Play Chessmaster GBA Online

Chessmaster on GBA is exactly what it says - a solid chess game with no frills. The first thing you notice is how clean the board looks on the small screen, pieces crisp enough to tell apart even when they're tiny.

I spent most of my time in the tutorials at first. They don't just throw rules at you - they make you replay key moves from historical matches, which actually helps concepts stick. The AI opponents feel distinct too; some rush pawns while others play painfully slow, waiting for you to slip up.

What surprised me was how often I'd load Chessmaster just to watch two AIs battle in demo mode during commutes. The different chess sets are a nice touch when you want to change the vibe without changing the game.

It's still chess at its core - no flashy animations or gimmicks. But if you want portable chess that doesn't dumb things down, Chessmaster gets it right.