See move patterns instead of memorising them
Every new ability of a piece is shown as a move diagram. You see at a glance where a rook with a catapult or a knight with a longer leap can go.
Chess roguelike · Coming soon to Google Play
Chess, but every run is a new campaign.
Lead a small chess army up a ruined spire. Every fight is a short tactical puzzle on a 3D board, and your pieces learn from every capture.
In preparation. Not in the store yet.
- First act free
- Plays offline
- No ads, no account
- Recommended for ages 13+
Practise chess thinking through play.
Rookspire is not a textbook, but it is a good place to practise. You pick up move patterns, tactics and planning because the game keeps asking for them.
Tactics in small puzzles
Each fight is easy to survey. You look for the best capture, spot threats ahead and only give up a piece when it pays off. The board shows which squares an enemy piece can reach.
Planning across the whole run
Which piece gets the upgrade? Which relic fits your army? Which path on the map do you take? Rookspire rewards planning because the pieces you lose stay lost.
Worth knowing: Rookspire does not follow the complete rules of chess. There is no check or checkmate, and you win by capturing the king. The way the pieces move is the same.
What a run looks like.
What waits inside the spire.
Your army grows
- Pieces earn experience and learn new moves
- 38 upgrades across all piece kinds
- Fairy pieces such as the Archbishop, Chancellor, Camel and Grasshopper
Relics and merchants
- 46 relics that bend the rules of the run
- Trophy relics from defeated bosses for later runs
- 16 strange encounters, merchants and campfires
The spire
- Three acts with branching maps
- 15 enemy squads and 6 bosses with their own rules
- Terrain such as rubble, chasms, brambles and portals
Climb without end
- Endless floors with returning bosses
- 4 armies, 3 difficulties, 8 ascension levels
- The Daily Gambit: the same seeded run for everyone each day
Try it, then own it.
Play the whole first act as often as you like. If you enjoy it, a single one-time purchase in Google Play unlocks the full game. No ads, no subscription and no account. You see the price in the store.
Frequently asked questions.
Is Rookspire real chess?
The pieces move as they do in chess, but the rules are different. There is no check or checkmate. You win a fight by capturing the enemy king or wiping out its army, and your pieces can gain new moves during a run.
Do I need to know chess to play Rookspire?
You should know how the pieces move. A guided first fight explains how Rookspire works, and every new move is shown as a diagram. Deep chess knowledge is not needed.
How does Rookspire help me practise chess tactics?
Each fight is a small puzzle that asks you to look ahead. The board shows which squares an enemy piece can reach, so you can compare captures and threats. On the easier difficulties you can take back a move and try another line.
Is Rookspire free?
The first act is free and can be replayed as often as you like. A single one-time purchase in Google Play unlocks the full game. There are no ads and no subscription.
Does Rookspire need an internet connection or an account?
No account is needed and the game plays offline. Only buying or restoring the purchase needs a connection.
Who is Rookspire for?
Rookspire is recommended for ages 13 and up. It is meant for teenagers and adults who enjoy chess and strategy games, not for young children.