Chess

2020 · 1 Season · Netflix · Drama

The Queen's Gambit is a rare limited series that earns every bit of its cultural impact. Anya Taylor-Joy's performance anchors a beautifully crafted period piece that works both as a chess drama and as a portrait of addiction, loneliness, and self-destruction. The criticism that Beth's path feels too frictionless is fair, but it rarely diminishes the experience of watching. If you haven't seen it yet, clear your schedule.

2015 · Strategy / Board Game

Lichess on mobile is the best free chess app available, offering everything from live games and puzzles to full game analysis and tournament play without a single ad, paywall, or subscription. The open-source platform runs entirely on donations and delivers a clean, focused chess experience that respects your time and attention. The player base is smaller than its main competitor, and the interface prioritizes function over flash, which may feel austere to some. But for chess players who want depth without monetization pressure, Lichess is unmatched.

2012 · Strategy

Chess.com's mobile app puts the world's largest chess platform in your pocket with matchmaking, lessons, puzzles, and analysis that work remarkably well on a phone screen.

2012 · Strategy / Board Game

Chess.com on mobile is the most feature-rich chess app available, offering everything from quick bullet games to deep analysis tools, puzzles, and lessons. The matchmaking is fast at all skill levels thanks to a massive player base, and the learning resources make it as valuable for beginners as it is for experienced players. The subscription tiers gate significant features behind paywalls, and the app can feel overwhelming with the sheer volume of content competing for attention. But as a complete chess platform that fits in your pocket, nothing else comes close to this breadth of offerings.

2022 · Strategy Roguelike · PC / Steam

Shotgun King takes one of the most absurd premises in gaming, a chess king armed with a shotgun fighting alone against the entire white army, and turns it into a deeply compelling strategy roguelike. The dual card system that buffs both player and enemy simultaneously creates escalating tension across each run, and the chess-based movement system provides a tactical foundation that feels immediately intuitive yet rewards careful spatial thinking. It's the rare concept game where the novelty doesn't wear off because the underlying mechanics are strong enough to sustain repeat play.