The Rules

How It Works

ParadoxShift follows standard chess rules with one addition: any legal move can optionally be played as a time-travel move. Here's everything you need to know.

The Core Mechanic

Three phases, one paradox

Every time-travel move follows the same cycle.

1
πŸ‘»

Phase Out

Your piece disappears from its origin square immediately. Your opponent can see the ghost of its departure β€” but they can't interact with it. The square it left is now empty.

2
βŒ›

In Transit

The piece travels through time for a calculated number of your turns (not total turns).

3
⚑

Materialize

The piece materializes at its destination on the opponent's next turn β€” destroying whatever occupies that square, friend or foe.

In Action

See it happen

The time-travel cycle as it looks in-game.

Phase Out The Queen vanishes from d1 β€” the square is empty and the enemy does not know where it will surface.
Piece in transit
In Transit Both players see where the piece left from, but only you see where it will arrive.
Materialize The Queen erupts into existence at d5 β€” obliterating the pawn that was there.

Delay Formulas

Each piece travels at its own pace

The number of turns a piece spends in transit depends on the geometry of its move. All values are tunable in the game's config.

Piece Delay Formula Range Notes
β™Ÿ Pawn Rank distance 1–2 turns Single step = 1 turn; double push = 2 turns
β™ž Knight Rank distance 1–2 turns Moves 1 rank = 1 turn; 2 ranks = 2 turns
♝ Bishop File distance 1–7 turns Diagonal distance measured in files
β™œ Rook ⌈rank distance Γ· 2βŒ‰ 1–4 turns Vertical moves only β€” horizontal moves cannot time-travel
β™› Queen ⌈Chebyshev distance Γ· 2βŒ‰ 1–4 turns Chebyshev = max(file Ξ”, rank Ξ”)
β™š King Always fixed 2 turns Any king move in transit incurs a cooldown penalty

Gameplay

More from the board

Multiplayer, campaign, and theme screenshots.

Campaign mode
Campaign Mode 16 escalating levels, each introducing new piece types and mechanics.
Online multiplayer
Online Multiplayer Glicko-2 rated matches, challenges, and live spectating.
Sketchy theme
Sketchy Theme Earn alternate visual themes through campaign progression.

Special Rules

Edge cases worth knowing

πŸ’₯

Materialization Collision

A piece arriving at an occupied square destroys whatever is there β€” including your own pieces. Friendly fire is real. Plan accordingly.

πŸ‘‘

King Destroyed

If a materializing piece lands on the enemy king, that's instant checkmate. No check warning β€” just victory (or defeat).

πŸŒ€

King in Transit

With your king phased out, you're frozen β€” you cannot make any move until your king rematerializes. Leaving your king in transit is an enormous risk.

⏱️

Time-Travel Fatigue

A piece that just materialized cannot immediately time-travel again. It must make at least one normal move (or sit idle for a turn) before phasing out again.

🚫

When Time-Travel Is Unavailable

Some moves can never be played temporally: castling, en passant captures, pawn diagonal captures, rook horizontal moves, and any move while you're in check.

Advanced Mechanic

The Rift

An optional mechanic β€” unlocked in later campaign levels β€” that bends the board's geometry itself.

1
⏱️

Countdown

A global countdown ticks down every half-turn. When it reaches zero, the left and right board edges begin to glow β€” the rift is opening.

2
〰️

Open Rift

Sliding pieces β€” rooks, bishops, queens β€” can now wrap around the horizontal edges. A rook on h3 can slide off the right edge and continue from a3. The board becomes a cylinder.

3
πŸ”’

Close It

The first player to use a rift move resets the countdown, closing the rift. Rift moves and time-travel moves are mutually exclusive β€” you can't do both at once.

Campaign Mode

Rise through
the ranks

Forty levels of escalating complexity. Begin as The Initiate with only pawn time-travel, and work your way up to mastering every piece type against a relentless AI. Each tier completion earns titles, themes, and the coveted Grandmaster Pass.

Play Now β†’
I
The Initiate
Incrementally unlocks time travel Β· Unlimited undos
II
The Accepted
Full time travel Β· Phased King & Queen means your army is frozen Β· 10 undos
III
The Tactician
When your King & Queen are phased, a Lieutenant will make your move Β· 7 undos
IV
The Navigator
Everything changes when Rifts appear Β· 5 undos
V
The Architect
You have mastered the board, now learn to master your enemy Β· 3 undos
VI
The Paradox Master
Pawns become more strategic with 4-move time traveling Β· 1 undo
β˜…
The Paradox Grandmaster
Maximum depth Β· No mercy Β· Unlock the Grandmaster Pass
πŸ†