Cat Chess Review (PC)

Chess is one of few games that you don’t really need to change to enjoy. Yet, as timeless and as comfortable as it is in its own ancestral skin, it is a game that is open to the concept of experimenting with other ideas. In the case of Cat Chess, whiskers and emotes form the backbone for the aforementioned experiment. And if you think it is just a simple game of chess with a feline twist, well, that’s because it is. Though, Cat Chess isn’t one for inflating its own ego. It knows what it is, and it embraces its purpose without redefining the source.

Given the fact that everyone and their neighbor knows chess, it shouldn’t take a great deal to make sense of a game like Cat Chess. Oh, it’s basically the same thing. But what it isn’t is a run-of-the-mill pawn with pasted facets. It’s evidently chess, but with a cute complexion that makes generic board play seem a little less dull. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a little dull, but then, cats are known to make even the most monotonous things a little more appealing. Thank the whiskers, I guess.

Of course, you can unpack Cat Chess in a little under ten seconds. True to its word, it delivers a love letter to a classic game, and, in an effort to appeal to the broader demographic, it adds its own feline infusions to the board. Rather than remaining static, it chooses to blend wholesome animations with lively mid-game gestures. Attacking an enemy pawn, for example, doesn’t come in the form of a lifeless exchange, but as a sprightly action sequence that sees two feral cats swatting their paws at one another for dominance over the board.

Cat Chess might not do anything to reinvent the rules or give chess a well-overdue facelift, but it does add a fresh lick of paint to the existing formula. And when I say paint, I mean, characters that happen to have personalities that defy the stereotypical chess pieces. Because who doesn’t love a chess-playing kitten that also harbors a god complex? It’s a winning formula, and Cat Chess knows it all too well.

While the standard rules apply in Cat Chess, there are a few little quirks here that modernize the signature board. For example, rather than spoon feeding you drawn-out scenarios with complex configurations, the game thrives on fast-paced gameplay and witty action sequences, animated intervals and adorable emotes. Think Wizard Chess (thanks, Harry Potter), but swap out the swinging blades for sharpened claws, and you should have a rough idea of what we’re getting at here. It’s cute, albeit conceptually simple.

Against a vibrant backdrop that’s bursting with color and creative set pieces, Cat Chess finds its stride as an elegant game that combines classic mechanics with a Pixar-like touch. With two distinct troupes of cats—Stray and House, naturally—to play against, you have a great deal more than mere pawns. Thankfully, you have fully developed characters that each bring their own skills and personalities to the table. And yes, you can play with them between turns. There’s a bonus point, right there.

Of course, Cat Chess is quite clearly designed to feel like more of a beginner-friendly adaptation of an old game than something that’s intentionally built for a competitive environment. Given that everything you see here is backed by something wholesome, it’s a lot easier to begin knocking back pawns on the board and enjoying the experience as it comes. That might not do a lot for die-hard fans of old-school chess, but for those who are happy to settle for a calmer alternative, it’s more than worth the asking price.

As with most games that take a single idea and roll with it, Cat Chess does come with a mileage meter that’s significantly lower than your average split-screen PvP game. Given that you’re tied to a single-player mode and a local co-op experience, there are only so many miles that you can actually run here before the process begins to lose its appeal. To that end, I’d argue that an online multiplayer option would certainly provide a benefit to the overall experience. A minor drawback I’ll admit, but something that ought to be considered in the future, for sure.

At the end of the day, chess is chess, and Cat Chess is clearly no stranger to playing it close to the heart and keeping the foundation intact. That might not appeal to those  who are actively searching for something that redefines the book and chalks out its own rules, but that doesn’t necessarily make it any less of an unworthy substitute in its chosen field. For better or worse, Cat Chess is an adorable game that gets a lot of things right. It might not be able to see past its own gimmick, but frankly, a gimmick here is more than enough to add a ninth life to this century-old board game. It’s just a surprise that Cat Chess is the first to scratch at the post and try something new.

Verdict

Cat Chess gives an ancient game a pair of whiskers in an effort to modernize a traditional board and give it a little more heart. With adorable pawns, animations, and neat touches that cater to a younger demographic, it stands out as a welcome entry-level adaptation of an old-school formula. It might not add a great deal more than a fluffy coat and a pair of whiskers, but then, as if to reinforce the initial statement, you don’t technically need to reinvent the wheel to make a good chess game.

If you’re beginning to grow weary of the same old rules and board formations, then consider Cat Chess as a welcome addition to the ever-popular ancestral classic. In short, it’s a clever take on a beloved pastime—a feline-based counterpart that, although not as refined or as universally popular as the original, has the heart of a lion and all of the lovable qualities of a strong and effortlessly entertaining PvP game.