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About Pieces of the Kingdom
Pieces of the Kingdom reimagines chess as a roguelite strategy game with fantasy trappings. Developed by Birdworks, it blends tactical turn-based combat with party management and procedural world generation. Players gather a crew of hero-like pieces, each with distinct roles and abilities, to cross a fractured kingdom. The game launched on PC and Mac in August 2026, offering a single-player journey where every move shapes your path. Think of it as chess meets rogue-like progression, where gear upgrades and recruitment matter as much as checkmate. It’s for players who want depth in strategy but crave variability in their campaigns.
Gameplay
Combat unfolds on hex-based grids where pieces act as heroes. Each has movement ranges, attack types, and class-specific powers. Battles require balancing positioning, resource management (like action points), and exploiting enemy weaknesses. After fights, you explore procedurally generated maps to scavenge loot or recruit new allies. The twist lies in how recruited pieces adapt to your strategy, some boost defenses, others initiate aggressive pushes. Sessions last 30, 90 minutes, depending on difficulty. Controls are tight, with right-click for movement and left-click for actions. The challenge ramps steadily; early games feel manageable, but later levels demand precise planning and gear optimization.
What Players Think
Community ratings on PlayPile average 8.2/10, with 68% completion rate and 18-hour average playtime. 82% of players call it "fun" or "addictive," though 23% cite frustration with late-game difficulty. Metacritic scores 88, praising its "depth and innovation." Players love the 370 achievements, with 71% completing at least 100. Reviews note the game’s "tough but fair" difficulty curve and "fresh take on chess mechanics." Some criticize pacing in early hours, but 89% of top reviewers say the roguelite elements keep things replayable. Achievement completion rates are high: 54% finish the "Master Tactician" set.
PlayPile's Take
Pieces of the Kingdom is a must-play for strategy fans who don’t mind a steep learning curve. Priced at $39.99, it offers 20+ hours of content with high replayability. The 370 achievements are dense but rewarding, especially for completionists. While it’s not a casual pick-up, its blend of chess-like strategy and rogue-like progression makes it stand out. Skip if you hate grinding or prefer fast-paced action. But if you enjoy methodically building a party and mastering mechanics over time, this is worth the investment.
Game Modes
Single player
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