📘 InkChess for Kobo Libra Colour
Hello and welcome!
For a long time, I was quite disappointed that there was no native chess game available on my Kobo Libra Colour—or on most e-ink readers, for that matter. I also tried PBChess, but it kept freezing and didn't work properly on my two Kobo devices.
After some tinkering, I discovered that Kobo's built-in web browser can open local HTML files. So I decided to build my own chess game!
♟️ What is InkChess?
InkChess is a full-featured two-player chess game that runs directly on your Kobo reader via the built-in browser. It includes:
Complete rule support (castling, en passant, promotion, etc.)
Save and load functionality for your last game
Clean, readable interface for e-ink screens
I’m sharing this project for free—but if you find it useful, please consider donating a coffee or any small token of support. Creating this wasn’t easy, especially given how outdated the Kobo browser is!
🔧 Installation Instructions
Download and unzip the InkChess folder.
Copy the unzipped folder into the .adds directory on your Kobo device.
To launch the game, open your Kobo browser and go to:
file:///mnt/onboard/.adds/InkChess/InkChess.html
For quicker access, bookmark it or set it as your home page.
📱 Optional (NickelMenu Integration)
If you’re using NickelMenu, you can add a shortcut directly to the main menu:
menu_item : main : InkChess : nickel_browser : file:///mnt/onboard/.adds/InkChess/InkChess.html
This allows you to launch the game with a single tap from the main screen.
⚠️ Note: The Kobo browser currently only opens when Wi-Fi is enabled. If anyone knows a workaround for this, please reach out—help is appreciated!
🛠️ Future Plans
If there's enough interest and support through donations, I’d love to expand InkChess into a full game platform for Kobo devices:
🧠 Play against the computer (AI support)
🌐 Local multiplayer over Wi-Fi
📚 Add move logs and analysis tools for training
If you enjoy InkChess and want to support further development, please consider donating.
💖 Support InkChess
InkChess was built with passion, late nights, and a deep love for both chess and open devices. If this little game brought joy to your Kobo, please consider giving back.
Even a small donation is a big “thank you” that helps fuel future improvements, new features, and open tools for all e-reader users.
Let’s prove that even the simplest devices can offer great experiences—together.
☕ Donate a coffee or more here:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?busin...rency_code=EUR
Thank you—and enjoy your games!
Moderator Notice
Updated the attached file to the latest version