What is it? An action-packed take on chess
Who is it for? Fans of the roguelike game genre
How much does it cost? $7/£7
What makes it special? Retro art and a sense of humor
Your entire army has defected to the white side, leaving you with nothing but your your crown and a pump-action shotgun. How dare they…
Shotgun King is a roguelike chess game from French studio Punkcake Délicieux that started life as a game jam contest entry, won the thing, and eventually found its way to PC, consoles, and now iOS.
Movement follows familiar chess rules – your king still plods one square at a time – but each turn you choose whether to move or blast lead in a wide arc across the board. Moving reloads your gun. It’s a simple mechanic, and as silly as it sounds, it’s a good combo that creates genuine tension. Chess skills will help you read the board and stay out of trouble, but you can forget about any traditional plays.
The roguelike layer kicks in between floors, where you pick from card pairs that each bundle an upgrade for you with an upgrade for the enemy. Want more ammo? Fine – but now they’ve got an extra queen. It’s tempting to grab the flashiest perks, but the best runs come from thinking carefully about synergies and not sleepwalking into a lopsided board. It’s also worth noting that the various upgrades are extremely creative and well-themed to the chess pieces themselves.
The touchscreen controls work really nicely: swipe on the left to move, swipe on the right to aim and fire. It feels built for mobile in a way ports often don’t – with the exception of the text, which can be hard to read on a small screen. Other issues include no mid-run save, and the odd freeze if you try to switch apps while playing.
The white side eventually snowballs into something extremely threatening, which makes survival feel extremely satisfying. Runs clock in at 15-20 minutes, and between Endless Mode, the swarm-heavy Chase Mode, and 15 ranks of difficulty, there’s plenty to return to once you’ve cleared the main campaign.
Overall, Shotgun King is a charming game with slick pixel art graphics and a concept that sounds like a joke but plays like something properly clever. One of those games that’s hard to put down once it clicks.