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About Boardfall
Boardfall is a strategy game where waves of enemies descend onto a grid-based board. You capture them to generate gold, then spend that to deploy your own pieces and block incoming threats. Made by indie studio Follow The Fun, it launched in October 2025 for PC. The game borrows chess-like unit mechanics but adds 10 entirely new pieces with unique abilities. Each wave grows harder, forcing you to adapt your defenses. It’s a real-time resource management challenge wrapped in a minimalist aesthetic. The goal isn’t to win but to survive as long as possible, a relentless loop of capture, spend, counterattack. Perfect for players who enjoy tight decision-making and incremental difficulty spikes.
Gameplay
The board is a 5x5 grid where enemies fall from the top every 30 seconds. Your first task is to surround and capture them with your pieces. Captured enemies convert to gold, which you use to buy and drop your own units in strategic spots. The 10 new pieces, like the “Mole” that burrows under enemies or the “Cleric” that heals adjacent allies, add layers of tactical depth. Each wave introduces faster, more powerful enemies. You’re constantly balancing short-term threats with long-term planning: should you spend gold on a high-cost unit now or save for later waves? Controls are intuitive but demand quick reflexes. Sessions average 15, 30 minutes, though the game’s difficulty curve often turns into a “just one more wave” grind.
What Players Think
Boardfall holds a 4.2/5 on Steam with 73% completion rate. Average playtime is 11 hours, but 42% of players report getting stuck around wave 25, 30. Community moods are split: 58% “determined,” 31% “frustrated,” and 11% “impressed.” Reviewers praise the “addictive loop” and “clever unit design” but critique the lack of tutorials for the new chess pieces. One user wrote, “It’s like chess if you only lost because you messed up early.” Achievements are dense, 27 total, with 6 tied to surviving specific waves. The hardest, “Wave 50+,” is completed by 8.3% of players. Most play it in short bursts due to its high-pressure pacing.
PlayPile's Take
Boardfall is a test of patience and tactical flexibility. At $19.99, it’s a low-risk purchase for strategy fans who like punishing difficulty. The 10 new units justify replayability, though the learning curve is steep. If you’re into games like Chess Ultra or the Firefall roguelike, this will hook you. Skip it if you hate permadeath or need hand-holding. The core loop is strong, but the game’s refusal to soften its curve might alienate casual players. Worth it for the thrill of pushing your limit, just don’t play when you’re tired.
Game Modes
Single player
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