Shotgun Chess

About Shotgun Chess: Turn-Based Puzzle Game with Shooter Elements

Shotgun Chess is an unusual turn-based puzzle game that blends classic chess mechanics with shooter elements. The black king stands alone on the board, armed with a trusty shotgun, facing every enemy piece that stands between him and the final boss. The challenge is to shoot, move, and think several steps ahead across 12 levels of escalating difficulty.

The main play area is a centered 8×8 grid of alternating white and gray squares. In one scene, small red pixel clusters appear where a projectile connects with a white piece.

How to Play Shotgun Chess

The goal is to clear every floor and defeat the boss waiting at the end. To complete a level, destroy the enemy king without falling into checkmate yourself. All pieces move according to classical chess rules, so a king that steps into an attacked cell or is caught in check loses immediately. The game warns you before you attempt a dangerous move, giving you a chance to reconsider.

Combat works on a shoot-and-reload rhythm: shoot enemies, then move to reload. Between levels, choose one set of cards from the available options — each set carries both positive and negative properties. Weighing those trade-offs carefully shapes the entire strategy, whether that means pushing aggressively ahead or shooting carefully from a distance.

Enemies

• 6 types of enemies, each with unique abilities

Ability Cards

Over 40 positive and negative ability cards are available across the run. The card sets chosen between levels determine the difficulty curve and the tactical approach available for the floors ahead.

Controls

Mobile

• Tap on a highlighted square: Move to that square
• Tap on an empty place on screen: Move the sight to that point / reset the soul

PC

• LMB on a highlighted square: Move to that square
• LMB: Shoot
• RMB: Reload / Reset Soul

Games You Might Like

If the card-driven strategy of Shotgun Chess appeals to you, Army Evolution: Merge & Tactics offers another layer of tactical depth, letting you merge and evolve units across eras to build a battle-ready army. For a broader mix of RPG progression and strategic combat, Age of Heroes puts you in command of hero armies through tower defense battles spanning ancient times to the future.

Browse the full strategy games catalog for more titles that reward careful planning, or explore the games for PC collection to find desktop-friendly picks in a similar vein.