone. Whether you’re looking to become a champion or to have fun, you can get into chess. Online chess apps make the game readily available and open the door to exciting takes on the game.
