Why Early Access?

“Throughout development and playtesting, this game has brought me many moments of joy: finding a clever escape route as monsters close in, collecting one more treasure chest with limited cards and steps, or discovering a hidden path through a visual illusion. These moments have made me eager to share the game with more players.

Early Access gives you a chance to join the adventure sooner and gives me an opportunity to hear your honest feedback. Which mechanics do you enjoy? Which rules need clearer explanations? What could use more polish? Your input will help me refine the game and share the fun I have found in making and playing it.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“I currently expect Early Access to last approximately two weeks. This estimate may change depending on player feedback, bug fixes, and the time needed to polish the game. If the schedule changes, I will keep players informed through Steam announcements.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“For the full version, I plan to further refine the existing core gameplay, with a focus on improving tutorials and rule explanations, adjusting level and item balance, enhancing controls and interface feedback, and addressing issues identified during Early Access.

I also hope to use player feedback to make the choices between route planning, avoiding pursuing enemies, and collecting treasure more engaging. The scope of these changes will depend on feedback and development progress.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The current version includes the core mechanics of choosing a destination using chess movement rules and freely planning a route within a limited number of steps. It also features three gameplay modes: Dungeon, Eclipse, and Distortion.

Players must balance enemy threats, their remaining cards, and opportunities to collect treasure along the way. Items can be picked up to strengthen the player, and ranged equipment automatically attacks at the end of each turn’s movement.

The game may still contain bugs, balance issues, and aspects of the controls or overall experience that need refinement. Feedback on these areas is welcome.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“The price will stay the same after Early Access ends—there will be no increase. I can’t wait for more players to step into Chesspath Dungeon and experience the moments that have brought me so much joy while developing and playtesting it. I’m also looking forward to hearing the stories of your own adventures.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“I plan to use the Steam Community discussions to collect bug reports, gameplay suggestions, and impressions from players. I’ll pay particular attention to how easy the rules are to understand, how engaging route planning feels, and how different levels and items play.
Beyond those discussions, I also hope to create subtle connections between different players’ journeys. Your choices might leave faint echoes in this world, and an unexpected change you notice might carry traces of another traveler. I’d like to leave the finer details for you to discover as you explore.
I also plan to gradually introduce tools for creating, uploading, and sharing custom boards, allowing players to design their own challenges and invite others to find solutions. The exact features and release timing will depend on development progress.
Please share your clever routes and narrow escapes, as well as anything you find confusing or frustrating. I’ll prioritize improvements based on your feedback and the development resources available, and share major updates and changes through Steam announcements.”