Checkmate is for Losers: Welcome to Endless Check

After a few failed attempts at game design, and recent all nighters over the Easter break learning Love2D, I am excited to share my first gameplay demo: Endless Check with you all.

What is Endless Check?

If you’ve ever looked at a Chess board and thought, "This is great, but I wish I didn't have to think so much," this game is for you.

Endless Check is a minimalist roguelike that takes the classic movement of Chess and throws it into a 5x5 pressure cooker. There’s no "Check" here - if you can take the King, you do it. But remember: the enemy is looking to do the exact same thing to you.

Why play a 5x5 Chess game?

Traditional Chess can feel like a slow burn. I wanted to create something that felt like a sprint. By shrinking the board and adding a point-buy progression system, every single move matters.

The core of the game is the Modifiers. Between battles, you’ll hit the Shop. This is where the game gets silly (in the best way possible). Want your King to move like a Queen? Do it. Want your Pawns to hop over pieces like Knights? You can. The goal was to let players build a squad that feels overpowered, right until the enemy AI shows up with a squad of its own to put you in your place.

Key Features at Launch:

The Gauntlet: 8 Rounds, 3 battles each. 24 fights to prove your tactical genius.
The Shop: A randomized pool of pieces and game-altering modifiers to keep every run fresh.
Escalating Difficulty: The "Point-Buy" system ensures that as progress, the enemy's army grows more elite.
Endless Mode: For those who conquer the 8th Round, the game doesn't have to stop. See how long your build can survive against impossible odds.

This is Just the Beginning

As this is my first 'official' release, I am eager for feedback. Roguelikes live and die by their balance and "juice", so if you find a combination that feels too strong, or a mechanic that feels too punishing, I want to hear about it.

Check out the game page, take a run at the crown, and let me know: How far can you push your team before the board closes in?