Passant is a chess roguelike, where the rules can be twisted and unique pieces can be used to change the game.

Build your board by earning powerful pieces with unique rules, items to change the tide of battle, and badges that can twist all the rules to deliver victory. Beat match after match of increasing difficulty until you can beat the final boss and become a grandmaster.

Expands on the rules of chess:

Unique pieces, such as the Archbishop, Dragon Knight, Dragon King and more!
Twists on traditional chess, such as Atomic Chess, Reflecting Bishops and Zombie Pawns.
Usable items that can give you an advantage, such as freezing a piece, demoting a piece to a pawn, or promoting one of yours to a queen!

There are also challenge modes and increasing levels of AI difficulty, so beginners and grandmasters alike can enjoy the game.

","background_raw","package_groups",[195],{"_16":196,"_197":198,"_211":212,"_213":28,"_27":28,"_214":113,"_215":216,"_217":218},"default","subs",[199],{"_200":80,"_201":202,"_203":61,"_204":113,"_205":28,"_206":67,"_207":208,"_209":210},"packageid","option_text","Passant: A Chess Roguelike - 11,79€ 10,61€","is_free_license","percent_savings","option_description","can_get_free_license","percent_savings_text","-10% ","price_in_cents_with_discount",1061,"title","Buy Passant: A Chess Roguelike","save_text","display_type","selection_text","Select a purchase option","is_recurring_subscription","false","price_overview",{"_221":210,"_222":223,"_224":225,"_226":227,"_228":229,"_230":231},"final","initial",1179,"currency","EUR","final_formatted","10,61€","discount_percent",10,"initial_formatted","11,79€","capsule_imagev5","https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/3353100/d5949b3cf9ad60c771daf83db453303cad39ced0/capsule_184x69.jpg?t=1754911385","pc_requirements",{"_236":237},"minimum","Minimum:

OS: Windows 10
Processor: i3 8100
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: GT1030
Storage: 200 MB available space
Sound Card: N/A
VR Support: Not Supported

","mac_requirements",[],"short_description","Passant is a chess roguelike that changes all the rules. Progress through challenging rounds while collecting powerful pieces and game-changing items to seize victory.","controller_support","full","linux_requirements",[],"content_descriptors",{"_248":249,"_250":-5},"ids",[],"notes","supported_languages","English, German, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, Spanish - Spain, Portuguese - Brazil","detailed_description","is_public","latest_result",{"_32":257,"_14":15,"_258":259,"_260":261,"_262":263,"_330":331,"_382":383,"_417":418,"_419":420,"_434":435,"_461":462,"_534":535,"_603":604,"_606":607,"_608":609,"_635":57,"_254":57},"74c5dd7a-a037-4aaf-80e4-9c2007d3e378","created_at","2025-08-13T13:28:12.29356","updated_at","2025-08-13T13:29:35.826","positiveSummary",[264,275,280,285,291,296,301,306,311,316,321,324,327],{"_265":266,"_267":268,"_269":270,"_271":272,"_273":274},"point","Highly enjoyable and engaging gameplay","weight",0.9872585449014338,"importance",0.95,"clusterSize",59,"explanation","Players overwhelmingly find the game to be a fun, engaging, and highly enjoyable experience with a solid core concept and well-designed gameplay loop. Many express strong positive sentiment, highlighting its addictiveness and replayability.",{"_265":276,"_267":277,"_269":278,"_271":94,"_273":279},"Innovative chess roguelike integration",0.4647705798438433,0.9,"The game successfully integrates chess mechanics with roguelike elements, offering a fresh and innovative take on the genre. It respects chess fundamentals while introducing dynamic rule changes and alternative win conditions, appealing to both chess enthusiasts and new players.",{"_265":281,"_267":282,"_269":283,"_271":94,"_273":284},"Balanced and adaptable difficulty",0.4581764187379686,0.85,"The game offers well-balanced difficulty that can be tailored to individual chess skill levels, providing a challenging yet adaptable experience. The dynamic rule changes and solid AI contribute to sustained engagement.",{"_265":286,"_267":287,"_269":288,"_271":289,"_273":290},"Rich build variety and customization",0.2308422879551503,0.8,9,"Players appreciate the extensive variety of unique pieces, modifiers, and build options, which