Reviews of Checkmate or Die

By: Chess.com Game

List of user reviews and ratings for Checkmate or Die

Total ratings

2.78 (Rating count: 459)

Review summary

Checkmate or Die is praised for its creative chess puzzle concept and fun challenge that enhances tactical skills. However, users widely report frequent crashes, frustratingly tight time limits, slow and blocking animations, lack of clear instructions, and unclear visuals. These issues diminish enjoyment and accessibility despite the game's novel idea and fun core gameplay.

Date	Author	Comment
2023-01-03	Ma*****	Gets fun after level 25. Would be fun to have more changing scenery and i would like to look at the solution of the puzzle if I got it wrong. Also changing piece type would be great. If the game has a story that would have been way more interesting too.
Gets fun after level 25. Would be fun to have more changing scenery and i would like to look at the solution of the puzzle if I got it wrong. Also changing piece type would be great. If the game has a story that would have been way more interesting too.
2022-10-26	St*****	Had my entire progress reset without warning. So that's already really bad. Overall, this isn't a bad idea for some holiday chess-based fun, but the game is way too unforgiving. The game really, really rushes you away from trying to calculate. It would be better if there was some (simple and obvious) methods of balancing how fast you have to solve the puzzles.
Had my entire progress reset without warning. So that's already really bad. Overall, this isn't a bad idea for some holiday chess-based fun, but the game is way too unforgiving. The game really, really rushes you away from trying to calculate. It would be better if there was some (simple and obvious) methods of balancing how fast you have to solve the puzzles.
2022-10-25	Jo*****	It is fun, but once you get up to 4 move checkmate puzzles, the measly amount of time you get is not realistic for 99% of players to consistently beat, especially when you consider the time the animations for moving the chess pieces takes. I just finished a level that consisted of two 4-move checkmate puzzles in under 16 seconds and barely finished in time. That is less than 2 seconds per move you are given to beat the level. I'd prefer more time, but harsher penalties for wrong moves.
It is fun, but once you get up to 4 move checkmate puzzles, the measly amount of time you get is not realistic for 99% of players to consistently beat, especially when you consider the time the animations for moving the chess pieces takes. I just finished a level that consisted of two 4-move checkmate puzzles in under 16 seconds and barely finished in time. That is less than 2 seconds per move you are given to beat the level. I'd prefer more time, but harsher penalties for wrong moves.
2022-10-15	An*****	It's fun, but the time to death on the first puzzle of a level is so short that it actually feels straight up unfair. Character doesn't move with your first move or at all until you FULLY beat the 1st puzzle. Also the head falling off animation feels kinda graphic for a chess app without being able to turn it off.
It's fun, but the time to death on the first puzzle of a level is so short that it actually feels straight up unfair. Character doesn't move with your first move or at all until you FULLY beat the 1st puzzle. Also the head falling off animation feels kinda graphic for a chess app without being able to turn it off.
2022-10-07	Av*****	Crashes a couple of seconds after booting the game on my Galaxy S21+. The first boot worked just fine, I could play the game as long as I didn't go back to the menu. The moment I got back to the menu the game crashes and when I try to get back to the game and boot it again, it crashes a couple of seconds after the boot. But overall a good concept (maybe not the jump mechanic, let me concentrate on the checkmate), will give 5 stars once this is fixed.
Crashes a couple of seconds after booting the game on my Galaxy S21+. The first boot worked just fine, I could play the game as long as I didn't go back to the menu. The moment I got back to the menu the game crashes and when I try to get back to the game and boot it again, it crashes a couple of seconds after the boot. But overall a good concept (maybe not the jump mechanic, let me concentrate on the checkmate), will give 5 stars once this is fixed.
2022-10-06	To*****	Starting on level one, the first level, the time you get before being caught is VERY tight. The puzzle is also very easy, but you have zero time to check out the visuals, determine what to do, and then you are dead. Subsequent levels are also so tight you need to find the solution almost instantly. This really should ramp in more to let people get comfortable. But more importantly, the game crashes constantly. Not while playing, but on every menu, preference, setting, etc. Crash fest.
Starting on level one, the first level, the time you get before being caught is VERY tight. The puzzle is also very easy, but you have zero time to check out the visuals, determine what to do, and then you are dead. Subsequent levels are also so tight you need to find the solution almost instantly. This really should ramp in more to let people get comfortable. But more importantly, the game crashes constantly. Not while playing, but on every menu, preference, setting, etc. Crash fest.
2022-10-06	Ca*****	This is a really fun and simple chess puzzle game that emphasizes quick recognition of patterns and materials. I love it! However, I get to play it for a string of puzzles until I close out of the app. Next time I boot up to play and practice, it crashes every time.
This is a really fun and simple chess puzzle game that emphasizes quick recognition of patterns and materials. I love it! However, I get to play it for a string of puzzles until I close out of the app. Next time I boot up to play and practice, it crashes every time.
2022-10-05	Co*****	The premise is good but to do puzzles under time pressure the board needs to be much clearer. Adding to this, information and events are spread all over the screen and ultimately it feels like you're doing chess puzzles with annoying distractions.
The premise is good but to do puzzles under time pressure the board needs to be much clearer. Adding to this, information and events are spread all over the screen and ultimately it feels like you're doing chess puzzles with annoying distractions.
2022-10-05	Mo*****	Cool concept, I really love idea actually. The problem is it is not well optimized and keeps crashing keeping in mind the fact that I have the latest phone. It is also a little slow placed as I had to do 15 levels all m1. I have no further insight as the app keeps crashing on level 16.
Cool concept, I really love idea actually. The problem is it is not well optimized and keeps crashing keeping in mind the fact that I have the latest phone. It is also a little slow placed as I had to do 15 levels all m1. I have no further insight as the app keeps crashing on level 16.
2022-10-05	se*****	It's a fun game where imo you can improve your tactical skills a lot. The only down sides would be: a few bugs (where sometimes the entire puzzle won't show), The game crashes quite a lot and also when you do make the correct move but the game recognizes it a bit later ( so you have to repeat the same move a few times for it to work ).
It's a fun game where imo you can improve your tactical skills a lot. The only down sides would be: a few bugs (where sometimes the entire puzzle won't show), The game crashes quite a lot and also when you do make the correct move but the game recognizes it a bit later ( so you have to repeat the same move a few times for it to work ).

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