VEZIR is a turn-based strategy indie game that blends chess mechanics with roguelike deck-building on PC. Players take control of an angelic wizard who summons chess pieces to clear demons from the realm through customizable builds and runs that emphasize experimentation over balance.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on building and refining a deck of chess pieces during roguelike runs. Each run starts with basic pieces such as pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, and the king. As the journey progresses, players upgrade, transform, or swap these pieces while adding special ones captured from defeated enemies, including bosses. Piece effects provide additional abilities to shape combat style, and combos allow multiple pieces to interact for powerful board-clearing sequences.
Spellcasting upgrades improve the wizard's own capabilities, while Holy Decrees introduce permanent changes to core rules like movement, capture, or board interactions. Grandmaster spirits offer further customization by influencing piece behavior or granting unique bonuses. Battle maps vary with hundreds of layouts and tile types that can favor either side, and consumable items provide emergency options during tough fights. Quests in each stage can shift the path and deliver rewards or complications. The system supports infinite scaling through upgrades that let individual pieces grow stronger across runs.
Game Modes
VEZIR focuses on single-player roguelike runs structured across five acts. Each act carries its own theme, alters gameplay rules in distinct ways, and introduces unique bosses. Progression through the acts builds toward cleansing the realm, with route choices influenced by quests that can lead to different encounters and rewards. Players experiment with deck compositions and piece transformations within these runs, aiming to adapt strategies to the shifting challenges of each act.
Key Mechanics and Features
Ten special pieces expand beyond the standard six chess types, and every enemy can convert into a usable piece upon defeat. Five or more piece effects layer additional properties onto units to support varied playstyles. Thirty-five or more decrees come with their own upgrade paths that rewrite mechanics such as turn order or capture conditions. Thirty or more grandmaster spirits provide targeted assistance for specific builds. Incremental mage upgrades and infinite scaling options for pieces encourage repeated runs with fresh approaches. Ever-changing maps and over fifty crafted enemies keep encounters unpredictable.
Is It Worth Playing?
VEZIR suits players who enjoy chess-inspired strategy combined with roguelike deck-building and heavy customization. The emphasis on breaking the game through unconventional builds appeals to those seeking creative freedom rather than strict balance. With its single-player focus and act-based structure, it offers replayability through different piece synergies, decree selections, and spirit choices. The game remains in development with a planned release date to be announced, and no user reviews are available yet. Those interested in indie strategy titles that reward experimentation with chess pieces and procedural elements may find the described systems engaging once it launches.
