WizardChess, chess from an alternate dimension, launches into 1.0

After three years of early access, local Australian team TwoPM Studios has launched zany alternate dimension WizardChess into 1.0. Described as “chess invented by silly wizards”—the Steam page illuminates that this means chess reimagined as a “turn-based deckbuilder roguelite.” For a particular brand of tactics game enjoyer, which I am, this sounds like a class 1 narcotic with a high potential for addiction. With both a story and arcade mode to sink your teeth into, procedural generation, and over 50+ specialised classes to fill your chess-deck, WizardChess looks to have a lot of replayability.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many reviews up for the full release just yet, but Brisbane-based games maker and academic Brendan Keogh says WizardChess is an “Incredibly complex and smart tactics roguelike thing you should absolutely check out”—an endorsement that definitely piqued my interest. Given this praise, the isometric view, and roguelite elements I’m hoping this scratches an itch that has existed since I first played Into The Breach in 2018.

How close does this skew to actual chess as opposed to being a framing device for what looks to be a complex tactics framework? Who knows. But next time I’m playing chess in the park, I’ll see if they’ll let me cast fireball and let you know how it goes.