Chivalware Preview: A Love Letter to Gaming’s Past

by

I recently got a sneak peek at Chivalware, a charming new game from The Arcade Crew and solo developer Regal Pigeon, who is based in Hong Kong. It’s a fun, grid-based action game where you play as a cool, knightly disk on a mission to rescue the digital world. It falls into the ‘Roguelite’ genre, meaning each playthrough is unique!

The game’s creator has said Mega Man Battle Network was a major influence, and as a big fan of that series, I really admire that. I’m hoping someone who loves Mega Man Legends will make a similar game someday, but until then, a game inspired by Battle Network sounds fantastic.

After playing Chivalware for a few hours, I’m really impressed and think it’s a game to watch. It’s reviving a genre that’s been overlooked, and thankfully, a heroic character called the Disk Knight is leading the charge to bring it back into the spotlight.

Knights of the Grid Table

Chivalware is easy to pick up – its basic ideas and mechanics are straightforward and clearly explained. However, don’t mistake that for a lack of depth; it’s actually a surprisingly complex game.

One of Chivalware’s greatest strengths is its comfortable pace. The game allows you to learn at your own speed, without feeling rushed. It gives you time to understand how everything works, and once you do, it truly opens up and becomes a thrilling experience.

In Chivalware, you command a Disk Knight across a grid-based battlefield. You strengthen your weapons by matching tiles. Waves of enemies attack, but you’re free to move anywhere on the grid – even into enemy territory – to defeat them.

Once you fully grasp how it works, Chivalware truly shines and demonstrates its full potential.

What makes Chivalware so fun is its wild, unpredictable nature. I’ve played many similar strategy games, and often they feel too limiting. This is especially true when the game board is small – while a smaller board can make things move faster, it can also make the game feel cramped and restrictive.

Chivalware focuses on letting players freely explore and try out its weapons, and that’s where the game truly shines. The combat feels rhythmic and almost like a dance, creating a captivating, hypnotic experience. It’s surprisingly easy to get completely absorbed in the flow of battle, making Chivalware incredibly addictive and hard to put down.

Press On, Brave Disk Knight

Playing as the Disk Knight in Chivalware feels fantastic. The controls are smooth and responsive, which is crucial given how challenging the enemies are. The difficulty ramps up with each new level. The game guides you with a clear path displayed at the top of the screen, and completing each level automatically moves you forward.

Every level offers a fresh challenge where you can really showcase your skills. Enemies are color-coded, so you’ll need to match your weapon’s color to do damage – otherwise, your attacks will simply bounce off. Careful planning is key, as you’ll constantly need to adapt and quickly select the right weapon using the tile-based system. It’s a fast-paced and chaotic experience, often requiring you to scramble for the weapon you need to succeed.

Success in Chivalware depends on mastering the game’s resources and using its special features effectively. As you progress, enemies appear in larger groups, and each new area presents unpredictable challenges. This constant pressure is actually what makes the game so engaging, and if the developers maintain this exciting level of difficulty and variety throughout the full game, it promises to be a great experience.

Chivalware is incredibly engaging, and once you start playing, it’s hard to stop. It easily draws you into a focused and immersive experience.

Because this is a Roguelite game, each new area you enter will be different. You might face enemies, discover a shop, or meet a strange character offering an upgrade. The game throws a lot of unpredictable things at you quickly, and that’s what makes Chivalware so fun and engaging.

Subscribe to the newsletter for Chivalware coverage and insights

Dive deeper by subscribing to the newsletter for detailed previews, tactical analysis, and hands-on impressions of Chivalware and other grid-based roguelites, offering focused coverage of mechanics, pacing, and design to broaden your understanding of these games.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Chivalware is in active development for PC and will be playable on Steam Deck.

Read More

2026-06-01 20:10