SYSTEM SUPPORT

To play against your opponent, choose one of the play modes from the main interface: Local to play on the same device, taking turns; Nearby to play against each other by creating a local Bluetooth connection (for example on an airplane — see the FAQ items after this one for details); or Online to play against an opponent over the internet, wherever they may be. On classic and retro systems, two nearby machines can also be linked directly with a null-modem serial cable for head-to-head play, and two remote machines can be made to play with each other via ethernet-based null modems.

Yes — you can play against any other supported device. Successful Bluetooth pairing may take a couple of tries, especially between iOS and Android devices.

Some devices also carry additional limitations. visionOS devices, for example, cannot play Nearby against other visionOS devices; in those cases the Online feature is recommended.

The last breaking change was in October 2026, when the game rules were refined. Any two computers or devices playing against each other — Nearby, Online or over a null-modem link — should both be updated to a version released in October 2026 or later. A newer and an older version can disagree about the outcome of a move, and the two boards then drift out of sync.

Classic and retro editions carry a two-part version, shown in the game and on each download page (for example v253-209). The first number is the build of that particular platform's edition; it counts up separately for every machine, so it can't be compared across platforms. The second number is the version of the shared game engine that decides the rules, and it is the same on every platform built from that engine.

To play two classic machines against each other, compare the second number: both should be on the same engine version, and 209 or later for the October 2026 rules. Modern apps use their store version number instead (for example 2.01); keep them updated from their app store.

In general the AI players are pretty bad. As of summer 2026 they are going through additional training, and stronger players are expected in the near future.

A game stays open across sessions, so closing the app doesn't end it — when you come back, it's usually still ongoing. You and your opponent can agree on your own rules for how long to keep a game running. If you want to end one early, we recommend forfeiting it (tap the square indicator and choose Quit) rather than just closing the app. Games and their move history aren't kept forever: long-inactive games are automatically removed after a period of inactivity as part of routine data cleanup.

Every edition plays the same game, but each platform is special in its own way — part of the fun is seeing Laser Chess reimagined across decades of hardware. A couple of standouts:

• Apple Vision Pro (visionOS) — nothing else comes close. The headset's resolution renders the board and 3D pieces in stunning detail, and it uniquely draws the mirrors as true reflective surfaces, so beams and reflections read exactly as they should in three dimensions.
• Sharp Zaurus — a nod to history: the Zaurus was the first to show Laser Chess with a 3D tabletop look — an early-2000s Java-based build for Sharp's Linux handheld. That original version is no longer available, but it set the direction the modern 3D editions now take much further.
• Commodore 128 — a clever throwback that takes advantage of the machine's dual-display capability to run two games at once for four players across a dual-monitor setup.