Whether you call it retro, classic, or steampunk, this illuminating twist on the game of chess is so fascinating that you might not notice your opponent is on their way to putting you in checkmate.

You’ll initially have double the challenge with the DIY Nixie Tube Chess Set, because the DIY part of the name isn’t tacked on just because it looks pretty. No, you’ll have to actually put a little work into this chessboard, along with the chess pieces, but you’ll have a sense of pride and accomplishment that can never be taken away, no matter how many times your king gets taken.

Instead of plastic or rock or any of those other thousands of materials used to put a unique spin on chess pieces, these pieces – every single one from the lowly pawn to the high-ranking king – are Soviet glass cold-cathode tubes, which also happen to be referred to as Nixie tubes.

You might be asking, what’s the big deal about chess pieces that look like light bulbs. The big deal is these bulbs actually light up, and you don’t have to worry about avoiding any wires during gameplay because they light up through induction, which is just a fancy way of saying they light up when you place them on the chessboard.

Throw a little light into your game of chess for $399.99.