Play Chess-Master Online

Chess-Master on the Game Boy Color is exactly what it sounds like—chess, but the kind you can stuff in your pocket and play on the bus. The graphics are basic (obviously), but the pieces have just enough pixel personality to make it feel alive. I thought the AI would be a pushover, but even the medium setting had me sweating a few moves in.

What’s cool is how quick it is to jump into a game. No menus, no fluff—just pick your difficulty and go. The sound effects are these satisfying little beeps that somehow make capturing a pawn feel dramatic. And yeah, it’s still chess, so if you’re not into staring at a board for 20 minutes second-guessing yourself, maybe skip it. But if you want a no-bullshit way to practice openings or kill time, this does the job better than most mobile ports. Just don’t blame me when you miss your stop because you’re too busy losing to a 90s algorithm.