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Checkmate
将军
Checkmate is an action arcade game released by Midway in 1977, supporting up to four players simultaneously. Each player controls a vehicle on a grid-based playfield and attempts to trap opponents by leaving a trail behind them as they move. When a player's path is blocked by a wall, the arena boundary, or another player's trail, they are eliminated. The last player with room to maneuver wins the round. The concept is similar to the light-cycle gameplay later popularized by Tron. Controls consist of a directional joystick for steering. The game supports one-versus-one, team, or free-for-all configurations depending on how many players join, making it a flexible multiplayer experience for arcade cabinet setups.
- Developer
- Midway
- Released
- 1977
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 4P
- Rating
- 4.5 / 5 (3.7K)
- Last updated
Checkmate Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Checkmate on our in-browser Arcade emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Checkmate Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Checkmate on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Checkmate" Arcade longplay 1977
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Checkmate released?
Checkmate was released in 1977 for the Arcade.
Who developed Checkmate?
Checkmate was developed by Midway, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Checkmate support?
Checkmate supports up to 4 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is Checkmate?
Checkmate is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Checkmate for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Checkmate runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Checkmate in the browser?
No. Checkmate streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Checkmate?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does Checkmate work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Checkmate this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Checkmate. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
