Animoca Brands has today announced the launch of Anichess, a free-to-play web3 chess strategy game created in partnership with Chess.com and five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen. Alongside Carlsen, Animoca has also incorporated other top-tier players, including world number 10, Anish Giri, world number 56, world number 63 David Howell, and renowned novelist and woman grandmaster Sopiko Guramishvili.
According to Animoca, Grandmasters offer useful insights on classic chess games, helping to maintain the game’s fundamental strategy while incorporating new ideas.
“I am excited that Anichess is bringing innovation to chess with spells and strategy gaming elements that provide a refreshing chess experience,” said Magnus Carlsen, in a statement.
Exploring Anichess
According to Animoca Brands, Anichess is designed to give players a new take on the age-old game of chess by combining the rules of the game with an interesting plot and some advanced gameplay features. The game features a captivating plot, magic spell dynamics, and web3 functionality expertly incorporated into the classic chess game.
Animoca Brands has adopted a phased approach to the game. This strategy will enable Anichess to accommodate gamers looking for competitive encounters as well as those playing solo. The first phase features player versus environment (PvE) gameplay. The PVE phaae is meant to enable players to familiarise themselves with the games’ dynamics and Animoca Brands will use their feedback to fine-tune the game.
In Anichess’s first chapter, players go on a solitary journey through chess puzzles amplified by magic spells. Spells like these, which can turn regular pieces into knights, make the game more strategic. Phase two, set to launch in the first quarter of 2024, will bring in player-versus-player (PvP) features, expanding the game in more ways than one.
The inclusion of player customisation allows players to personalise their gaming experience with cosmetic skins and spell cards. They can change their in-game appearance and strategies to suit their own tastes. The addition of missions and battle passes will also add some life to the game, giving players a variety of tasks to complete in order to acquire rare in-game treasures.