{{about|a chess video game with a Star Wars theme|the Star Wars chess-like game sometimes described as the "chess of Star Wars"|dejarik}} {{more citations needed|date=December 2018}} {{Short description|1993 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Star Wars Chess | image = Star_Wars_Chess_DOS_Cover_art.jpg | developer = The Software Toolworks | publisher = Mindscape | released = '''1993:''' MS-DOS<br>'''November 1994:''' Windows | platforms = MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, Sega CD | genre = Chess | modes = Single-player, multiplayer }}
'''''Star Wars Chess''''' is a 1993 chess video game developed by The Software Toolworks, based on the ''Star Wars'' film franchise and published by Mindscape for MS-DOS, Sega CD, and Windows 3.x. A 3DO version was planned but never released.<ref name="DHGFv2i7">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_2_Issue_07#page/n146/mode/1up|title=The Game Fan 32Bit System Shoot Out - Who Will Lead Us Into The Next Generation?|magazine=GameFan|volume=2|issue=7|publisher=Shinno Media|date=June 1994 |access-date=April 14, 2021|pages=146–147}}</ref>
==Gameplay== The game uses characters from the films in lieu of normal chess pieces, and a short animated battle takes place when a piece is taken, much like in the similar game ''Battle Chess'' (which itself was inspired by the holographic chess game shown in ''Star Wars''. All 72 animated capture sequences were produced and directed by Kevin Coffey, assisted by a team of animators, who recollected on his personal website: “ as in real life, sometimes the good guys won and sometimes they lost. It was all in good fun, however.”<ref>[https://cartoonlandanimation.com/animation/producer--director-of-anima/star-wars-chess.html CartoonlandAnimation.com © Kevin Coffey 2025]</ref>
==Reception== ''Computer Gaming World'' concluded that ''T2 Chess Wars'' and ''Star Wars Chess'' "are examples of marketing at its best (or worst, depending on your point of view)".<ref name="kee199403">{{Cite magazine |last=Kee |first=Jay |date=March 1994 |title=Darth Vader vs. The Terminator |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=116 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=90–94}}</ref>
''Mega'' Magazine giving ''Star Wars Chess'' a 60 percent rating stating "The chances are that if you take your chess at all seriously, you wouldn't really enjoy this."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/3/35/Mega_UK_23.pdf|title=Star Wars Chess|publisher=Future Publishing|date=August 1994|pages=69|issue=23}}</ref>
In 1996, ''Computer Gaming World'' declared ''Star Wars Chess'' the 49th-worst computer game ever released stating: "Proof that there really is no intelligent life (or AI) even in a galaxy far, far away".<ref name="cgw150">{{cite magazine|author=Staff|date=November 1996|title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_148|magazine=Computer Gaming World|issue=148|pages=[https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_148/page/n218 63]–65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 94, 98}}</ref>
''GamePro'' magazine however praised the game's action scenes, sound, detailed animation and stating "Chess purists and ''Star Wars'' purists alike will enjoy this one. Most impressive!"<ref>{{Cite book|last=Larry|first=Scary|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_064_November_1994/page/n119/mode/2up|title=Star Wars Chess Review|date=November 1994|pages=110|issue=64}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{MobyGames|id=/software-toolworks-star-wars-chess|name=Star Wars Chess}}
{{Star Wars games}}
Category:1993 video games Category:Cancelled 3DO Interactive Multiplayer games Category:Chess software Category:DOS games Category:Mindscape games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Sega CD games Category:Star Wars video games Category:The Software Toolworks games Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:Windows games