Union of Gnomes: Prologue is a free-to-play strategy game that serves as the demo version for the full Union of Gnomes game. This is a roguelike deckbuilder that puts you in charge of many gnomes, represented as cards with unique effects. Travel another world, right beneath your basement, and fight against other gnomes and magical creatures.

As a teaser episode, Union of Gnomes: Prologue adds mystery by keeping its place in the storyline vague. It does a good job of introducing a weird and wacky world, despite its very short playthrough. Similar games include Void Tyrant and Crush the Industry.

Lead your gnomes to victory

Union of Gnomes: Prologue introduces the world of magical creatures, set within the player’s basement. One of the inhabitants are the gnomes, governed by what is known as The Master’s will. Oppressed and disadvantaged, you lead them to revolution. Free your comrades, reestablish your kingdom, and ultimately face the fiercest of them all. This twist of fairy tale tropes give the game an identity that’s curious and engaging.

For the gameplay, this is a turn-based strategy game that has phases and sequences. Your cards are individual gnomes with unique effects. You have attacker gnomes and support gnomes, adding a strategic layer with how you build your decks, and a bit of luck depending on your draw. Its art style is very cartoony, which works well with its brand of humor and the level of weirdness of the game.

As a demo version, expect the gameplay to be brief and incomplete. While it does a good job of making this part vague in relation to the storyline, it is already addictive but can’t offer the full experience. Similarly, the content in the game—from cards to the enemies—are limited in this version. Also, it gives you a taste of the game’s increased difficulty coming from its roguelike and randomized nature.

Wacky, engaging, and challenging

Union of Gnomes: Prologue offers a captivating blend of strategy and humor, set in a whimsical world of gnome revolution. This turn-based strategy game stands out with its unique card-based mechanics and quirky art style. While the demo is brief and limited, it successfully teases the full experience, showcasing the game's addictive nature and challenging roguelike elements. Lead your gnomes to victory and reclaim their kingdom!