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Once a Pawn a King

Once a Pawn a King Game Cover
72%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
replayability
96% User Score Based on 26 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Once a Pawn a King Game Cover

About

Once a Pawn a King is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Clover Bite and was released on August 18, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Once a Pawn a King is a roguelike, turn-based strategy game blending chess with unpredictable chaos. Assemble a party of chess pieces with unique upgrades and navigate ever-shifting, distorted boards to recover the missing Black King. Uncover the mysterious story and restore balance in a world where traditional chess rules no longer apply.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
Once a Pawn a King screenshot
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews
gameplay6 positive mentions
  • The game offers a unique and fun twist on chess, combining roguelike elements with tactical gameplay that keeps players engaged.
  • The art style, soundtrack, and overall atmosphere are praised for their creativity and charm, enhancing the gaming experience.
  • The developers are responsive to player feedback and actively work on improvements, showing promise for future updates and content.
  • The game suffers from various bugs and design issues, such as resolution problems and unresponsive actions that can hinder gameplay.
  • Many players find the lack of clear instructions and tooltips frustrating, leading to confusion about game mechanics and strategies.
  • Some gameplay elements, like the movement of pieces and the predictability of enemies, can lead to repetitive experiences and a lack of strategic depth.
  • gameplay
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is praised for its solid core mechanics and engaging tactical skill curve, providing a challenging yet enjoyable experience that keeps players hooked. The clever roguelite elements, combined with creative level designs and humorous writing, contribute to a fun and immersive gameplay loop, despite some rough edges as the game is still a work in progress.

    • “With gameplay becoming increasingly complex and difficult as you go through floors, I never felt drawn out of the experience by something jarring or incongruent.”
    • “But this gameplay loop is just challenging enough to be fun, without being frustratingly difficult. I find myself properly enjoying a tactic-based skill curve for the first time. Amazing concept, great level designs, I'm stuck in a 'okay, just one more run' loop!”
    • “The art is cool, the gameplay is enjoyable, and the writing is interesting and engaging.”
  • story
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is described as short yet charming, featuring a blend of humor and a cute narrative that balances thoughtful elements with casual gameplay. Reviewers appreciate the engaging concept and soundtrack, as well as the interactions between characters that enhance the overall experience.

    • “The story, short as it may be, is sweet and the humor is nice.”
    • “A great concept, great soundtrack, and a cute story that dances on the border of thought-provoking and casual.”
    • “It's also a nice addition to have a story and interactions between the characters.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users generally find the game's replayability to be high, citing various factors such as multiple endings, diverse character choices, and dynamic gameplay elements that encourage players to experience the game in different ways. This variety keeps the game fresh and engaging, prompting players to return for new experiences.

    • “The game offers a multitude of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
    • “With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to this game time and again to try something new.”
    • “The dynamic world changes with each decision, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
    • “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again. The story doesn't change, and the side quests feel repetitive.”
    • “After completing the main storyline, I found no reason to revisit the game. The lack of meaningful choices really limits replayability.”
    • “The game offers a great experience the first time, but subsequent playthroughs feel tedious and uninspired due to the lack of variety.”
  • graphics
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are praised for their unique art style that effectively creates an engaging atmosphere, though players feel that a zoom option would enhance their ability to appreciate the visuals further.

    • “The art style is unique and sets such a great mood.”
    • “A zoom option would really let players enjoy the visuals more.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally appreciated for its sweetness, though some users feel it may not resonate with contemporary sensibilities, suggesting a disconnect with modern comedic tastes.

    • “The story, short as it may be, is sweet and the humor is nice.”
  • music
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is highly praised for its great soundtrack, which complements the cute story and balances between thoughtful and casual gameplay. Overall, it enhances the gaming experience significantly.

    • “A great concept, great soundtrack, cute story, dances on the border of thinking and casual.”
    • “Killer soundtrack.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is engaging and immersive, enhancing the experience of experimentation with new upgrades and strategies, making each run feel unique and refreshing.

    • “Every run feels fresh as I try out new upgrades and strategies, and the atmosphere pulls me right in.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Once a Pawn a King is a strategy game.

Once a Pawn a King is available on PC and Windows.

Once a Pawn a King was released on August 18, 2025.

Once a Pawn a King was developed by Clover Bite.

Once a Pawn a King has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

Once a Pawn a King is a single player game.

Similar games include Have a Nice Death, Darkest Dungeon II, Day of the Shell, Goblin Stone, Nadir: A Grimdark Deckbuilder and others.