The King's Gambit

If you like this game, you might want to check out my prototype "The Last Gambit", which is built up from the core ideas in this jam game.

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The King's Gambit is a strategy-esque game that I like to think of as Fire Emblem meets Minesweeper.

Note: There are some timing issues with the WebGL version; download the Windows build for a smoother experience.

SIMPLIFIED INSTRUCTIONS:

If your units fight an enemy unit, they will die. However, you have two power-ups that can be applied to them, which will allow them to kill the next enemy they fight.

The goal of the game is to kill the enemy containing their leader; however, the leader is hidden until you fight the enemy containing it. Therefore, the only way to win is to sacrifice your units to test each enemy, and hope it reveals the leader.

CONTROLS:

Drag knight icons to move your units into a zone (marked with white boxes).

Drag flames onto units to empower. Note that units can only be empowered in the reserves (starting box) and the throne room (left-most middle room).

Click on enemies to mark or unmark them.

The King's Gambit was made for the GMTK Game Jam 2022, where the theme was "Roll of the Dice". I interpreted that as taking risky actions with the hope that it will produce a good outcome. In mechanical terms, you sacrifice your limited number of armies against unbeatable foes with the hope that you'll find the Overmind as a result.

You control a number of outclassed armies, trying to survive against the Gelshari invasion. One of your armies fighting one of theirs spells certain death.

However, you have one hope. The stolen Gelshari Flames can empower one of your armies, giving them a chance. What's more, the Overmind hiding amongst the enemy acts as a lifeline for the Gelshari: if you can find and destroy it, victory is assured.

Made with Unity, Piskel, Audacity, Beepbox. I made most of the content during the jam itself, though the music is a song I made a while back.

I used this palette for the art: https://lospec.com/palette-list/oil-6

Everything created by me, Jaco van Hemert.