Pawnbarian

Play as a hero fighting monsters on small dungeon boards. Your deck contains cards based on chess pieces, and each card lets you move according to that piece’s pattern.

Each turn is a tactical puzzle: choose moves to attack enemies, avoid threats, and make use of the space available. Enemies have different abilities, so anticipating their actions helps you plan.

Earn treasure during runs and spend it to upgrade cards with extra powers. Choose from six characters, tackle three dungeons and escalating difficulty Chains, or test your survival in the post-run Gauntlet.

Players often praise the chess-inspired card movement for turning each fight into a compact tactical puzzle, and enjoy planning around enemy behavior. The short runs and distinct characters also appeal to players looking for repeatable sessions. Some reviews find the challenge punishing or the rules difficult to learn, and opinions differ on how much variety and progression the game offers.