Games Like Linear Chess

21 squares. One line.

Chess on a single line of 21 squares. Familiar pieces, adapted moves.

Each side starts with six pieces and gaps that leave room to manoeuvre. Read the position, protect your pieces and decide where to apply pressure.

Familiar pieces, new moves

Your queen passes through friendly pieces Open a route and prepare an attack even when your own pieces fill the line.

Jumps that change the position The knight jumps three or four squares, forwards or backwards. Here, it leaps over an enemy pawn and captures a queen.

The bishop moves and captures by jumping one, two or four squares. Their distinct moves let you cross obstacles and threaten from unexpected positions. A rook can travel the line, but friendly pieces can block its way. Set up castling to bring it back into play. Your pawn can step back once per game, so choose the moment carefully.

Fight for the centre

Win by checkmate or by controlling the centre. The knight occupies it and earns a point on White’s next turn. The opposing queen responds by capturing it, interrupting its hold.

After the first four full turns, win by keeping the same piece at the centre for four of your subsequent turns, or accumulate six control points. Pawns can contribute once promoted.

Chaos mode: Rethink your opening

The same pieces and rules, with a different way to prepare your duel: adapt to a random formation or build your own. Random Chaos: Adapt your opening The six pieces are placed at random, with the same formation mirrored for both sides. Two examples of starting positions.

Organized Chaos: Prepare your formation Place your six pieces on your side’s eight squares, following the placement rules. Online, formations are only revealed once both players are ready.

The AI chooses its formation before you place your pieces, without knowing your choices. On the same computer, take turns preparing your formations while the other player looks away, with a handover screen between players. Face the AI, play together on the same PC, or challenge another Steam player online. Unrated play, with no Elo changes.

Four distinct 3D themes

Choose Classic, Neon, Nordic Kingdom or Enchanted Garden. Each 3D theme brings its own atmosphere while keeping the same rules. Rotate and zoom the camera to find your preferred view, and customise your keyboard shortcuts.

Choose your challenge

In Chaos, normal match XP is reserved for confirmed results between human players on Steam. AI and same-PC play grant no match XP. Cancellations and matches ended by disconnection grant no XP. A resignation, timeout loss or agreed draw before four total game actions grants no XP. Four interactive tutorials, including an introduction to Chaos, help you get started. Available in English, French, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Simplified Chinese. The online modes require Steam and an Internet connection. Ranked matchmaking depends on available players. One line. Find your opening.