Learn Chess
By Christopher Healy,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Great chess instructor, but a demanding opponent.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this game.
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Learn Chess
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What’s It About?
Believe it or not, LEARN CHESS, actually does have a storyline. A pirate has stolen the treasured chess pieces of a ghostly king, and will only return them if he is bested in a chess match. The ghost-king is bound to his castle, so he decides to train you, the player, to play chess and become good enough to beat the pirate and earn back his stolen chess pieces. In the course of the tutoring, the ghost will run you through many lessons and present you with several challenges or quizzes for each. In between lessons, you are free to explore the haunted castle, which is full of point-and-click surprises.
Is It Any Good?
Learn Chess seems about as thorough as any instructional chess game aimed at children can be. The colorful and playful environments offer a much welcomed break from the instensely cerebral chess lessons. Learn Chess is only appropriate, though, for kids who have the patience to really absorb the lessons and learn the strategies involved in playing chess. The ghostly tutor won't even allow you to attempt a shot at beating the pirate captain until he thinks you're ready. You've got to beat him first -- and that could take a while.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the value of learning chess. What skills can one learn from the game other than simply being good at the game of chess itself? How can you apply ideas and stategies you learn from chess in other aspects of life?
Parents can also use the game to talk about delayed gratification and the importance of practice. It is unlikely that even on the easiest level, children will beat the computer in their first few attempts -- but practice can allow them to eventually do so.
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo DS , Nintendo DSi
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Dreamcatcher
- Release date: January 4, 2010
- Genre: Strategy
- ESRB rating: E for Comic Mischief
- Last updated: August 31, 2016
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Play
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate