Pawnbarian is a quick-playing, turn-based puzzle roguelike. Play cards to move your hero like a chess piece, and conquer challenging dungeons full of cunning monsters!
Players move their character across a 5x5 grid, with each playable character using a unique chess piece type (e.g. Knight, Pawn, Rook) that has its own movement pattern. Carefully planning each move is crucial to outmaneuver and defeat the enemies on the board.
Before embarking on a dungeon run, players build a deck of chess piece cards that they will draw from during the game. The deckbuilding system allows players to purchase new or upgraded cards between levels, providing opportunities to fine-tune their strategies.
Each level presents a puzzle-like challenge, as enemies have diverse abilities that players must account for. Thinking several moves ahead is essential to successfully navigating the board and eliminating all opponents.
The game offers 6 distinct playable characters, each with their own chess piece and special abilities. For instance, the Shogun uses a Shogi-style movement system, while the Nomad can attack from a distance. This variety encourages players to explore different playstyles.
The 3 dungeon environments each introduce unique enemy types and challenges, forcing players to adapt their strategies accordingly. Completing a dungeon unlocks difficulty-increasing "Chains" that further test the player's skills.
The game's roguelike structure, with random enemy and card distributions, ensures that no two runs are exactly the same. The bite-sized nature of each session also makes it easy for players to repeatedly try and improve their performances.