Skip to main content

Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike

Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike Game Cover
84%Game Brain Score
gameplay, monetization
stability, grinding
84% User Score Based on 814 reviews

Platforms

TabletAndroidPhoneMobile Platform
Buy NowGet on Play Store
Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike Game Cover

About

Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike is a single player casual strategy game. It received positive reviews from players.

Chess-inspired puzzle roguelike. Demo - single IAP unlocks full game.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike screenshot
Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike screenshot
Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike screenshot
Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike screenshot
Skip User Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 814 reviews
gameplay39 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a refreshing business model with no ads and a one-time payment, making it a great value for players.
  • The variety of characters and their unique abilities provide diverse gameplay and strategic depth, keeping the experience engaging.
  • The touch controls are well-implemented, making the game feel seamless and enjoyable on mobile devices.
  • The game can feel unfair and heavily reliant on RNG, especially in later levels, which may frustrate players.
  • The demo version is quite limited, leading to concerns about the value of the full game given the small amount of content available.
  • Some players find the difficulty curve to be steep, making it challenging to progress without feeling overwhelmed.
  • gameplay
    75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is widely praised for its variety, strategic depth, and engaging mechanics, offering a unique blend of chess and tactical combat that keeps players entertained and encourages replayability. While some users noted issues with balancing and certain enemy mechanics, the overall experience is described as fun, challenging, and well-executed, with clean sound design and controls. The game is considered a solid purchase, especially for those who appreciate innovative gameplay concepts.

    • “The variety in the game is pleasant; having several kinds of gameplay leaves infinite possibilities and prevents boredom.”
    • “Definitely worth a go! There's no bugs, the sound design is very clean and satisfying, and the gameplay is challenging and unique.”
    • “Amazing gameplay concepts, very well animated and programmed, making it a joy to play.”
    • “Graphics are pretty simple and the gameplay can be repetitive, but as the difficulty increases, the satisfaction of winning does as well.”
    • “Some of the enemy mechanics are seemingly inconsistent, with 'nimble' enemies attacked with knights not moving the same way every time, blight being placed where you're standing (sometimes), etc. Very fun when it feels fair, though.”
    • “The enemy mechanics are hard to deal with to the point of annoyance, blight ends up being everywhere on the board, and nimble enemies may just keep continually running away if you're only drawing pawns.”
  • monetization
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game is highly praised, with users appreciating the absence of ads and the straightforward one-time purchase to unlock the full game. Many reviewers express satisfaction with the generous free demo, highlighting that the game can be played offline without interruptions from ads or microtransactions. Overall, players find the pricing fair for the quality of the game, with a strong preference for this model over ad-supported alternatives.

    • “I love that there are no ads, and the game can be played offline.”
    • “Putting aside the fact that it's a single purchase - no ads or nag screens and fully playable offline, which is worth five stars in and of itself in my opinion - it's fun, and it genuinely has replay value.”
    • “This game is incredible both as a game (roguelike + chess, as a tightly-knit puzzle game? brilliant) and as a model of how games on this platform should be monetized: no ads, demo, single IAP for the rest of the content.”
    • “Would be worth it if it was a free game with ads, but free for one level and then seven dollars for the rest of the impossible game is not enjoyable.”
    • “Not worth $7; I would rather watch ads and have the full game or just make it cheaper.”
    • “Please, why do I have to pay? I'd take microtransactions or ads any day!”
  • replayability
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, attributed to diverse characters, unique move sets, and varying gameplay experiences. Players appreciate the absence of ads and the ability to play offline, enhancing the replay value. While many find the replayability nearly infinite, some express a desire for more content to maintain freshness over time.

    • “Replayability is great with the different characters, and I love how much variety there is in their move sets.”
    • “Each individual game is different, making the replayability great.”
    • “The other classes and levels feel very distinct from one another, and offer a lot of replay value.”
    • “Amazing game, a nice addition would be more levels, because while the chains add a lot of replayability, there isn't much fresh content.”
    • “Decent amount of challenge keeping track of the interactions and your playstyle/build (especially after a few chains). Full game is easily worth the price for the replayability.”
    • “Don't know anything about replayability, because it is demo version.”
  • graphics
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with many players appreciating the aesthetic and art style, describing them as fun and clear. However, some users feel that the visuals could benefit from improvements or additional indicators to enhance gameplay clarity. Overall, while the graphics are generally well-received, there are suggestions for refinement to improve player experience.

    • “The graphics are fun, the music and sounds are great, and the strategy is fresh and interesting.”
    • “I like the realistic art style and the graphics are also nice.”
    • “It's quick to pick up, the levels are short, and the visuals are clear and pretty so it's fun to get through.”
    • “The only thing I will say is the visuals could use an overhaul, or even themes as rewards.”
    • “The graphics are a zero.”
    • “Shogun pieces should have visuals.”
  • music
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, contributing to a fun and engaging atmosphere. However, some users noted a lack of variety in gameplay modes and maps, which could limit the music's impact over time. Overall, the sound design is well-received, complementing the game's fresh strategy and unique art style.

    • “The graphics are fun, the music and sounds are great, and the strategy is fresh and interesting.”
    • “The game flows very well and the sound and music really works great.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been reported to have several frustrating glitches and bugs, which detract from the overall experience. While the concept is appreciated, the stability issues are a notable concern among users.

    • “There seem to be some glitches that are a little frustrating.”
    • “Great game but buggy.”
    • “I like the idea but it seems buggy.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by players who find the developers' responses amusing and enjoy the absurdity of negative reviews, viewing them as a source of entertainment. Many appreciate the lighthearted tone and comedic elements woven into the gameplay experience, contributing to an overall positive reception of the game's humor.

    • “Been reading reviews and you are hilarious.”
    • “Dope game but I'm just laughing at the silly people that left one-star reviews on this masterpiece.”
    • “The dev replies are hilarious ”
  • story
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express a desire for a more developed story mode, indicating that the current narrative lacks clarity and depth, particularly regarding the purpose of additional gameplay elements like the gauntlet. There is a strong call for more content, including bosses and a cohesive storyline to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The story is incredibly engaging and keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
    • “I love how the narrative unfolds, revealing new layers and depth to the characters.”
    • “The plot twists are unexpected and add a thrilling element to the gameplay.”
    • “Once we finish the mission, we can enter a gauntlet, and I'm still not sure what the goal of that is.”
    • “Please make more content to play, like a story mode and bosses.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some challenges are engaging, others can feel tedious, particularly when facing overwhelming enemy numbers like goblins. This imbalance can detract from the overall enjoyment, suggesting a need for adjustments to improve gameplay flow.

    • “Some aspects of the game are a fun challenge, while others feel kind of tedious.”
    • “I'd rate five stars, but half the time, goblins are too hard to fight. You often need to be nerfed to one dodge because fighting a whole lot of them at once is tedious and makes the game less enjoyable.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is characterized as dark and depressing, yet infused with witty charm, creating a unique and engaging experience that enhances the fun gameplay loop.

    • “Really fun, the darkest and most depressing atmosphere I've seen in a mobile game, while still being loaded with witty charm. The gameplay loop is fun as well.”
Skip Game Offers

Buy Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike

6000h Median play time
6000h Average play time
6000-6000h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike is a casual strategy game.

Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike is available on Phone, Tablet, Android and Mobile Platform.

On average players spend around 6000 hours playing Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike.

Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike was developed by j4nw.

Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Pawnbarian: a Puzzle Roguelike is a single player game.