Dungeons & Dragons ‘Dungeon Chess’ Comes to Oculus Rift and Gear VR

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Dungeon Chess, described as “the first official Dungeons & Dragons-themed Gear VR Game”, is now available on both Samsung’s mobile VR platform and the Oculus Rift. The title combines classic chess gameplay with iconic D&D creature designs and suitably atmospheric environments.

Building on the strength of their first VR game, Magic Table Chess, which is available free on both Gear VR and Rift, New York and San Diego-based developer Experiment 7 have created a more compelling title in Dungeon Chess, integrating one of the most significant brands in the history of gaming, Dungeons & Dragons. Experiment 7 have forged a strong partnership with Wizards of the Coast, publisher of tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons and trading card game Magic: The Gathering, who have hinted that there could be multiple VR titles to come.

image courtesy Experiment 7

Responding to VentureBeat after the game’s announcement in February, D&D director Nathan Stewart said “They are a talented group of industry vets and big D&D fans. We have a long-term partnership in place which spans different genres and game types”.

Combining chess with the very first published tabletop RPG, which itself would have been influenced by chess, seems to be an ideal match, and the developers have embraced the potential by animating each encounter with ‘dramatic combat effects’, as shown in the game’s launch trailer (heading this article).

“As huge D&D fans ourselves, it was a dream come true to be able to work on Dungeon Chess,” said Co-founder and Creative Director of Experiment 7, Geoffrey Zatkin. “We’ve created what we believe is a killer VR game worthy of D&D enthusiasts, chess fans and the VR community’s attention. We can’t wait to do the same for our next VR project with Wizards of the Coast.”

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The game supports Oculus Touch controls on the Rift version to physically pick up and move pieces, although you can still use the gaze select from Magic Table Chess. It features multi-tiered AI for single player use and supports cross platform multiplayer (for online play across both Gear VR and Rift).

Dungeon Chess has launched just in time for the Oculus Store Summer Sale, where it is currently enjoying a 50% discount. However, it has a rival in Ripstone’s Chess Ultra, which also just launched on all high-end VR platforms, including PSVR. Experiment 7 recently confirmed with VRFocus that Dungeon Chess will also be making its way to PSVR this year.

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The trial version of Microsoft’s Monster Truck Madness probably had something to do with it. And certainly the original Super Mario Kart and Gran Turismo. A car nut from an early age, Dominic was always drawn to racing games above all other genres. Now a seasoned driving simulation enthusiast, and former editor of Sim Racer magazine, Dominic has followed virtual reality developments with keen interest, as cockpit-based simulation is a perfect match for the technology. Conditions could hardly be more ideal, a scientist once said. Writing about simulators lead him to Road to VR, whose broad coverage of the industry revealed the bigger picture and limitless potential of the medium. Passionate about technology and a lifelong PC gamer, Dominic suffers from the ‘tweak for days’ PC gaming condition, where he plays the same section over and over at every possible combination of visual settings to find the right balance between fidelity and performance. Based within The Fens of Lincolnshire (it’s very flat), Dominic can sometimes be found marvelling at the real world’s ‘draw distance’, wishing virtual technologies would catch up.
  • This looks really cool. I already have their simple free Chess VR game on my Rift and it’s actually my most played game.

    • Coray Seifert

      That’s awesome! I’ll share this with the team.

      Thanks for playing,

      Coray Seifert
      Producer
      Dungeon Chess

  • This looks really cool. I already have their simple free Chess VR game on my Rift and it’s actually my most played game.