AniChess

Introduction

AniChess is a free-to-play browser chess game from Animoca Brands, built with Chess.com as a Web3 game partner. It keeps the board and pieces familiar, then changes the win condition and adds spell choices, mana, ranked play, puzzles, and competitive reward modes. CHECK is live on Base and Ethereum, while staking runs on Abstract and the Ethernals collection lives on Ethereum.

Lore

AniChess is set in Mystra, a world pushed toward collapse by war, technology, and greed. The Divinities intervene from the Void by giving its people a new path: Aether-infused chess, where conflict is settled through foresight and tactical play instead of violence. The official story frames AniChess as the system that turns chess into law, with Mystra becoming the proving ground. Its linked Checkmate Genesis webcomic carries that mythology into the current Checkmate Ecosystem.

Gameplay

AniChess plays like chess with several rules deliberately changed. There is no check or checkmate warning, and the match ends when a player captures the opposing king, called a Kingslay. Before a match, players choose three spells; mana builds on turns when no spell is cast, up to eight, and spells can move, swap, transform, hide, stun, or destroy pieces. Standard mode uses blitz time controls, while Training, Tutorial, Custom matches, Checkmate Arena, Gambit, and puzzle modes give players different ways to practice or compete.

• Spell planning: Each spell has a mana cost and cast limit, so timing matters as much as move order.
• Ranked play: Standard matches use Glicko2 ratings and weekly missions tied to rating class.
• Puzzle routes: Daily, Universe, and Rush puzzles score speed, accuracy, hints, and energy use.

Economy

The live economy centers on CHECK, the Checkmate Ecosystem token used for competition, staking, collectibles, governance, and community programs. In AniChess, M8 points are earned through Standard matches and CHECK staking, then used to access Checkmate Arena and other reward flows. The Ethernals collection is a 960-piece Ethereum NFT set tied to early-player identity, skins, early feature access, and monthly CHECK claims.

• Competitive rewards: Checkmate Arena selects 50 players weekly for CHECK prizes, while Gambit uses CHECK buy-ins and seasonal prize pools.
• Staking path: CHECK staking runs through public and OG pools on Abstract, generating M8 and Checkmate Reign rewards.
• Collectible access: Ethernals can unlock cosmetics and ecosystem access, with official markets listed through OpenSea and Magic Eden.