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Genre/Control

Specific tags for the title's features

Ranking

Similarity & Review

Review

Multiple Sources

Similarity

Compared to VS. Not a review!

Similarity Scale

Percentage of possible points earned scored -1 to 1 in tenths in 60 categories

Genre Controls Modes Progress Builds Stages Content Aesthetic Vibe
[edit]

Chess Survivors

Released

Possibly the best of three directly Chess related games on this list (in a genre highly related to "auto chess), try this one if you'd like to add a huge degree of strategy and puzzlement to your VS-formula. Super interesting. More classical rogue-like movement but physics based bullet heaven attacks. A solo dev project seemingly held together with duct tape, but packed with charm, this is a VS-formula twist not ot be missed. It's criminal it has so few players. No buyable meta progression besides goal based unlocks. Responsive Dev!

Bullet Heaven Chess Enemy Hell Grid-Based Movement Roguelite Survivors-like Top Down or Isometric Turn Based Hybrid
8.6 Combined Ranking Score
10/72 Ranking Position
1453/1600 Total Points
9.1 Final Review
97% Steam
8.3 Scale
9.3 Vibes
81 Steam Reviews
373/400 Review Points
8.0 Similarity Score
90% Diagnosis:
Similar
1080/1200 Comparison Points
96% Genre 7.3/8 genre
90% Simple Controls 5.6/7 move
86% Survival Modes 2.9/4 modes
88% Power Progression 3/4 level
87% Buildcrafting Depth 3.7/5 build
79% Stage Features 4/7 stage
87% Content Breadth 6.6/9 stuff
98% Aesthetics 5.8/6 style
96% Gameplay Vibe Check 9.1/10 vibe vibe

Chess Survivors Ranking Notes

- +

Scaling and Review Notes

Personal Hours Played: 2.5

Every game ranked was played, but also scaled based on research, talking to developers & your feedback. The priority with the scale's initial design was to compare similarity on relatively objective features - so it doesn't claim to include reviews of the depth and clarity you'd get at a games journalism site, nor the intensive time played you might get from player reviews on steam. We try to incorporate and link all of that along with a 'review scale' that checks for bugs. See the heatmap and breakdown! Time played noted so you can take any notes with a big grain of salt! I can't get to high level gameplay in 850+ games so I heavily research every game. Over 80 game creators let me interview or survey them! I Hope to go back and refine. Please argue or submit your own scores and reviews to be incorporated with credit into the notes and score numbers.

Added or last checked on 10/17/2023

There are three Chess inspired VS-likes on this list but this is indisputably the King. It actually fully incorporates the basics of chess and then builds on it with a fun toy theme for VS-style attacks. Mobs move like you'd expect based on their Chess pieces. An interesting mix of real time bullets and "Speed Chess" timed moves reminiscent of classic turn based rogue-likes. It's got more basic graphics and sometimes seems to be held together with duct tape, but it all doesn't matter because the gameplay feels like it actually melds Chess and Vampire Survivors in a way that teases your brain while also demanding "One More Run".

Just unlocking the second character's move style was a revelation and I can't wait to play more. I only wish it had Steam Cloud support so I could share progress to my Steam Deck. Not exactly aiming, can be played one handed with default controls but kind of more comfortable to use both - loses half a point for movement requiring confirmation.

Once saw the dev suggested a feature (pure turn based with no turn timer) and they implemented and rolled out the feature in Beta the same day, which I have literally never seen before with anything ever. Does lack exploration aspects. This one helped supply some useful example scores for the review scale scoring guide.

Chess Survivors Similarity Scale Heatmap

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Measured in 60 categories via likert-scale style options -1 to 1 in tenths, how does this game compare to Vampire Survivors. This allows 1200 total "points". It's easier to have a point of comparison and we just picked Vampire Survivors since it's the most popular and commonly referenced game in the subgenre. For detailed methodology read the explainer. For in depth examples at score value, see the scoring guide and for term definitions see the key.

