Top 5 Chess games to play ahead of the World Chess Championship

The Candidates Chess tournament takes place from 15th March to 5th April where the winner will become the challenger for the upcoming World Chess Championship.  

The challenger will face the reigning champion, Magnus Carlsen, to determine who will become the new world champion.  

If you simply can't wait for the tournament and love the intricate game of Chess as much as the next peon, then we've got you covered with the top five chess games that you can play ahead of the World Chess Champions. 

Chess Ultra

From developer Ripstone comes Chess Ultra. This Chess game has it all and it looks absolutely gorgeous. Unlike those intricate Chess engines that you can tinker with for months, if not years, Chess Ultra is for those who simply want to play Chess.  

The game comes with a wide range of fantastic features, including being able to play against AI opponents (with 10 Grandmaster-approved AI levels). You can also play it against your friends both in online and local multiplayer. It has full VR and Twitch integration and in-depth tutorials, making it perfect for both veterans and newcomers. 

The game will set you back $12.99 on Steam and is available on consoles (PS4, Xbox One and Switch) as well for roughly the same price. It even has cross-platform play and leaderboards, making it the complete package and our top pick for the best Chess games to enjoy. 

Lichess 

While you have to dig deep into your wallet for a package as complete as Ultra Chess, you can enjoy a great Chess match from your PC or tablet with many free options out there. Arguably, the best one around is Lichess.org. 

You can play Chess to your heart's content on Lichess.org, with no annoying ads. You don't even have to register if you just want a quick match. However, there are some great benefits from registering as you can, for example, join free tournaments.  

If playing against other people online isn't your style, you can always play against eight levels of AI, powered by the Stockfish engine. If you prefer playing Chess on your mobile device, you can also grab the Lichess app for free on both Android and iOS. 

Lichess is free for everyone (Picture: Lichess.org) 

Chess Age 

If you want a Chess game with some style and cartoonish graphics, then Chess Age by ChessFriends.com is the title for you.  

This mobile game is completely free with no in-game ads and is perfect for both beginners and veterans. There are thousands of fantastic training exercises to help you improve your game. 

Chess Age also boasts training lessons, Checkmate puzzles, tactics training, hundreds of levels and a plethora of other features. Chess Age is, without a doubt, one of the top chess games out there if you want to start learning or take your game to the next level. 

You can grab Chess Age for your mobile device on Android or iOS. 

Chessaria: The Tactical Adventure 

Developer Pixel Wizards created one of the most intriguing and unique Chess experiences in Chessaria: The Tactical Adventure, which you can pick up on Steam for $19.99 right now.  

It is one of the top Chess games released in the last decade, featuring a unique blend of Chess, story-based missions and tactical setups. 

The story campaign (called Adventure Mode) alone will keep you busy for over 20 hours, but that only scratches the surface of what Chessaria: The Tactical Adventure has to offer. The game features 4K graphics, a new-gen A.I. with over 2,800 ELO, multiplayer, puzzles, boss fights, and more. 

Battle vs Chess 

Not to be confused with 1988 classic Battle Chess, Battle vs Chess is an excellent title available on Steam (for $19.99) which will keep you busy for hundreds of hours.  

The game is a fusion of professional Chess software and action-oriented battle simulations. It boasts, amongst other things, two campaigns with 30 missions and 30 different mission goals, PvP duels, beautifully crafted environments and boards, excellent animations and more. 

Battle vs Chess also utilizes the Fritz! chess algorithm with 10 distinct levels of AI difficulty. This makes Battle vs Chess great for players of any skill level. Lastly, the game has an interactive 3rd person action mode that really shines through. 

Closing Thoughts 

The titles in this list are our top picks for the best Chess games you can play ahead of the Chess World Championship. However, there are dozens of other great Chess titles out there as well.  

Honourable mentions go to 1988 classic Battle Chess, Chess 2: The Sequel and all those powerful Chess engines which can't really be considered a Chess video game, as they're more suited for intense training and require setup as well as tweaking.