allows for creative experimentation and diverse gameplay strategies in each run.",{"_265":292,"_267":293,"_269":294,"_271":134,"_273":295},"Substantial content in full game",0.14366897870691764,0.7,"The full game offers significantly more content than the demo, enhancing the overall experience and providing greater value to players.",{"_265":297,"_267":298,"_269":299,"_271":126,"_273":300},"Enjoyable 'duck' piece",0.07924689335906072,0.3,"The 'duck' piece is a specific element that players find particularly enjoyable and recommend.",{"_265":302,"_267":303,"_269":304,"_271":91,"_273":305},"Accessible to all chess skill levels",0.07093520483828401,0.65,"The game is accessible to players of varying chess skill levels, as success is not solely dependent on traditional chess proficiency but also on utilizing the game's unique tools and mechanics.",{"_265":307,"_267":308,"_269":309,"_271":119,"_273":310},"Shop item freezing feature",0.03141365647481897,0.2,"The ability to freeze items in the shop for later purchase is a convenient and appreciated feature.",{"_265":312,"_267":313,"_269":314,"_271":119,"_273":315},"Good developer support",0.029233701357630662,0.15,"The developer provides good technical support, particularly noted on Discord.",{"_265":317,"_267":318,"_269":319,"_271":119,"_273":320},"Cozy sound design",0.026415631119686908,0.1,"The game's sound design is described as cozy and suitable for background listening.",{"_265":322,"_267":318,"_269":319,"_271":119,"_273":323},"Unique visual style","The game features a unique visual style.",{"_265":325,"_267":318,"_269":319,"_271":119,"_273":326},"Straightforward UI","The user interface is straightforward and easy to understand.",{"_265":328,"_267":318,"_269":319,"_271":119,"_273":329},"Tutorial skip option","The option to skip the tutorial is a convenient feature for players.","negativeSummary",[332,337,342,346,352,356,359,364,368,373,378],{"_265":333,"_267":334,"_269":278,"_271":335,"_273":336},"AI behavior is frustrating",0.2949901761147513,12,"Players frequently report that the AI's behavior is frustrating and unrealistic, often resorting to repetitive, defensive, or exploitative moves that lead to stalemates or unfair advantages. This makes matches feel drawn out and unengaging.",{"_265":338,"_267":339,"_269":283,"_271":340,"_273":341},"High difficulty and rule inconsistencies",0.21455231897636756,8,"The game's difficulty is perceived as high, even for experienced chess players, and some players report that the game enforces incorrect chess rules or allows the AI to make illegal moves. This creates a steep learning curve and a sense of unfairness.",{"_265":343,"_267":344,"_269":288,"_271":340,"_273":345},"Unpolished art and sound design",0.21132504895749527,"The game's visual and audio design, including the art style, HUD, and music, is widely criticized for being unpolished, confusing, dull, or even unpleasant. This negatively impacts the overall aesthetic appeal and user experience.",{"_265":347,"_267":348,"_269":349,"_271":350,"_273":351},"Feels like an unfinished game",0.1675867755096194,0.75,6,"Many players feel the game is incomplete or unpolished, resembling an early access title rather than a full release. This leads to a perception of awkward gameplay and a lack of depth, causing boredom quickly.",{"_265":353,"_267":354,"_269":304,"_271":350,"_273":355},"Chaotic game-altering effects",0.1616973000154011,"The game's starting conditions and game-altering effects are often too chaotic, leading to balance issues and a desire for more 'vanilla' or less extreme options. This makes the game feel unpredictable and less strategic.",{"_265":357,"_267":293,"_269":294,"_271":134,"_273":358},"Limited undo and move history","The current undo feature is seen as insufficient, only useful for immediate errors. Players desire a more robust move history or a better undo system to review past moves and recover from later-discovered mistakes without conceding.",{"_265":360,"_267":361,"_269":362,"_271":130,"_273":363},"Visual clutter and poor controls",0.11693480543052265,0.6,"The visual clutter from new pieces, explosions, and capture indicators makes the board difficult to read, especially mid-game. Additionally, the controls for 3D pieces are inconvenient, hindering