Might & Magic: Chess Royale

Usually, when you think of a game of chess, you think of a tactical turn-based battle of wits between two opponents, with lots of strategy and forethought between calculated moves. Might & Magic: Chess Royale is nothing like that. The game's a frantic, chaotic speed tournament, pitting one hundred players against each other in battles that are just as much about pure luck as they are about any kind of skill or strategy. But before that, you've first got to figure out just what the heck is going on.

Even though battles in Might & Magic: Chess Royale are automated, players are still responsible for things like selecting and placing units, picking up magic spells to cast, and using things like synergies to boost their army's chances ... all within the thirty-five second pre-match setup. Unfortunately, there's no tutorial of any kind and the "Game Guide" instructions are awkward, vague, and incomplete. Eventually, new players can sort of pick up on loose strategies to use, but until then, winning and losing feels more like a coin toss. It's a shame too, because there's fun to be had in the game if you're willing to invest a lot of time and effort into the nuances of the units. But without a little help to get the ball rolling, many players will lose their initial interest faster than it takes to finish one tournament.