Pawnbarian is a turn-based puzzle roguelike game that challenges players to use chess pieces to navigate through a dungeon board and defeat enemies. The game is developed by j4nw and is available for free on Android. The demo version of the game provides players with a single character and dungeon while the full game can be unlocked with a single in-app purchase.

The game is easy to learn for anyone familiar with chess or can be learned in a matter of minutes for those who are not. Players must plan their moves carefully to navigate through challenging tactical situations and spend treasure to upgrade their cards with additional powers. Quickminute runs keep the game fast-paced, while the infinite post-run Gauntlet offers a never-ending challenge. Players can choose from six characters to conquer three dungeons, each requiring a unique approach. Progress through Chains, a series of extra difficulty modifiers, for an even greater challenge.

Pawnbarian does not include permanent upgrades or complex and varied builds. The game's depth lies in how players approach the emergent combat puzzles. The game's elegant systems provide satisfaction from growing mastery rather than overwhelming complexity.