gameplay clarity and ease of use.",{"_265":365,"_267":366,"_269":299,"_271":130,"_273":367},"Engine limitations noted",0.0983300587049171,"The game's underlying engine has limitations common to generalized chess variant engines, such as rigid rule implementation, lack of meta-progression, and potential for exploitation by strong players. This suggests a fundamental technical constraint.",{"_265":369,"_267":370,"_269":371,"_271":126,"_273":372},"Too similar to 'Balatro'",0.08515632879407338,0.4,"The game is criticized for being too similar to 'Balatro' without fully understanding what made that game successful. It lacks features like boss previews, which detracts from its unique identity.",{"_265":374,"_267":375,"_269":376,"_271":91,"_273":377},"Unsatisfying endgame experience",0.05586225850320646,0.25,"The endgame experience is less enjoyable, with players desiring more meaningful interaction between the various powers and mechanics as matches conclude.",{"_265":379,"_267":380,"_269":309,"_271":91,"_273":381},"Unclear win conditions",0.052831262239373816,"The criteria for winning by points or 'dead points' are not clearly communicated to the player, leading to confusion about game objectives and outcomes.","gameplaySummary",[384,389,394,398,403,407,411,414],{"_265":385,"_267":386,"_269":349,"_271":387,"_273":388},"Varied Runs & Replayability",0.31638969794890504,14,"The game features diverse starting scenarios, opponent setups, and difficulty modifiers, encouraging players to experiment with different builds and challenges. This contributes to high replayability and varied run experiences.",{"_265":390,"_267":391,"_269":278,"_271":392,"_273":393},"Innovative Chess Mechanics",0.27635424019711935,11,"The game innovates on traditional chess by introducing new pieces with unique movements and constantly changing rules. This includes hybrid pieces and alternative win conditions, making each game distinct.",{"_265":395,"_267":396,"_269":288,"_271":350,"_273":397},"Strategic Upgrades & Customization",0.17031265758814676,"Players can acquire and upgrade pieces, passives, and consumables in a shop between games. This allows for strategic customization and adaptation of the board layout and piece abilities.",{"_265":399,"_267":400,"_269":401,"_271":119,"_273":402},"Competent Chess Engine",0.03950058180001317,0.5,"The game's chess engine is described as competent, indicating that the AI provides a reasonable challenge. This suggests a solid foundation for the core chess gameplay.",{"_265":404,"_267":405,"_269":299,"_271":119,"_273":406},"Endless Run Pacing",0.03476492565235909,"The 'atomic power-up' is mentioned as a way to speed up endless runs. This suggests a feature designed to improve the pacing of longer game sessions.",{"_265":408,"_267":409,"_269":376,"_271":119,"_273":410},"Undo Move Feature",0.033215897636067186,"Players are given three undo moves per game, which can help mitigate mistakes or allow for more experimental play. This feature adds a layer of forgiveness to the gameplay.",{"_265":412,"_267":308,"_269":309,"_271":119,"_273":413},"Multiple Difficulty Settings","The game offers four difficulty settings, from easy to Grandmaster, allowing players to choose a challenge level appropriate for their skill. This caters to a wide range of players.",{"_265":415,"_267":318,"_269":319,"_271":119,"_273":416},"Board Customization Option","Players have the ability to create their own board, suggesting a customization option that could enhance personal engagement with the game. This is based on limited feedback.","performanceSummary",[],"recommendationSummary",[421,424,428,431],{"_265":422,"_267":277,"_269":278,"_271":94,"_273":423},"Strongly Recommended Purchase","Many players highly recommend the game, often citing its low price point and high replayability as key factors. Some suggest trying the demo first, indicating that if the demo is enjoyed, the full game is a worthwhile purchase.",{"_265":425,"_267":426,"_269":283,"_271":392,"_273":427},"Appeals to Roguelike & Chess Fans",0.27243332854482916,"The game is frequently compared to 'Balatro' and 'Shotgun King', appealing to fans of roguelike deck-builders or chess-like mechanics. Players who enjoy traditional chess, even casually, are also likely to find the game