Theme Chess
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A fresh take on a timeless game

Chess.
With a little
more you.

Marble cats. Noble retrievers. Familiar classics. Choose your characters, set the mood with Marble or Galaxy, and find your next good game.

Play now Meet the pieces
Play in your browser
Actual Theme Chess game screenshot showing white marble cats and black retrievers facing their opponents on a walnut board, with the game controls visible.
Actual game screenshotPlay in your browser
Your favourite pieces Beautiful 3D boards Friendly ways to play The chess you know

A little character. Every last detail.

Get a little closer.

A knight in armour. A watchful bishop.
Six individual characters, ready for their next move.

Actual Theme Chess close-up: sculpted retriever pawns, royals and bishops, an armoured retriever knight, and white marble cats on the board, with the game's controls visible.
Actual game capture · Cats & RetrieversExplore every character in 3D

Good company for great moves

Meet your
new favourites.

Six different roles. Sculpted with character.
Choose the style that feels right to you.

Preview side and material finish
01 / THE CATSA little regal
White marble cat king with an integrated crown on the common round base.
Animal Collection

Quiet confidence.

Curious characters. Royal ambitions.
A little personality in every piece.

Meet the cats
02 / THE RETRIEVERSVery good company
White marble retriever king with an integrated crown on the common round base.
Animal Collection

Loyal to the game.

Noble faces and a playful spirit.
Every role has its own character.

Meet the retrievers
03 / THE CLASSICSAlways in style
White marble Classic king with a cross on the common round base.
Classic Collection

A familiar favourite.

Clear silhouettes. Understated marble.
For the love of a classic.

Go Classic

Classic, Cats and Retrievers are free. Nine additional collections are €2.99 each, paid once, with all six roles and both sides. The five new material collections also include matching boards. Choose the original Collection finish, Marble Theme or Galaxy Theme.

Showing White marble. Every collection can play on either side.

Your next favourite could start with an idea.

What characters would you love to see on the board?

Suggest a collection

Characters first. Atmosphere next.

Pick the pieces.
Set the mood.

Your collection chooses the characters. Keep its original wood, stone, concrete, metal or plush finish, or try richly veined marble and violet nebulae across the pieces and board.

  • Collection finish
  • Marble Theme
  • Galaxy Theme

Concrete Atelier, Concrete + Walnut, Rebar Foundry, Organic Grove and Cloud Candy each include a matching board at no extra charge, with an optional suggested backdrop. Apply a whole look or mix pieces, board and background independently. Friends can use your matching board in the game you host.

Make the view comfortable, too. Choose Light, Dark or System appearance and adjust the glass transparency.

Explore pieces, boards and finishes
Marble cat sculptures on the chessboard under soft daylight in the actual game.
Cats · Marble & soft daylightActual game capture
The game's retriever sculptures lit with warm golden light.
Retrievers · Warm golden lightActual game capture
Galaxy finish across the chess figures and board in an actual game capture.
Galaxy Theme · Pieces & boardActual game capture
Dragon Court sculptures on the chessboard in the actual game.
Dragon CourtActual game capture

Your screen. Your choice.

A game together.
A view of your own.

Your opponent loves dragons. You prefer Classic pieces. That works beautifully.

Follow their chosen collection for free, or show their pieces using a collection you own. Your override stays private to you and syncs across devices when you sign in. Guest choices stay on this device. Your opponent keeps their own view, and the game stays the same.

Make it yours
A preview of your viewPrivate to you
White cat king representing your chosen pieces.Your piecesCats
Black retriever king representing your opponent's chosen set.Opponent in your viewRetrievers

You’re seeing their chosen retrievers.

Room for another?YOUR GAMES, TOGETHER

A place for every match.

An example of the game overview

A friendly matchYour turnYOUR MOVE
The next good moveOpponent’s turn
A fresh boardWaiting for a friend
Pick up where you left offMy games

A table for friends and new faces

Your next game.
Good company.

Play someone · Online chess

Start at your level.

Choose a starting level and a pace. Your provisional skill estimate develops through completed quick games. We prefer nearby skill levels and widen the search as you wait.

