Pawn of the Dead

About

"Pawn of the Dead" is a puzzle-based chess game with 3D graphics and a local 2-player multiplayer mode, including a split screen option. The unique mechanic allows captured white pieces to turn into black ones, adding a new twist to traditional chess gameplay. The campaign mode features 64 story-driven levels and a procedural level generator for endless challenges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

graphics2 positive mentions

The game offers a unique twist on traditional chess mechanics, making it enjoyable for both beginners and experienced players.
High-quality cutscenes and voice acting enhance the overall experience, providing an engaging story mode.
The game features randomly generated puzzles that can entertain players beyond the main story, making it a good option for casual play.

The AI can be uninspired and may not provide a challenge for seasoned chess players, leading to a lack of engagement.
Some design choices and graphics feel outdated and may detract from the overall visual experience.
The campaign mode is short and leaves players wanting more, with some scenarios being slow and boring.

story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story in "Pawn of the Dead" offers an interesting premise but is criticized for being too short, leaving players wanting more. While it may appeal to children with its characters and potential for creative storytelling, technical issues such as crashes when accessing new arenas detract from the overall experience. Players are hopeful for a more engaging narrative in the upcoming campaign mode.
- “The story is interesting but leaves the player wanting more as it's a bit short.”
- “I imagine children could have a lot of fun with this game, with its story and its characters.”
- “They have their way of creating their own stories and the randomly generated puzzles could entertain them for long after the story mode is finished.”
- “Pawn of the Dead attempts a simple twist on chess and supports it with a short story mode, but it feels underdeveloped.”
- “What enraged me the most is that the game lets you choose from several discreetly but boringly designed arenas, but crashes every single time when you try to load one that you haven't been to yet during story mode.”
- “The story mode is short and lacks depth, leaving players wanting more from the narrative experience.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is praised for its innovative puzzle mechanics and novel twists on classical chess rules, enhancing the overall experience. However, the undeath mechanic encourages overly defensive play, which may detract from the enjoyment for some players. There is a desire for additional mechanics and levels to further enrich the gameplay.
- “The puzzle mechanic is nice and it benefits from every little rule change made to chess.”
- “The twist to the classical chess mechanics was quite novel.”
- “The undeath mechanic was the only thing I was looking forward to, and while I almost didn't find it bad, it forces you to play extremely defensively, even if you're up against nothing but a horde of pawns.”
- “I'd like to see some new mechanics and new levels in the future if possible.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Overall, the graphics of the game are appreciated for their quality and stability, especially considering its early access status. While some users find the visuals enjoyable and fitting for the game's premise, others note that they appear outdated.
- “Price is low for the graphical fidelity, and it's a very stable game especially for an early access title.”
- “... it hurts, because as a chess game, POTD has potential... it's all there: nice graphics and animations, good AI, and the premise forming the base (i.e. black pieces aka zombies converting white pieces into zombies as well instead of capturing them) is awesome and intriguing.”
- “I personally like the graphics, but I have to admit that they're undeniably outdated.”