The Chessmaster
Nintendo Entertainment System · 1990
About this game
The Chessmaster is a game where the player has the chance to play against the CPU controlled Chessmaster at a standard game of chess.
To play the game, the player must pick up the chess pieces with their hand cursor and place it in the desired location, within the rules of a standard chess game.
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There are 16 different difficulty levels, including 2 beginner levels, 13 standard levels (ranging from an average of 5 seconds to 4.5 minutes per shot depending on level), and an infinite level that will keep thinking of a shot until a perfect shot can be made or it is forced to make a move.
There is also a teaching mode that shows the player all the possible moves with the selected piece.
Two players can play against each other with two controllers and there is also an option for letting the Chessmaster play against itself.
About Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System (1983 in Japan, 1985 in the West) revived the North American video game industry after the 1983 crash and established conventions — cartridges, licensing seals, save systems — that shaped the industry for decades. NES collecting is one of the most established retro markets: common titles remain cheap, but a well-known handful of low-print-run games (many from smaller third-party publishers) are among the most expensive video games in existence.
Gamevaro tracks The Chessmaster for Nintendo Entertainment System with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.
Adding The Chessmaster to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This NES release dates back to 1990.
Market values by condition
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-27 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-U | €8.81 |
| 2026-05-27 | Loose / Item only | PAL | €10.66 |
| 2026-05-27 | Boxed (CIB) | NTSC-U | €8.81 |
| 2026-05-27 | Boxed (CIB) | PAL | €10.66 |
| 2026-05-27 | Sealed / New | NTSC-U | €8.81 |
| 2026-05-27 | Sealed / New | PAL | €10.66 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Only a handful of market sales have been tracked for The Chessmaster, suggesting it doesn't trade hands very often — a sign of relative scarcity compared to more common Nintendo Entertainment System titles.
Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is The Chessmaster worth?
The Chessmaster for Nintendo Entertainment System is currently worth €10.66 loose, €10.66 complete in box, and €10.66 factory sealed. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is The Chessmaster rare?
The Chessmaster has only a handful of tracked market sales, suggesting relative scarcity compared to more common Nintendo Entertainment System titles.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for The Chessmaster?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. For The Chessmaster, loose is €10.66 and CIB is €10.66 — CIB commands a premium because original boxes and manuals are fragile and often don't survive.
Is The Chessmaster worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of The Chessmaster is currently worth €10.66 loose, versus €8.81 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
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