Passant: A Chess Roguelike is a bold and inventive reimagining of one of the most studied games in history, taking the rigid structure of chess and deliberately bending it into something fluid, unpredictable, and endlessly replayable. Developed and published by Marc Makes Games, it is not a traditional chess simulator, nor is it simply a novelty twist on familiar rules. Instead, it treats chess as a foundation upon which roguelike progression, experimentation, and emergent strategy are layered, creating a game that feels both intellectually demanding and delightfully chaotic.

At the heart of Passant: A Chess Roguelike is the idea that chess does not have to be static. Each run is structured as a sequence of encounters, where players face off against increasingly difficult opponents under changing conditions. While many matches still revolve around the classic goal of checkmating the enemy king, others introduce alternative victory conditions such as delivering a set number of checks, eliminating all opposing pieces, or surviving under unusual constraints. These shifting objectives force players to rethink standard chess heuristics and adapt their playstyle from match to match.

What truly defines the roguelike nature of Passant is its progression system between battles. Victories reward players with currency that can be spent on new pieces, badges, and modifiers that permanently shape the remainder of a run. These additions dramatically alter how the game plays. Traditional pieces may be replaced or supplemented with fantastical variants that move in unexpected ways, while badges can change the rules of engagement entirely, introducing explosive captures, chain reactions, or altered board dynamics. Over time, a run begins to feel less like orthodox chess and more like a personalized rule set built through deliberate choices and lucky synergies.

This layered customization creates a compelling tension between short-term tactics and long-term planning. A move that is optimal in a single match might undermine a broader strategy if it fails to synergize with your growing collection of modifiers. Success often depends as much on understanding how your chosen badges and special pieces interact as it does on calculating board positions. In this sense, Passant feels closer to a deckbuilder than a pure board game, with players assembling a “build” that defines their approach to future encounters.

Despite its willingness to break tradition, the game still rewards chess fundamentals. Spatial awareness, piece coordination, and foresight remain critical, especially as opponents become more aggressive and complex in later stages. Boss encounters cap off segments of a run, often combining unusual rules with heightened difficulty, pushing players to fully exploit their accumulated advantages. Difficulty settings ranging from accessible to punishing allow both casual players and seasoned strategists to find a comfortable entry point, though even lower difficulties benefit from a basic understanding of chess principles.

Visually, Passant favors clarity over spectacle. The board and pieces are cleanly presented, ensuring that even wildly modified rulesets remain readable at a glance. This restrained presentation supports the game’s cognitive demands, keeping focus on decision-making rather than visual flair. Sound design and interface feedback are similarly understated, functional rather than expressive, which suits the game’s analytical nature but may leave some players wishing for more dramatic feedback during pivotal moments.

The sheer variety of modifiers and piece interactions gives Passant remarkable replay value, but it also introduces balance challenges. Certain combinations can feel overwhelmingly powerful, while others may struggle against specific enemy behaviors. These imbalances are often part of the fun, encouraging experimentation and discovery, but they can occasionally result in uneven difficulty or AI responses that feel unprepared for extreme rule-bending. Still, these rough edges are inseparable from the game’s experimental spirit and are often viewed by players as acceptable trade-offs for creativity.

What makes Passant particularly compelling is how it lowers the intimidation barrier traditionally associated with chess. While experienced players will appreciate the strategic depth, the roguelike structure allows newcomers to learn through play, failure, and gradual mastery rather than strict study. The game encourages curiosity and risk-taking, making it less about memorizing openings and more about problem-solving within ever-changing constraints.

Ultimately, Passant: A Chess Roguelike succeeds by respecting chess enough to understand why its rules matter, and then confidently breaking them in ways that feel purposeful and engaging. It offers a fresh perspective on a centuries-old game, transforming it into a sandbox of strategic experimentation. For players who enjoy deep thinking, emergent systems, and the thrill of adapting to constantly shifting rules, Passant delivers a uniquely cerebral experience that stands out within both the chess and roguelike genres.

Rating: 7/10

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☐ Good
☑ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Rather watch grass grow.... IN WINTER
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad(Gave me pix-elated Vietnam flash backs)
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☑ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☑ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☑ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☑ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☐ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 15% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☑ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Almost there
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☑ Some grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☑ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☐ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Load In Time }---
☑ Short
☐ Average
☐ Long
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☑ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
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☑ 10

The AI is really bad, even on grandmaster, but the rest of the game is fine. Chess Battle Advanced