Solitaire Chess: Work Those Mind Muscles

ThinkFun brings their popular mind teaser game, Solitaire Chess, to Android. Solitaire Chess is the second ThinkFun Android app, and I am definitely a fan of their fun, smart, clean Android apps. So, put on your thinking cap and dust off your eighth grade chess skills. It’s time to play Solitaire Chess!

Gameplay

While performing my Android Apps Review of Solitaire Chess I was introduced to a game that is a pleasant mixture of chess and, you guessed it, solitaire. Players are presented with a game board with 16 spaces, some of which have chess pieces populated in them. To play the game move the existing pieces until only one piece is left standing. Each move must take out another game piece.

Standard chess movement rules apply, so a base knowledge of chess is handy, but not completely necessary. Solitaire Chess will automatically load in “Trainer” mode. Press and hold a piece to see every possible move for it. Or, visit the main menu and tap “Tutorial” to view game rules, an explanation of moves for each type of chess piece and help with navigation and button options.

Solitaire Chess for Android is a smart game with 400 levels and four different levels of difficulty. Users start the game by pressing “Quickplay” which puts them at the beginning, or tapping “Select Challenge” to choose a game board or pick up where you left off. If you are having any trouble with a level the “undo” button can take you back a step. Use “reset” to take the board back to its original setting. Press “hints” to see the next move if you get stuck and need a hand.

User Experience

The Solitaire Chess app for Android is a digital version of one of ThinkFun’s physical games for sale on their website. It translates brilliantly, and is a real testament to ThinkFun’s game creating skills.

I have been extremely pleased with the stability, user interface, graphic quality and overall feel of the Solitaire Chess app for Android. This game is a lot of fun, and so easy to use that it’s bound to become a favorite. There aren’t really any flashy animations or fussy interfaces, but chess is a classic game. Bright colors help the modern twist translate, and nothing else is really necessary.

Value

The full version of Solitaire Chess for Android costs $1.99. I think this app is well worth the small investment, especially since more levels will be added in the future. Maybe I just love an app that has the audacity to ask players to use their brains. Not sure? Try the free version of Solitaire Chess where you can play ten boards on each difficulty level. Warning: you will want the full version once you’ve had fun with the free.

Android Apps Review Details: Solitaire Chess Android app is $1.99. This app requires Android 1.6 and up. You may download Solitaire Chess in the Android Market.