engaging and addictive.",{"_265":429,"_267":308,"_269":309,"_271":119,"_273":430},"Low-Risk Trial Available","One reviewer noted that players can refund the game within two hours if it doesn't meet their expectations. This suggests a low-risk trial for interested players.",{"_265":432,"_267":313,"_269":314,"_271":119,"_273":433},"Good Chess Break","The game serves as a good alternative or break for those who regularly play traditional chess. It offers a fresh take on chess mechanics without being overly demanding.","miscSummary",[436,440,444,448,452,456],{"_265":437,"_267":438,"_269":283,"_271":350,"_273":439},"Excitement for future updates",0.1729136030812636,"Players are highly anticipating future updates and potential mobile/console ports, showing strong interest in the game's continued development and expanded accessibility. This indicates a desire for more content and platform options.",{"_265":441,"_267":442,"_269":294,"_271":126,"_273":443},"Demo availability is positive",0.09794368558044399,"Many players appreciated the availability of a demo, indicating it was a valuable tool for experiencing the game before purchase. This suggests the demo effectively showcased the game's appeal.",{"_265":445,"_267":446,"_269":314,"_271":126,"_273":447},"Limited miscellaneous feedback",0.06663842854562757,"Based on limited and somewhat vague feedback, there's a minor point about player experience with chess and early support for the game. The feedback is not highly specific or actionable.",{"_265":449,"_267":450,"_269":278,"_271":119,"_273":451},"Active developer communication",0.04575321521329528,"The developer's active engagement on Discord, including taking suggestions and fixing bugs, is highly valued by the community. This fosters a positive relationship and shows responsiveness to player feedback.",{"_265":453,"_267":454,"_269":362,"_271":119,"_273":455},"Similar to Knightmare Chess",0.04134269693832605,"The game's similarity to 'Knightmare Chess' is a key point of reference for players, suggesting it successfully captures a niche appeal. This comparison helps define the game's unique selling proposition.",{"_265":457,"_267":458,"_269":459,"_271":119,"_273":460},"Cozy game with depth",0.04045308654819337,0.55,"The game is perceived as a 'Cozy-Game' that still offers significant depth, appealing to players who seek both relaxation and strategic engagement. This highlights a successful blend of casual and complex elements.","emotionsSummary",[463,468,473,477,481,486,490,493,496,500,503,506,510,513,516,519,522,525,528,531],{"_265":464,"_267":465,"_269":465,"_271":466,"_273":467},"Satisfaction",0.308411214953271,33,"Players are highly satisfied with the game's core concept, its unique blend of chess and roguelike mechanics, and the strategic depth it offers. The adaptable difficulty, engaging gameplay, and generous content in the full release contribute significantly to this positive emotion, often fulfilling a desire for a deep yet relaxing puzzle experience. The game's quality, active development, and value for money are also frequently cited as sources of satisfaction.",{"_265":469,"_267":470,"_269":470,"_271":471,"_273":472},"Excitement",0.1588785046728972,17,"Excitement stems from the game's innovative genre, fresh ideas, and unique approach to chess, which often exceeds player expectations. The anticipation for future updates, the variety of builds, and the desire to keep playing highlight the game's refreshing and engaging nature. The release of the full game and its overall quality as a roguelike deckbuilder also generate significant excitement.",{"_265":474,"_267":475,"_269":475,"_271":387,"_273":476},"Frustration",0.1308411214953271,"Frustration arises from issues such as the rapid increase in chaos and complexity, and instances where the game does not allow valid chess moves. Players also experience frustration due to unpolished art design, repetitive matches, difficulty in assembling useful shop items, and problematic AI behavior, including AI making moves players cannot or forcing stalemates.",{"_265":478,"_267":479,"_269":479,"_271":289,"_273":480},"Disappointment",0.08411214953271028,"Disappointment is primarily caused by balancing issues, a perceived lack of 'vanilla' starting options, and an unpolished