8.0 Similarity Score
90% Diagnosis:
1080/1200 Comparison Points
Rogue-lite 1/1
Auto-Fire / Auto-Battle 0.8/1
Real Time 0.5/1
Top Down or Isometric 1/1
Direct Control of Single Avatar 1/1
Arcade Style 1/1
Bullet Heaven A (Many Player Bullets) 1/1
Bullet Heaven B (Few Enemy Bullets) 1/1
One Handed Play (w Controller) 0.9/1
Move Only 1/1
No Dash 1/1
No Trigger 0/1
No Special Move 1/1
No Aiming 0.7/1
No On-Aim / On-Fire Movement Penalty 1/1
Timed / Boss Ended Survival 1/1
Endless Mode 0/1
Organic / Unannounced Waves 1/1
High Enemy Count (Horde) 0.9/1
Level Up on XP Gain Event 1/1
Streamlined Level Choices (Simple UI) 1/1
Currency Based Meta Unlocks 0/1
Goal Based Meta Unlocks 1/1
Build Crafting 0.7/1
1/1
Weapon Combination / "Evolution" 0/1
Interesting Item / Weapon / Ability Synergy 1/1
Broken / Invincible Builds Possible 1/1
Explorable Map 0/1
BIG Maps 0/1
XP on Ground 1/1
Health on Ground 1/1
Temp Powerups / Items on Ground 1/1
Treasure Chests and/or Loot Events 1/1
Vendor / Merchant on Run 0/1
Enemy Variety 0.8/1
Bosses / Elites 0.8/1
Many Interesting Characters 1/1
Many Challenges 1/1
Multiple Stages 1/1
Difficulty Modifiers 1/1
Bestiary / Lore 0/1
Achievements 1/1
Secrets 0/1
Retro / Pixel Art 1/1
Damage Numbers 1/1
Lofi Charm 1/1
Bumpin Music 0.8/1
Fun Writing 1/1
Subtle Humor 1/1
Panic & Zen Duo Vibe 0.8/1
Over the Top 1/1
"One More Run" / Short Runs 1/1
Difficulty Ramp 0.7/1
Fun Ramp 1/1
Low Price 1/1
Technical Check 0.7/1
Controls Check 0.9/1
Fun Check 1/1
Feels like VS 1/1

Chess Survivors Review Scale Heatmap

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The review scale is judged from -1 to 1 in 10 categories, with 200 possible "points" earned. Steam review positive percentage is worth another 100 points, and a "ten point" pure vibe review number adds extra subjectivity. Converted into points, that's 400 points total. The points aren't used directly in the ranking, though, which averages the three number scores for the final review score listed in the game line above.

9.1 Final Review
97% Positive Steam Reviews
81 Steam Reviews
9.3 Pure Vibes
8.3 Review Scale
373/400 Review Points
Not Buggy 1/1
Not Janky 0.8/1
Good UI 0.4/1
Controller and Deck 1/1
Lots of Content 1/1
Good Theme 1/1
Good Graphics and Sound 0.3/1
Fun Feel 0.9/1
Unique Twists 1/1
Vibe Check 0.9/1

Metacritic Scores

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This title has metacritic data! The "fuck the man" score is adjusted so each person's review is equally weighted, regardless of critic or fan status.

Critic

7.5 Converted 10 Point Score
1 Number of Critic Reviews

User

- User Review Average
- Number of User Reviews

Average

7.5 Direct Average
7.5 "Fuck The Man" Combined Mean

Chess Survivors Tag Cloud

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More sortable taxonomies and categories associated with the game (genre tags are available in the main game table line!) We've just started adding tags to enable more sorting options, this section will get more filled out as we go!

Release Tags

LinuxSteam DeckWindows PCReleased

Sorting Categories

Similar

Genre and Control Style Tags

Bullet HeavenChessEnemy HellGrid-Based MovementRogueliteSurvivors-likeTop Down or IsometricTurn Based Hybrid

Aesthetic Tags

2DLofiPixel Art

Setting / Story Tags

Board GameChess

Control Styles

Controller

Game Mode Tags

Unknown10m

Features and Extras

Steam Achievements

Dev/Publisher

Aarimous

Game Features

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Listing various features we've got info on.

Multiplayer

  • Local: No
  • Online: No
  • Player Count: 1
  • Leaderboards: ?

Steam Features

  • Steam Cloud: No
  • Steam Achievements: 35
  • Steam Leaderboards: No
  • Steam Workshop: No
  • Steam Trading Cards: No

Extras, Etc.

  • NSFW: No
  • Demo Available: No
  • DLC Available: No
  • Soundtrack Available: No

Marketing Blurb

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Some description of the game and its features from the creators.

"Chess Survivors is a grid based, quick-turn, roguelike where you outmaneuver and destroy an ever growing horde of chess based enemies. Combine abilities, upgrades, and relics to create game-breaking builds. Think fast, die, learn, repeat!"

"Chess based enemies and player movement" "Casual quick 10-21 minute play sessions, for busy gamers"

Run Times & Speedups

- +

Average Run Time: 10m

Run Time Notes

?

Speed Settings

?