Last Gambit has been released in early access on Steam.

The game is a chess-themed roguelike: it keeps the basic rules of chess but throws in over 27 partly absurd pieces (Unicorn, Griffon, Phoenix, Catapults), free deployment, piece fusions and a branching story mode in the style of Slay the Spire.

Last Gambit is free and runs natively on Linux and SteamOS (Ubuntu 20.04+, 64-bit). It offers real cross-play between PC and Android in the same 1v1 match. According to the developer, early access should last one to two months.

27 pieces or more, from the classics to the ones a chess purist would report to the authorities: the Unicorn, the Griffon, the Void Queen (walks off one edge, comes back on the other, good luck defending), the Phoenix (dies, is reborn, goes back to bothering you), Catapults and Trebuchets that launch pieces, the Summoner, the Mirror.

Free deployment: no mandatory formation. Place your pieces however you like, then regret it.

Fusions and evolutions: combine pieces to create new ones. The Knight can become a Unicorn, Bishop and Knight fuse into an Archbishop.

Story Mode, a branching map in the Slay the Spire style: chapters full of levels, a boss to close them out, battles, merchants, perks to collect (rewind, teleport, freeze, and others that feel like cheats because they sort of are).

Real cross-play, across everything: a central server, unified matchmaking. PC versus Android, the exact same 1v1 match.

Play offline whenever you want. Online is only there if you feel like challenging real people (not recommended for your self-esteem).

Source: Steam