Read the board
It is still chess. Protect your king, find your opening and plan the finish.
A new kind of chess duel
Chess.
Cast differently.
The board is familiar. Your next move isn’t.
Outthink the position. Bend it with a spell. Every turn is a little more dangerous—and a lot more yours.
Instant browser play · no account · no download ROOKMANCER 01 / DUEL
Actual gameplay · one spell, then one chess move
0122 original spells
028 spells in your loadout
035 cards in your hand
04Zero paid advantage
Familiar rules. Unfamiliar possibilities.
One spell can change everything.
Cast, or hold your nerve
Use one optional spell before your normal move. Reposition a piece. Reshape an attack. Save your best card for later.
Make your move
The spell is not an extra turn. Finish with one legal chess move. Check and checkmate still matter.
ACT I · AN ORIGINAL SOLO ADVENTURE
The Shattered Crown
Three realms. Twelve encounters. One crown to restore. Learn by playing, then outwit the guardians.
No clock. No lives. Retry freely.
Begin the saga Saved on this device. Guest progress is not a ranked profile.The spellbook
Small deck. Wild possibilities.
Every spell is available from the start. Choose a school or build your own eight-card deck. Click a card to see what it really does.
Win your place. Wear your story.
Earn the crown. Don’t buy the win.
Your level, title and frame follow you into online duels. Ranked ladders measure skill; mastery rewards measure earned progress.
Ranked rivals
Seasonal, lifetime and weekly ladders. Matchmaking starts close to your playing strength.
An earned identity
Titles, avatar frames and card backs unlock as you level up. Your opponents can see them.
Bring your circle
Invite real rivals, complete the challenge and both earn a special card finish. Identical rules. A different signature.
Our fair-play promise
Your wallet is not a chess piece.
The planned shop sells optional looks, never stronger spells, rank, XP or matchmaking priority. Purchases are not enabled in this preview.
Where we are today
Try the game. Help shape the launch.
Free browser demo
Solo practice, two-player pass-and-play and three interactive Academy lessons.
Play the free demoRanked multiplayer
Create a free 16+ beta profile, invite a friend or find a ranked rival. No Tailscale required. Save the recovery file; purchases are disabled.
Play online betaiPhone & Android
Native builds are being tested. There is no App Store or Google Play listing to download yet.
Before you cast
Do I need to know chess?
The Academy teaches the spell system through playable puzzles. The demo also has three practice difficulty settings. Basic chess familiarity helps, but there is no account barrier to trying it.
Why can a piece seem to move twice?
A movement spell can reposition a piece before the normal chess move. It is one turn: an optional spell, then one legal move. The game labels the two actions separately.
Can I play online with a friend?
Yes. Open the online beta, create your profile and share a room invitation. Your friend can join from another device without Tailscale. The free demo also supports solo or one-device pass-and-play.
Do I have to buy cards?
No. All twenty-two functional spells are available. Special editions change appearance, not rules. Real purchases are disabled in this preview.
Is this the official Tempête sur l’échiquier?
No. Rookmancer is an independent chess-and-spells game with an original twenty-two-card ruleset and separately credited artwork.
What happens to my data in the demo?
Practice saves, language and settings stay in your browser. This public demo creates no server account, takes no payment and sends no gameplay analytics. Hosting providers may process technical request information to deliver and secure the site.
ROOKMANCER
Your next move could be a spell.
No download. No sign-up. Just you, the board and five possibilities.
Play the free demo Instant browser play · no account · no download