Bullet 1 min, no increment (1+0)Blitz 3 min + 2 sec per move (3+2)Blitz 5 min + 3 sec per move (5+3)Rapid 10 min + 5 sec per move (10+5)
Play someone

Matches depend on other players searching at the same pace. One active quick match at a time; keep multiple friend and local games open alongside it.

  • A friend, a link away

    Share a private invitation. Play untimed, Bullet, Blitz or Rapid. Review the clock before accepting.

  • Keep a few games going

    Use the bottom game switcher to move between local and online tables. My games shows your turn, opponent's turn, waiting and finished games.

Prefer a quieter game? Choose from five computer levels or take turns on the same screen. Sign in for online play and cloud saves; local guest play is always an option.

A little room to explore

Look back.
Look closer. Learn.

Make a move, follow your curiosity,
and enjoy getting a little better.

Every move,
worth another look.

Slide back through a game while you play or study its final position. A clear historic-view reminder helps you keep your place before returning to the live board.

Make time for replay

A whole court.
Every angle.

Explore each collection in 3D. Rotate and zoom in on all six characters, try both sides, then see how the full set looks on the board.

Explore the 3D store

Your first move
is a good place to start.

Find detailed guides to the rules, special moves and beginner strategies. In the game, an optional helping paw and hands-on piece guide make the next step clearer.

Learn chess, your way

Find your favourite angle. Rotate and zoom with mouse or touch, or switch to a clear 2D board. Six-axis SpaceMouse navigation is available in supported desktop Chrome and Edge browsers.

Something worth making your own

Your next good
move starts here.

Choose your pieces. Find your favourite view.
Let’s see where the game takes you.

Step up to the board Play in your browser

A few good questions

Curious?
You’re in good company.

Chess is more welcoming
when it feels like yours.

Is this still regular chess?

Yes. The pieces may have more personality, but their moves and the rules of chess stay familiar. Optional move hints and a hands-on piece guide can help you find your feet. Our Learn chess guides explain the rules in more detail.

Can each collection play either side?

Absolutely. Your piece style is independent of your side. Every available collection supports White and Black; the preview above shows its original finish.

How do I find an online opponent?

Sign in and open New game to choose an online pace: Bullet (1 minute, no increment), Blitz (3 minutes + 2 seconds or 5 minutes + 3 seconds per move), or Rapid (10 minutes + 5 seconds). Pick a starting experience level, then start searching when you are ready. We prefer similar skill estimates and widen the search while you wait. A match needs another player searching at the same pace. Your provisional estimate updates after completed quick games; it is separate from official chess rankings.

Can I choose the computer’s strength?

Yes. Pick Gentle, Casual, Thoughtful, Challenging or Strong when you start, and change the level in Game options whenever you like. You can also adjust the pause before the computer replies, starting at half a second. The level and pause are saved with that game.

Can I keep more than one game going?

Yes. Use the bottom game switcher to move between your local and online tables, each with its own board and history. My games separates your turn, your opponent’s turn, waiting invitations and finished games. You can keep multiple friend and local games, plus one active quick match at a time.

Can I show my opponent as Classic pieces?

Yes. Follow your opponent’s choice or show their pieces with a collection you own. Your override is private to you and syncs across your signed-in devices. Guest choices stay local. It never changes your opponent’s view, their choice or the game’s rules.

Do I need an account?

You can play the computer or share a screen as a guest. Sign in with a FiddlerCrab account to play online and keep saved games across devices. Guest games stay on your device unless you choose to import them.

What is free, and what do collections cost?

Play with Classic, Cats and Retrievers for free. Nine additional collections are €2.99 each, paid once: Wooden Cut-outs, Wooden Toys, Dragon Court, Faceted Classic, Concrete Atelier, Concrete + Walnut, Rebar Foundry, Organic Grove and Cloud Candy. Every collection includes all six roles and both sides. The five new material collections also include a matching board at no extra charge, with an optional suggested backdrop. Preview any collection in 3D. Purchases change the look, never the rules or playing strength. Sign in to link purchases to your FiddlerCrab account; restore App Store purchases from the app’s store.

What can I customise?

Choose from twelve collections and mix your pieces, board, finish and lighting. The five new material collections include matching boards: apply a whole look or choose each part independently, with an optional suggested background. You can also use Marble Theme or Galaxy Theme. Seasonal themes and other characters are ideas for later. The chess rules stay the same.