Okay, so you know how you hear about a game and think, “Yeah, I get it, sounds like chess or whatever,” and then—boom—they twist it in ways you didn’t even think possible? That’s kinda what we’re dealing with here with this whole Beyond the Board thing. It’s like they took chess and said, “Let’s make it something else entirely.” Crazy, right? Anyway, keep up, ’cause this one’s a ride.
So, Fragile Shapes Studio—these folks are just out there doing their thing—came up with this minimalist puzzle adventure, Beyond the Board. It’s on its way to Steam soon, but there’s a demo already if you want to take a peek. No, seriously, you can check it out now. Why wait?
You’re basically a Rook, yeah, like the chess piece, roaming through a trippy chess-inspired universe. It’s surreal. The kind of world where tiles shift, and you’re stuck in a loop of solving puzzles. Imagine if Monument Valley and Limbo had a really intense chess match. That’s the vibe.
They showed off this madness during the OTK Games Expo. It goes beyond your standard chessboard. No rigid grids here—just puzzles that mess with your brain and a journey that’s anything but straightforward. Leave your chess champion aspirations at home, just bring your curiosity and willingness to, I dunno, get lost in something bonkers.
All of this kicks off when a bolt of lightning flips the chessboard into another dimension. Now, as a Rook, you’re on a wild chase after the enemy king through chaotic lands. It’s not simple—expect tough puzzles, sneaky paths, enemy pieces popping up, and yep, boss fights. Nice.
And get this, Beyond the Board doesn’t really need words to tell its story. It’s all about the visuals, the sounds, the overall mood. It pulls you in, like you’re trying to piece together this crazy, surreal world just through what you see and hear.
If you’re itching for a unique adventure, honestly, give Beyond the Board a go. There’s that demo I mentioned—it’s right there on Steam waiting for you. Feel free to dive in, even if you’ve never been into chess. What do you have to lose? Go on, give it a shot.
