Play Chessmaster (G)(Rising Sun) Online

Chessmaster: Rising Sun on the GBA is the chess game I keep coming back to when I want a quick match that still feels serious. The AI doesn’t just roll over—it actually learns from your moves, so if you get cocky, it’ll punish you with some sneaky pawn play. I like that it doesn’t assume you’re a total beginner, either. The tutorials are there if you need them, but you can just jump into a game and figure things out as you go.

The Rising Sun edition has this clean, almost zen-like board design that makes playing on a tiny screen way less cramped than you’d think. And yeah, you can play against a friend if you pass the GBA back and forth, but honestly? The AI’s the real star here—it’s like having a decent chess partner who’s always up for a game during your lunch break. Just don’t blame me when you miss your bus stop because you’re too busy setting up a mate in three.