endgame experience. Bugs, unfinished music and art, and the game being too easy with certain badges or hard to predict due to AI rules also contribute to player disappointment.",{"_265":482,"_267":483,"_269":483,"_271":484,"_273":485},"Joy",0.06542056074766354,7,"Joy is frequently expressed due to the game's fun and satisfying gameplay, particularly when discovering new chess mechanics and pieces. The overall enjoyable experience and specific humorous elements like the 'Rubber Ducky' chess piece also contribute to this emotion.",{"_265":487,"_267":488,"_269":488,"_271":126,"_273":489},"Hope",0.028037383177570093,"Hope is driven by the potential for future improvements and the developer's active engagement with the community. Players express a desire for specific features and anticipate positive changes to the game.",{"_265":491,"_267":488,"_269":488,"_271":126,"_273":492},"Amusement","Amusement is generated by the game's initial humor, its unique and often quirky approach to chess, and specific instances like mistaking different chess pieces.",{"_265":494,"_267":488,"_269":488,"_271":126,"_273":495},"Appreciation","Players show appreciation for the game's thoughtful design, the variety of builds available, and the elegant execution of its chess variants, highlighting the quality of its underlying mechanics.",{"_265":497,"_267":498,"_269":498,"_271":91,"_273":499},"Addiction",0.018691588785046728,"The game's highly engaging and compelling nature leads to feelings of addiction, as players find themselves continuously drawn back to play more.",{"_265":501,"_267":498,"_269":498,"_271":91,"_273":502},"Boredom","Boredom is primarily caused by repetitive AI behavior and certain aspects of the game's design and controls that fail to maintain player interest.",{"_265":504,"_267":498,"_269":498,"_271":91,"_273":505},"Love","Love for the game is expressed due to its interesting and varied runs, as well as its unique concept and distinctive style, indicating a strong positive emotional connection.",{"_265":507,"_267":508,"_269":508,"_271":119,"_273":509},"Curiosity",0.009345794392523364,"Curiosity is sparked by the game's innovative genre blend, leading players to wonder about the potential for future rogue-like adaptations of other classic games.",{"_265":511,"_267":508,"_269":508,"_271":119,"_273":512},"Trust","Trust in the developers is established through their active engagement with the community, which reassures players about the game's future and support.",{"_265":514,"_267":508,"_269":508,"_271":119,"_273":515},"Engagement","Players feel engaged by the game's core mechanics and overall gameplay, indicating that the game successfully captures and holds their attention.",{"_265":517,"_267":508,"_269":508,"_271":119,"_273":518},"Enjoyment","Enjoyment is a direct result of the game's engaging mechanics and its overall fun factor, providing a positive and entertaining experience for players.",{"_265":520,"_267":508,"_269":508,"_271":119,"_273":521},"Annoyance","Annoyance arises from the AI's defensive playstyle, which can lead to prolonged and drawn-out matches, impacting the pacing of the game.",{"_265":523,"_267":508,"_269":508,"_271":119,"_273":524},"Amazement","Amazement is expressed regarding the game's innovative and successful combination of different genres, highlighting its unique and impressive design.",{"_265":526,"_267":508,"_269":508,"_271":119,"_273":527},"Desire","Players express a desire for more power interaction within the game, indicating a wish for deeper strategic options and synergies.",{"_265":529,"_267":508,"_269":508,"_271":119,"_273":530},"Distraction","Distraction occurs when players feel the game is trying too hard to emulate other popular titles like 'Balatro', which can detract from its unique identity.",{"_265":532,"_267":508,"_269":508,"_271":119,"_273":533},"Gratitude","Gratitude is specifically expressed towards the developer for adding a 'duck piece' to the game, highlighting appreciation for unique and humorous content additions.","gameInfo",{"_536":537,"_544":545,"_553":554},"usage",{"_538":539,"_540":541,"_542":543},"totalTokens",6536,"promptTokens",5568,"completionTokens",968,"gameCategories",[546,547,548,92,549,550,551,552],"Roguelike","Turn-based Strategy","Strategic Combat","Build