Usurper

About

Usurper is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by Rogue Brain Studios and was released on September 9, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Push your King forward to play your cards on the front lines. Stockpile your Power to afford expensive and powerful units like the Queen and Cannon. Draft new cards, upgrade your Ruler, and choose powerful gambits to create game-breaking synergies. Build your deck YOUR way and master 4 unique Factions to become the ultimate champion. One well-placed unit is the difference between victory…

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 32 reviews

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and creative twist on traditional chess mechanics, making it engaging and fun for both chess enthusiasts and roguelike fans.
Players appreciate the variety of interesting new pieces and strategies, which add depth and complexity to the gameplay.
The game is highly addictive, with quick rounds that keep players coming back for more, and it has a solid campaign mode that enhances replayability.

The user interface is often criticized for being slow and cumbersome, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience with unnecessary button presses.
The AI can be inconsistent and unbalanced, making it feel unfair at times, especially in campaign mode where players face overwhelming odds.
Some players feel that the game's presentation lacks personality and charm, with bland visuals and mediocre music that detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The gameplay is praised for its innovative twist on traditional chess, incorporating unique mechanics like a reserves and power system that enhance strategic depth. Players find it fun and engaging, especially as they become familiar with the rules, while the roguelite elements add further excitement to this classic game. Overall, it offers a compelling and fresh take on chess.
- “The game's unique but simple mechanics, such as dropping pieces with a reserves and power system, create a compelling layer of strategy.”
- “I really liked the rules; it follows most of chess with a gameplay twist.”
- “Brilliant chess roguelite with unique gameplay along with wacky pieces.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The music in the game has been widely criticized for being bland and generic, resembling stock library tracks that detract from the overall experience. Many players prefer to turn off the music entirely, citing it as a significant flaw, while appreciating the sound effects. Overall, the soundtrack lacks the character and liveliness that could enhance the game's aesthetic.
- “The overall aesthetic of the game is just exceedingly bland; the music sounds like it's from a stock library, and the visual design is incredibly boring and generic.”
- “My chief criticism is the music.”
- “The sound effects are good, but the music is bad, so I play with the music turned off.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable and recommend it for its solid mechanics and PvP support, others feel it lacks depth compared to similar titles, leading to a diminished experience after extended play.
- “Overall, I would definitely recommend it as a solid chess roguelike with high replayability and PvP support.”
- “- high replayability”
- “The replayability factor is somewhat low compared to its contemporaries. While I'm still having fun after 30 hours, I'm already feeling like there isn't much more to see.”
- “After completing the game, I don't feel motivated to start over. The lack of different paths or choices really limits the replay value.”
- “Once you've experienced the main story, there's little incentive to replay. The game doesn't offer enough variety to keep me coming back.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding mechanics, noting that the time investment required to level up is excessive, with some reporting that it takes 5-8 games of around 10 minutes each to make minimal progress. This slow pace detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the experience feel more tedious than engaging.
- “I have to grind by losing to gain advantages, and level 5 isn't enough when the grinding takes 5-8 games, with each game lasting 10 minutes and getting longer each time you complete a stage of the campaign.”
- “It feels slower than actually playing chess online, and this is a video game running at 6000+ fps; it shouldn't feel so slow. It seems like grinding to a halt.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of the game are criticized for being bland and generic, lacking any distinctive visual appeal. Additionally, the overall aesthetic is described as unremarkable, contributing to a lackluster gaming experience.
- “The overall aesthetic of the game is just exceedingly bland; the music sounds like it's from a stock library, and the visual design is incredibly boring and generic.”