Dark Chess Cat brings the classic strategic essence of Chinese dark chess into a minimalist and deeply thoughtful gaming experience. Designed for mobile, offline, and Bluetooth play, it blends mystery, tactics, and unpredictability through hidden pieces and special capture mechanics. Every move, flip, and guess plays a pivotal role in outmaneuvering your opponent and seizing total board control.
Core Gameplay Rules and Objectives
Piece Capture Hierarchy
- All pieces have a ranking: 帥 (General) > 士 (Guard) > 相 (Elephant) > 車 (Chariot) > 傌 (Horse) > 包 (Cannon) > 兵 (Soldier)
- Higher-ranked pieces capture lower-ranked ones. Equal ranks can capture each other.
- Special rules apply:
- 兵 (Soldier) can uniquely capture 帥 (General)
- 包 (Cannon) can jump over one piece to capture any enemy except adjacent ones
Movement and Actions
Players can:
- Flip a covered piece
- Move a piece to an adjacent empty space
- Capture an adjacent opposing piece (based on capture rules)
- Turns alternate, and pieces remain hidden until flipped, emphasizing memory and deduction
Winning and Draw Conditions
- Victory is achieved by capturing all enemy pieces
- The game results in a draw if 60 moves occur without any capture or flip
Gameplay Features
Single Player Mode
- Play offline against a high-quality AI with two difficulty levels
- Designed for solo enjoyment on long journeys or daily mental exercises
Two Player Mode
- Challenge friends locally using one device or through Bluetooth connection
- Bluetooth auto-discovery and pairing for seamless setup
Enhanced AI Performance
- The AI engine offers balanced challenge across both levels
- Responsive strategies simulate human-like opponents
Game Management Tools
- Undo last move to correct mistakes or revisit strategy
- Request a draw or accept a draw under the 60-move condition
- Exit and resume functionality maintains match continuity
Game Logging and Rules Enforcement
- Match results are stored for review
- Automatic enforcement of forbidden and invalid moves
- Ensures fair gameplay for casual and competitive matches alike
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many AI difficulty levels are available?
There are two selectable levels of AI difficulty.
Q: Can the game be played offline?
Yes, both single-player and local multiplayer modes are fully offline.
Q: Is Bluetooth multiplayer supported?
Yes, the game offers Bluetooth pairing and auto-discovery for two-player matches.
Q: What triggers a draw in this game?
A draw is declared if no piece is flipped or captured within 60 consecutive turns.
Q: Are special moves like Cannon jumps included?
Yes, Cannons can jump one piece to capture distant enemies but cannot capture adjacent pieces.
Q: Can I undo a move during gameplay?
Yes, an undo function is available for correcting mistakes.
Q: Does the game record results?
Yes, match outcomes are automatically saved for later review.
Version History
v5.3.2 —— 7 Jan 2025
Google policy compliance—app updated to meet the latest Google Play requirements.
v5.3.1 —— 19 Sep 2022
Same update as v5.3.2—continued adjustments for policy adherence.
v5.2.2 —— 25 Jun 2020
Draw game bug fix—resolved issue when selecting a piece and initiating a draw request.
