How about 'Nope Chess'. People play in a dark room while creepy imagery is projected on to the walls and ominous music is played over speakers. People randomly burst into the room and do inappropriate things every so often such as scream at the top of their lungs, speak gibberish, or rant about how aliens are after them.
Try not to blunder while 'Rectum' by Thomas Bangalter pounds through the walls.
Damn, now I want to actually play this. I'd absolutely love to play blitz while Bangalter blares and a strobe light flashes and some 200 pound guy screams for no reason. I don't even care if I come dead last, that would be fun.
And in this variant pawns can promote to anything - you name it - BUT the pieces on board
I think that existed historically.
in bangladesh (or atleast the community i know) play the rules by promotion limited to being the pieces your opponent has captured