Alexandra Botez has shared the official trailer for Chess Arena, and the first closed playtests are now live. Developed by Millions of Monsters, the game reimagines chess as a real-time, 40-player battle royale where kings move simultaneously, and the play area shrinks until only one player remains.
The trailer and early playtest notes show how Chess Arena swaps turns for constant motion. Each player controls a king that behaves like a character with unique skills and customizable skins. Players earn XP by defeating AI-controlled chess pieces scattered across the board and by taking down rival kings. Gaining levels lets you spawn stronger pieces and improve core stats such as movement speed, cooldowns, and ultimate power.
Botez described the concept as “Fortnite and chess having a baby” and the trailer makes that comparison easy to picture. The board never stays quiet. As the playable zone contracts, kings are pushed into more frequent clashes and matches compress into frantic endgames. For Botez, Chess Arena is part of a push to modernize chess and lower the barrier to entry for people who might not encounter the classic board version otherwise. She has spoken about wanting to modernize chess and offer fresh ways for players to engage with the game.
If you want to try the closed playtest, you can sign up at chessarena.gg. The site opens registration for the current testing window and includes details on how to participate. If you want to read more or watch the trailer, Alexandra Botez’s community and Millions of Monsters will be sharing updates as the playtests continue.
Join the conversation on X, Bluesky, or YouTube. I’d love to hear what you think about turning chess into a battle royale.
