ChessMaster on the GBA is basically the portable version of the old-school Chessmaster series—you know, the one that taught a ton of us how to actually play chess beyond just moving pawns randomly. It’s got all the standard modes: play against the AI (which can be brutal or forgiving, depending on how you set it), puzzles to sharpen your tactics, and even a decent tutorial if you’re still figuring out why bishops are sneaky.

The sprites are simple but clean, and the controls work well enough for a handheld—though trying to move pieces with the D-pad takes a little getting used to. What’s cool is that it actually feels like a proper chess game, not some stripped-down mobile version. If you’ve got a GBA and any interest in chess, this one’s a solid pick.