Virtual Chess 64 is one of those N64 games that makes chess feel way more dramatic than it has any right to be. The pieces are all 3D and animated—pawns wobble when they move, knights rear up before charging, and the king dramatically topples when checkmated. It’s like watching a tiny medieval battlefield.

The AI isn’t messing around either. I got cocky after beating the easy mode, only to get absolutely wrecked by the medium setting. There’s a tutorial if you’re rusty (or just bad, like me), but honestly, half the fun is watching your queen yeet an enemy pawn across the board. It’s chess, but with way more flair than your grandpa’s wooden set.

Perfect for when you want to feel smart but also enjoy some over-the-top animations.