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Chinese Chese
中国象棋
Chinese Chess is a 2-player strategy puzzle game released in 2003 by a homebrew developer for the NES. Based on the ancient Chinese board game Xiangqi, it brings traditional strategy mechanics to the Nintendo Entertainment System. Players control 16 pieces each across a 9×10 gridded board, with the objective of checkmating the opponent's general. The game features turn-based gameplay where players select and move pieces using the NES controller's D-pad and action buttons. Each piece type follows Xiangqi's distinct movement rules—the general moves one space orthogonally within its palace, advisors move diagonally within the palace, and other pieces like chariots, horses, cannons, and soldiers have their unique movement patterns. The game supports direct 2-player matches, enabling competitive play between two human opponents.
- Developer
- Homebrew
- Released
- 2003
- Platform
- NES
- Genre
- Puzzle
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 (5.3K)
- Last updated
Chinese Chese Controls — NES Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Chinese Chese on our in-browser NES 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | D-Pad Up | Move up |
| ↓ | D-Pad Down | Move down |
| ← | D-Pad Left | Move left |
| → | D-Pad Right | Move right |
| X | A | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | B | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| Enter | Start | Start / Pause |
| Shift | Select | Select / Mode |
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Chinese Chese Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Chinese Chese on NES before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Chinese Chese" NES longplay 2003
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Chinese Chese released?
Chinese Chese was released in 2003 for the NES.
Who developed Chinese Chese?
Chinese Chese was developed by Homebrew, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Chinese Chese support?
Chinese Chese supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the NES.
What type of game is Chinese Chese?
Chinese Chese is a Puzzle game for the NES, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Chinese Chese for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Chinese Chese runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Chinese Chese in the browser?
No. Chinese Chese streams from a public archive into a browser-side NES emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Chinese Chese?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original NES cartridge supported.
Does Chinese Chese work on mobile devices?
Yes — the NES emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Chinese Chese this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Chinese Chese. 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.
