Fit check
Is Pawn of the Dead worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Chess players who want altered capture mechanics and tactical consequences
- Strategy players interested in asymmetric boards and undead-themed campaigns
- Players seeking local multiplayer or AI matches with procedural battlefields
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking standard chess as the main gameplay structure rather than an optional mode
- Players who prefer a small set of fixed scenarios instead of a 64-level campaign plus generated battlefields
- Players looking for squad-based military strategy, prison escape role-playing, or turn-based deck construction
Our take on Pawn of the Dead
Instead of treating captured chess pieces as removed material, the game turns them into enemy undead units. It also replaces chess's usual symmetrical board context with asymmetric stages, survival battles, and a story campaign around King Leonard's conflict with his reflection.
What is Pawn of the Dead?
Pawn of the Dead reworks chess into a dark strategy game where captured White pieces become infected undead fighters for the opposing side.
Its story campaign follows King Leonard through 64 handcrafted asymmetrical levels with animated cinematic scenes. Outside the campaign, procedural battlefields support AI matches, local multiplayer, and play as the Black undead army. A survival mode places the White Queen against endless undead pawns, unlocking a magic spell after every 7 kills. Standard chess rules and setups are also available. Matches can use either 3D environments or a 2D board view, with the perspective switchable at any time.
How Pawn of the Dead plays
- 01Infected Captures
- White pieces taken by the undead return as opposing fighters, making sacrifices increase the enemy army.
- 02Story Campaign
- King Leonard faces 64 handcrafted asymmetric stages connected by animated cinematic scenes.
- 03Procedural Battlefields
- Generated maps support matches against AI, local multiplayer, and control of the Black undead side.
- 04Queen Survival Mode
- The White Queen fights endless undead pawns, with a magic spell unlocking after every 7 kills.
- 05Classic Chess Mode
- Traditional rules and starting arrangements are available for standard matches.
- 06Switchable Board Views
- The battlefield can be viewed in either a 3D environment or a 2D board perspective, with the view changeable at any time.
Pawn of the Dead compared to similar games
Shogun Showdown uses turn-based positioning, attack tiles, upgrades, skills, and a system for building a deck around encounters with the Shogun, while Pawn of the Dead modifies chess with infected captures, asymmetric levels, and standard chess as an option. Xenonauts centers on a military organization, persistent soldiers, squad operations, and alien technology during a Cold War-era invasion; Pawn of the Dead instead focuses on chess pieces, undead conversion, and local or AI matches. Men of War: Assault Squad covers large-scale World War II strategy with direct control of combat units, whereas Pawn of the Dead structures play around chess rules and board positions.
Pawn of the Dead: platforms & release
Is Pawn of the Dead worth it?
It is worth it if: chess players who want altered capture mechanics and tactical consequences. Skip it if: players seeking standard chess as the main gameplay structure rather than an optional mode.
Where can I download Pawn of the Dead?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens Pawn of the Dead's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is Pawn of the Dead on?
Windows, macOS and Linux.
