Passant: A Chess Roguelike

Developer: Marc Makes Games
Release: Aug 11th 2025
Platforms:
Casual
Indie
Strategy
Innovative
Addictive
Accessible
U I Clarity
A I Repetitive
Passant: A Chess Roguelike Poster

Passant: A Chess Roguelike Review

Passant: A Chess Roguelike offers a unique fusion of traditional chess mechanics with roguelike elements, drawing frequent comparisons to the game Balatro. Players appreciate the deep integration of chess variants and alternative win conditions, allowing diverse playstyles beyond classic checkmate. The game features multiple difficulties, ensuring accessibility for both casual and experienced chess players. Progression involves purchasing pieces, passives, and consumables, adding strategic depth between matches. However, some players find the UI and graphics lacking clarity, particularly with piece differentiation, which can hinder quick decision-making. The AI is competent but occasionally exhibits repetitive or suboptimal behavior, leading to stalemates or predictable moves. While the game shines in its innovative mechanics and addictiveness, some feel the difficulty curve plateaus and the endgame can become less engaging. The developer's active involvement and responsiveness to feedback are praised, with ongoing improvements anticipated. Overall, Passant is recommended for chess enthusiasts seeking a fresh and challenging roguelike experience, though it may require patience with certain interface and AI quirks.

Highlights

Players especially praise the innovative gameplay mechanics, including alternative chess victory conditions and a variety of unique fairy pieces inspired by historical variants. The roguelike structure with shops and upgrades adds engaging strategic layers. The game is noted for being accessible to chess players of all skill levels, with multiple difficulty settings and beginner-friendly features like undos. The inclusion of a duck piece and creative setups adds charm and novelty. Many enjoy the dynamic and evolving board states, which keep matches fresh and unpredictable. The developer’s active communication and willingness to implement community suggestions are also highly regarded, fostering a positive player experience.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the graphical clarity and UI design, with many players struggling to distinguish pieces quickly due to similar colors and semi-3D perspectives. The AI, while challenging, sometimes resorts to repetitive moves or stalls matches, causing frustration. Some players find the difficulty progression uneven, with early advantages sometimes making runs feel too easy and endgame content less compelling. The lack of a planning phase before matches and limited quality-of-life features like move history or premoves are also noted. Additionally, a few feel the game’s presentation lacks the polish and charm seen in its inspiration, Balatro, with bland visuals and sound design. Multiplayer or more customization options are desired but currently absent.

Pros

  • Innovative chess variants and alternative victory conditions enrich gameplay variety.
  • Roguelike progression with shops and upgrades adds strategic depth between matches.
  • Accessible to all skill levels with multiple difficulty settings and beginner aids.
  • Unique and charming pieces like the duck enhance player engagement and fun.
  • Dynamic, evolving board states keep each match fresh and unpredictable.
  • Developer is active and responsive, regularly updating based on feedback.
  • Addictive gameplay encourages repeated runs and mastery of mechanics.

Cons

  • Graphics and UI can be confusing; pieces often hard to distinguish quickly.
  • AI sometimes stalls or repeats moves, causing frustrating stalemates.
  • Difficulty curve can plateau, making late runs less challenging and engaging.
  • Lack of planning phase before matches limits strategic preparation.
  • Limited quality-of-life features like move history and premoves.
  • Visual and sound design lack polish compared to similar roguelikes like Balatro.
  • Some starting setups feel unbalanced or overwhelming for new players.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

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.

Release Date Aug 11th 2025
Publisher Marc Makes Games
Developer Marc Makes Games
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (102)
83% Positive 17% Negative