Play Mate the Machine
Ivory pieces, a hand of cards, one chrome King to take.
Free on iPhone in the Roam app. Android coming soon.
Play free nowAcross the board, a chrome robot sits in front of a glowing forge, and a hand of three power cards waits under your side. Mate the Machine is a chess roguelike for iPhone, played in the Roam app: move your ivory pieces by normal chess rules, then spend energy on cards to break the machine's defense. Capture the robot's King to win. You already know the rules; the cards are what change the math.
Moves, cards and checkmate
- Tap one of your ivory pieces, then tap a highlighted square to move it.
- Watch the energy meter on the left; each card shows its cost in the corner.
- Tap a card like Overclock, EMP Spike or Reinforce to play it.
- Keep an eye on your hearts at the top of the screen.
- Capture the robot's King to win the match.
Chess, but with tricks
- Real chess moves for every piece, so there is nothing new to learn on the board
- Power cards with energy costs, from 1 to 2 points in the first hand
- A robot king boss watching from beside a molten forge
- Chrome and ivory pieces on a cream and navy board
How this chess roguelike changes the game
In plain chess both sides have the same tools. Here you get a hand of cards and an energy meter that decides how many of them you can play. Overclock, EMP Spike and Reinforce are the first ones you see, each with its cost printed in the corner.
The board still matters most. A card will not rescue a hopeless position, but a well-timed one can open a gap in a defense that plain moves would take many turns to crack.
Who it is for
Players who know how the pieces move and want a puzzle with a twist. You do not need a rating or opening theory. The first match tells you which pawn to move by making it glow, so casual players get going fast.
It is a calm, thinking game. If you like the idea of chess but find long online games tiring, a match against one stubborn robot is a better fit.
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Mate the Machine FAQ
Do I need to be good at chess to play Mate the Machine?
No. Knowing how the pieces move is enough. The first match walks you through it by highlighting the pawn to move, and the cards give you ways out of tight spots.
How do power cards work in Mate the Machine?
Each card has an energy cost. You have an energy meter beside your hand, and playing a card like Overclock, EMP Spike or Reinforce spends some of it.
Does Mate the Machine cost anything?
No. It is part of Roam, which is free on iPhone, so you can try a chess roguelike without paying for one.
Can I play Mate the Machine against another person?
No. Your opponent is always the robot king, so you can start a match whenever you like and take as long as you need to think.
explore worlds
Play Mate the Machine free in the Roam app.