Crafting","Character Customization","Item Management","Chess-based Gameplay","mostRequestedFeatures",[555,559,563,566,570,573,575,579,583,587,590,593,597,600],{"_265":556,"_269":557,"_273":558},"Improved AI behavior",0.29,"Players frequently report that the AI's behavior is frustrating and unrealistic, often resorting to repetitive, defensive, or exploitative moves that lead to stalemates or unfair advantages.",{"_265":560,"_269":561,"_273":562},"Fix AI illegal moves/rule inconsistencies",0.21,"Some players report that the game enforces incorrect chess rules or allows the AI to make illegal moves, creating a sense of unfairness.",{"_265":564,"_269":561,"_273":565},"Art and sound design polish","The game's visual and audio design, including the art style, HUD, and music, is widely criticized for being unpolished, confusing, dull, or even unpleasant.",{"_265":567,"_269":568,"_273":569},"More polished overall experience",0.17,"Many players feel the game is incomplete or unpolished, resembling an early access title rather than a full release, leading to a perception of awkward gameplay and lack of depth.",{"_265":571,"_269":568,"_273":572},"Mobile port","Players are highly anticipating future updates and potential mobile/console ports, showing strong interest in the game's continued development and expanded accessibility.",{"_265":574,"_269":568,"_273":572},"Console port",{"_265":576,"_269":577,"_273":578},"Option for less chaotic game-altering effects/more vanilla options",0.16,"The game's starting conditions and game-altering effects are often too chaotic, leading to balance issues and a desire for more 'vanilla' or less extreme options.",{"_265":580,"_269":581,"_273":582},"More robust undo system/move history",0.14,"The current undo feature is seen as insufficient, only useful for immediate errors. Players desire a more robust move history or a better undo system to review past moves.",{"_265":584,"_269":585,"_273":586},"Improved visual clarity (less clutter)",0.12,"The visual clutter from new pieces, explosions, and capture indicators makes the board difficult to read, especially mid-game.",{"_265":588,"_269":585,"_273":589},"Improved controls for 3D pieces","The controls for 3D pieces are inconvenient, hindering gameplay clarity and ease of use.",{"_265":591,"_269":319,"_273":592},"Meta-progression system","The game's underlying engine has limitations common to generalized chess variant engines, such as a lack of meta-progression.",{"_265":594,"_269":595,"_273":596},"Boss previews",0.09,"The game is criticized for being too similar to 'Balatro' without fully understanding what made that game successful, specifically lacking features like boss previews.",{"_265":598,"_269":599,"_273":377},"More meaningful endgame interaction",0.06,{"_265":601,"_269":602,"_273":381},"Clearer communication of win conditions",0.05,"summary",[266,276,281,605,338,343],"Frustrating AI behavior","result_at","2025-08-13T13:28:56.149","result_stats",{"_610":611,"_612":613,"_627":392,"_628":629,"_630":631,"_632":113,"_633":611,"_634":113},"totalReviews",68,"featureCounts",{"_614":615,"_616":617,"_618":619,"_620":621,"_622":623,"_624":113,"_625":626},"emotions",107,"miscPoints",15,"gameplayPoints",45,"negativePoints",100,"positivePoints",140,"performancePoints","recommendationPoints",38,"totalNegative","totalPositive",43,"totalHelpfulReviews",54,"totalProtestReviews","totalFilteredReviews","totalProhibitedReviews","has_podcast","results",[638],{"_606":639},["D",1755091736149],"image","https://shared.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/3353100/library_600x900.jpg","image_fallback","gamesCount","page","search",[647,649,651,653,655,657,659,661],{"_32":648,"_16":549},"cf26bd26-44b3-4224-9cbd-87c0413e32eb",{"_32":650,"_16":550},"714d0b93-9f81-4c2a-8242-81940e58211c",{"_32":652,"_16":552},"5f04f13a-4485-460c-b6e7-819226a69423",{"_32":654,"_16":551},"0a670970-614e-474c-8317-72988694f3a1",{"_32":656,"_16":546},"37c637b3-9762-416d-b6a3-0184e7a661e8",{"_32":658,"_16":92},"f6bc5b1d-c1f8-444a-bd9f-5b98f84fd33b",{"_32":660,"_16":548},"0b5830bc-4a86-4020-82de-349ffc0a4fd6",{"_32":662,"_16":547},"28afb0af-80e2-4f92-9a1a-4adf5a1bb94d","initialCategories",[665],{"_32":652,"_16":552},"actionData","errors"]

All Games1

Passant: A Chess Roguelike