Shotgun King: the Final Checkmate

It's a very concise game with a laser focus on its core idea. Framing the action with lo-fi presentation and a daft plot about the black army defecting to the white kingdom, it feels like a forgotten 90s PC game. To that point, there's not much to it beyond the main mode, though there are extras for clearing it — Endless mode is self-explanatory while Chase mode is a interesting take on survival. It's a tight-knit package that, while repetitive in the end, succeeds with its less-is-more approach.

Shotgun King does a wonderful job of setting itself apart from the veritable deluge of roguelikes available today. Its blending of classic chess principles with shooting elements and randomized gameplay makes for a fun and highly replayable experience that we'd suggest you give a shot. If you're looking for a relatively short, addictive game that requires a bit of thinking to get the most out of, Shotgun King is undoubtedly something you should look into.

Just enough roguelike to keep it chess, and just enough chess to keep it roguelike. A curious mix that will leave no one indifferent, especially lovers of the classic board game.

The presentation and content of Shotgun King will put a lot of people off. However, if you like chess and rogue-based games it is well worth a bash. I adored its presentation, it reminded me of games form my youth, yes, I am that old. Pairing one of the oldest games on the planet with rogue-lite elements works far better than it has rights too and Shotgun King is truly unlike anything else I have played. We need more games like this, its what drives the industry forward in a sea of cut and paste shooters and RPG's.

Undoubtedly a unique take on both chess and roguelikes, this strategy title is refreshing but ultimately a bit limited

It may look basic, but don’t be fooled: Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate is packing one hell of an enjoyable strategy game underneath its old-school aesthetic. If you’re not a chess fan you’re going to struggle – but if you are, the only struggle is going to be tearing yourself away from jumping in for just one more game. Playing chess has never felt so bad-ass.

That said, runs are generally quite short, under 20 minutes in most cases, and so it's easy enough to start right back up again after a loss. The presentation is quite clean and straightforward, but there's a strong flash of light that accompanies the defeat of the enemy king–not something that normally affects me, but I did turn it off in the settings menu. It might not be a certain checkmate, but Shotgun King kept me in check more often than not, and it's a pleasant and worthwhile distraction that deserves a spot among the higher tiers of run-based Switch games.

Even with its goofy premise, Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate is a cleverly strategic roguelike that'll certainly keep you hooked.

Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate turns chess upside down with its offbeat idea of putting a gun in the hand of a king. Aiming and shooting adds dynamism to matches, and cards with abilities for both armies create unpredictable situations. Even with skill elements, the title maintains the tactical aspect of chess, with coordinated moves by enemy pieces. Despite being creative, the game has numerous problems, such as a steep learning curve, difficulty spikes and randomness so pronounced as to disrupt the tactical elements. There was also a lack of variety, as the runs quickly get repetitive. At least there are several additional modes and difficulties to explore. Simultaneously creative and problematic, Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate is a compelling experience.

Chess in an unconventional presentation brings fun and interesting possibilities, but it is repetitive over time and has only simple graphics.