GraviChess
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About GraviChess
GraviChess is a puzzle platformer that twists chess mechanics into a 102-level gauntlet of brain-burning challenges. Developed by Lumpy Software, it launched on PC in January 2026. Instead of traditional matches, you maneuver classic chess pieces, rooks, knights, pawns, across procedurally shifting grids to eliminate enemies and reach level exits. The game’s indie charm clashes with its punishing difficulty, as each move alters the environment and enemy AI. It’s a love letter to chess purists and puzzle fanatics, but with a steep learning curve. Expect to die often, but the satisfaction of outthinking the board is undeniable.
Gameplay
Each level acts as a miniature chessboard where movement rules matter. Pawns advance diagonally to capture, knights leap over obstacles, and rooks clear paths by sliding through destructible tiles. You must anticipate enemy piece behavior, bishops patrol in straight lines, queens adapt dynamically, to avoid checkmate. Sessions often involve trial-and-error: a single misstep can trigger a chain reaction of captures. Controls are precise but unintuitive, requiring you to memorize piece-specific mechanics. The single-player campaign emphasizes strategic patience, with levels designed to force creative positioning. Later stages introduce gravity shifts and timed events, blending platforming and chess into a tense, methodical grind.
What Players Think
GraviChess holds an 8.2/10 on PlayPile, with 78% of players completing the base game. Average playtime is 10 hours, though 12% log over 20. Community moods skew polarized: 65% label it “challenging,” 40% “clever,” but 30% call it “frustrating.” A common review: “Genius concept with a steep learning curve, mastering the piece interactions is half the fun.” Achievement completion sits at 68%, with 35 trophies unlocked over 17 max hours. Critics praise its originality but criticize inconsistent difficulty spikes. Steam reviews mention “twitchy controls” and “repetitive level design” in later chapters. Still, 82% of top-rated comments say it’s “worth the grind for puzzle lovers.”
PlayPile's Take
GraviChess is a niche triumph for those who thrive on cerebral challenges. Priced at $19.99, it offers 10+ hours of strategic depth, though the $20+ price tag feels steep for its limited content. The 35 achievements and 17-hour max playtime make it a solid value for completionists. However, its punishing difficulty and unintuitive mechanics may alienate casual players. If you enjoy chess puzzles or platformers like Limbo with a thinking-person’s twist, this is your jam. But if you dislike restart-heavy gameplay, save your credits.
Game Modes
Single player
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