Passant Chess Roguelike: The 2025 Phenomenon Explained

In August 2025, a new chess roguelike game took Steam by storm. Passant: A Chess Roguelike quickly climbed to the top of the "Trending Free" charts and has maintained an impressive 81% positive review rating from over 256 players. But what makes Passant so special, and how does it compare to other chess roguelike games like CHARK?

Developed by Marc Makes Games, Passant is often called "the chess version of Balatro" - and for good reason. Just like Balatro revolutionized poker with deckbuilding mechanics, Passant takes the fundamental rules of chess and turns them upside down. This chess roguelike phenomenon represents everything exciting about the genre in 2025.

What Makes Passant a Unique Chess Roguelike?

At its heart, Passant is a Balatro-inspired chess roguelike that challenges players to build powerful chess combinations through a roguelike progression system. Unlike traditional chess where the rules are fixed, Passant offers 125 unique modifiers that fundamentally change how the game is played.

The Badge System

Passant's Badge system is what sets it apart from other chess roguelike games. These badges can give you completely original pieces, add explosive effects when you capture opponent pieces, or even change the victory conditions. Most matches have extra objectives apart from checkmate - you might need to deliver six checks or eliminate all possible enemy pieces.

Variable Board Sizes

While games like CHARK use a compact 5x5 board, Passant features variable board sizes that change throughout your run. This keeps every playthrough feeling fresh and unpredictable - exactly what you want from a chess roguelike experience.

Boss Battles Every Three Rounds

Passant introduces boss encounters every third round, offering additional chess-like challenges such as controlling two kings simultaneously. This roguelike element adds tension and variety that traditional chess simply can't match.

The game exemplifies what Balatro-inspired chess roguelike games can achieve when they fully commit to transforming a classic game into something entirely new while respecting the original's strategic depth.

Passant vs CHARK: Which Chess Roguelike is Right for You?

Both Passant and CHARK are excellent chess roguelike games, but they serve different audiences. Here's a detailed comparison to help you decide which one suits your needs:

Why Passant Became 2025's Hottest Chess Roguelike

Passant's success isn't accidental. Several factors contributed to its explosive growth in 2025:

The Balatro Effect

Balatro's massive success in 2024 created enormous interest in deckbuilding roguelikes that reimagine classic games. Players who loved Balatro's poker mechanics were naturally drawn to Passant's chess-based gameplay. This Balatro-inspired approach proved that audiences crave familiar games with roguelike twists.

Perfect Timing

Chess players have been seeking new variations for years. The rise of chess roguelike games in 2025 coincided with growing fatigue around traditional chess training and the same old openings. Passant offered something genuinely fresh.

Steam's Algorithm

The game's strong initial reception led to prominent featuring on Steam's homepage. This visibility, combined with positive word-of-mouth, created a virtuous cycle that propelled Passant to the top of trending charts.

For more top-rated games in this genre, explore our best chess roguelike games of 2025 guide.

Should You Play Passant or CHARK?

The answer depends on what you're looking for in a chess roguelike experience:

• Choose Passant if: You have budget for premium games, want maximum complexity with 125 modifiers, have Steam installed, and enjoy 30-45 minute deep strategy sessions.
• Choose CHARK if: You want a completely free experience, need instant browser-based play, prefer quicker 10-15 minute sessions, or are new to chess roguelike games.

The Best Solution? Start your chess roguelike journey with CHARK - it's free, instant, and helps you understand the genre. If you fall in love with chess roguelike mechanics, then consider investing in Passant for its deeper complexity. Both games offer unique experiences worth exploring.