Below the Crown Review & Gameplay Impressions – A Strategic Roguelike Where Chess Meets Dungeon Crawling

Below the Crown by Misfits Attic and Shochiku is a fascinating fusion of roguelike dungeon crawling and chess-inspired strategy.

Known for their award-winning titles Duskers and A Virus Named TOM, Misfits Attic once again deliver a game that challenges both your tactical mind and your self-awareness.

At its core, Below the Crown takes the elegant simplicity of chess and drops it into a dark, ever-shifting dungeon. You begin not as a grandmaster with a full army, but as a lone wizard, tasked by the Emperor to retrieve gold from the depths below. Your companions? A single piece – perhaps a Rook or an Archer – and whatever spells or upgrades you can muster along the way.

Gameplay is a refreshing twist on traditional chess mechanics. Instead of memorizing openings or suffering through long endgames, players summon new pieces onto the board, each with distinct powers that evolve as you progress. The focus is on creativity and adaptation, not rigid memorization. The enemy AI starts simple, letting you experiment freely, before ramping up the tension with cunning dungeon bosses and unpredictable traps.

Beyond its innovative gameplay, Below the Crown stands out for its psychological dimension. Between battles, you’ll answer thought-provoking questions that subtly influence your journey. These moments give a surprising emotional weight to what could have been just another strategy roguelike, transforming it into a reflection on your choices and mindset as a player.

Community interaction adds even more depth. Players can post their most triumphant runs as community challenges, study replays from skilled players, or dive into the custom board editor to design and share unique rooms. It’s a single-player experience with a shared sense of discovery and competition.

Below the Crown isn’t just a roguelike — it’s a test of strategy, creativity, and character. Whether you’re a chess lover, dungeon crawler veteran, or simply looking for a fresh tactical challenge, this game offers a mix of cerebral gameplay and emotional intrigue rarely seen in the genre. It’s both a love letter to classic mechanics and a bold step into something entirely new.