Martian Chess

Published 1995

Martian Chess is a 2-4 player game that uses Icehouse pieces, requiring one stash per player, and a chessboard. It was one of the games included in Icehouse: The Martian Chess Set and Pyramid Arcade. Much like its namesake, Martian Chess is a game of capturing pieces. Like Chess, Martian Chess is turn based, and played on a chessboard. In both games, players move and capture individual pieces, and each type of piece has distinct moving rules. However, Martian Chess differs from Chess in critical ways: Piece ownership is determined not by color but by location. Instead of capturing a specific piece, winning is determined by points, making it possible to force the end of the game and still win with no pieces left in that player's control. Lastly, Martian Chess easily supports 4 players as well as two, and can also be played with 3, 5 or 6 players if you use geomorphic chessboard sections; see this photo for an example.

Mechanics

Grid Movement

Categories

Abstract Strategy

Designers

Andrew Looney

Publishers

Looney Labs
Martian Chess

Game Info

Players
2-4 Players
Time
20 min
Weight
Light-Medium — 2.42/5
Year
1995
BGG Rating
6.56
BGG Rank
#7054
Min Age
8+

Frequently Asked Questions

Martian Chess supports 2 to 4 players.
A typical game of Martian Chess takes about 20 minutes.
Martian Chess has a complexity rating of 2.42/5.00 on BoardGameGeek, placing it in the 'Medium Light' category. It offers a good balance of depth and accessibility.
The recommended minimum age for Martian Chess is 8+. Younger children may enjoy it with guidance from experienced players.
Martian Chess has a rating of 6.56/10 on BoardGameGeek, based on 435 ratings. It is ranked #7054 overall.
Martian Chess was designed by Andrew Looney. It was published in 1995.