Skillwik: Chess & Brain Games

A small collection of relaxed games for your toolbar: chess with a friendly coach, number puzzles and quick brain teasers.

Skillwik is a small collection of relaxed games for your browser toolbar. Open the popup, play for a few minutes and close it whenever you like: every game saves as you play and picks up where you left off. The games run on your device, work without an internet connection and have no ads. A FRIENDLY CHESS COACH Play the computer at six levels, from Beginner to Master. When you are stuck, Arivu the owl can suggest a move and explain the idea in plain words. You start each game with 3 hints, earn one more for every 10 moves you make, and can hold up to 5. After a game, open the review to see where it turned: each move is rated, the better move is drawn on the board and each mistake gets a short explanation. LEARN OPENING TRAPS Trap Academy teaches 11 classic traps, such as Scholar's Mate and the Fried Liver Attack. Follow each one move by move, then play it from the other side to see how to avoid it. There are also 12 mate in two puzzles and 9 challenges where you checkmate the computer in five moves. NUMBER PUZZLES Sudoku has three levels, pencil notes and hints that name the technique. 2048 is the sliding tile classic with a saved best score and a mode where you race the computer on the same tiles. Minesweeper has three board sizes, flags and chording. All three also have a 30-stage ladder with a new twist at every step. TABLETOP AND PAPER GAMES Ludo is for 2 to 4 players, against the computer or friends on the same device. Tic-tac-toe comes on 3x3, 5x5 and 7x7 boards, and the player who did not start the last round starts the next one. WORDS AND QUICK BRAIN TEASERS Word Duel gives everyone the same 5-letter word each day, with a streak and a result you can copy. It also has 30 stages with new twists and a best-of-3 duel against the computer. The word lists are packaged in the extension, so it works offline. Quick Games adds two short ones: Reflex Wars tests your reactions and Spot It First tests your eyes. Each has 30 stages and a match against the computer. MADE TO FEEL GOOD Warm wood and marble boards, smooth animation, optional sound and a reduce motion setting. It opens fast and uses very little memory. FREE TO PLAY, WITH PRO LATER After your first 3 games, a free account (your email and a one-time code) keeps the games coming. Skillwik Pro adds the full hint explanations, the full game review, every Trap Academy lesson and extra themes. Try Pro free for 3 days, no card needed. Paid plans are not open yet and, for now, those features are free to try. When they open, Pro will cost $4.99 a month or $49.90 a year (India: Rs 199 a month or Rs 1,990 a year plus 18% GST, so Rs 234.82 a month or Rs 2,348.20 a year in total). It renews until you cancel. There are no 3-year or lifetime plans. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your games, scores and settings stay on your device. The chess engine runs inside the extension. We only receive your email address if you create an account, and anonymous error reports only if you turn on "Send error reports" in Settings (off by default). The extension asks for one permission, storage, and nothing else. QUESTIONS Q: Is it free? A: Yes. Every game is free to play, with no ads. Skillwik Pro is an optional upgrade that is not open for purchase yet. Q: Does it work offline? A: Yes. The games, the computer opponent and the word lists all run inside the extension. Only creating an account (once, after your first 3 games) needs a connection. Q: Do I need an account? A: Not for your first 3 games. After that, a free account with your email address and a one-time code keeps the games coming. There is no password. Q: Does it collect my data? A: Your games, scores and settings stay on your device. We receive your email address only if you create an account, and anonymous error reports only if you switch them on. The extension cannot see the pages you visit. Q: How do I cancel Pro? A: Paid plans are not open yet. Once they are, open Settings, then Plan, in the extension, or email info@skillwik.com. Pro stays active until the end of the period you paid for. SUPPORT Questions or ideas? Write to info@skillwik.com or visit https://www.skillwik.com/support.