Everything in the world must be converted into a roguelike, and not even chess is safe with a new game “that changes all the rules”

Chess is arguably the archetype of a flawless pastime. Within its 64-square realm, knights and pawns eternally follow the same trajectories, yet the elegance lies in that very minimalism, much like Tetris’s endless falling blocks. Still, a newcomer now dares to heap layers upon those ancient rules, reframing the sport as—surprise—a roguelike, because apparently every pastime on the planet must follow the trend (poker and The Last of Us included).

Passant: A Chess Roguelike gleefully “shatters tradition” set in stone for more than a millennium. Its Steam summary invites you to “advance through brutal runs while amassing mighty pieces and tide-turning relics.”

“Assemble your battlefield by recruiting formidable units with custom behaviors, equipping gear that can flip the script, and slotting in badges that warp every law in your favor. Reach the summit by overcoming escalating match-ups and dethrone the ultimate monarch to earn grandmaster status,” it continues.

Visually, this thing is completely bananas. Explosions, undead tokens, and toxic tiles that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Dark Souls dungeon should not coexist with chess—yet, somehow, they do.

Even hardened veterans will find plenty to tangle with: most boards demand objectives beyond a simple checkmate—you might need half a dozen checks or the annihilation of every enemy token. Between skirmishes you’ll drop your hard-earned currency on mutated figures and trinkets. As if that weren’t enough, the system promises a grand total of 125 rule-warping modifiers.

Discover additional gems in our list of upcoming indie games slated for 2025 and beyond.