5D Chess with Multiverse Time Travel

Lore & Background

Conor Petersen, inspired by other chess variants such as bughouse chess, three-dimensional chess, and four-player chess, conceived the idea of using time as a dimension of movement. The game's titular mechanic allows pieces to travel through time and between timelines in a manner analogous to their movement on the board. Gameplay begins similarly to ordinary chess but becomes increasingly complex as players branch additional timelines.

The game includes a standard starting position as well as variant starting positions, and features a puzzle mode. Petersen developed the game at his American studio Thunkspace, and it was launched on Steam on 22 July 2020. He stated that he enjoyed chess variants like three-dimensional chess and sought to solve each problem or paradox encountered while designing the time-based mechanics.

Reader's Guide

5D Chess with Multiverse Time Travel is significant for extending the traditional chess framework into four dimensions: the standard file and rank axes, plus a turn axis (representing time) and a timeline axis (representing alternate realities). Pieces retain their standard movement abilities but can also move along these new axes, with rooks moving along exactly one axis, bishops along two equally, queens along any number equally, and knights in a two-and-one pattern. The game introduces concepts such as active and inactive timelines, the present line, and checkmate conditions that account for multiple boards simultaneously.

Its legacy lies in its novel approach to chess variants, receiving positive reviews from players and critics. The game also includes fairy pieces like the unicorn, dragon, princess, brawn, royal queen, and common king, as well as a Turn Zero variant used in tournament play for balancing. The puzzle mode and online multiplayer further contributed to its reception as a creative and challenging expansion of chess.

Did You Know?

• The game includes fairy pieces such as the unicorn, dragon, princess, brawn, royal queen, and common king.
• Turn Zero is a variant starting with an additional board for Black a half-turn earlier, often used in tournament play for balancing.