Pactmage: Chess Roster – Turn-Based Tactics with Elemental Chess and Creature Collecting

11/1/2026, 12:16:21 AM (JST)

Release date: 10/30/2026

Tags: #card-battler #strategy #turn-based-tactics #creature-collector #moba #pvp #turn-based-strategy #board-game

Reference prices

Japan

無料 (JPY)

Steam JP

Free to Play (USD)

Steam Global

Check the requirements against my PC (item by item: confirmed / short / unknown. Nothing leaves your device)

Live Store Snapshot

Body text may reflect the state at publication time. For the latest sale, price, and review changes, prioritize the live price panel, review panel, and the Steam store listing.

Japan Price: 無料
Global Price: Free to Play
Sale Status: Regular pricing
Price Checked At: 11/1/2026, 12:16:20 AM (JST)

Key highlight

Pactmage: Chess Roster is a free-to-play turn-based tactics game with elemental matchups, five unit roles, and a Pact recruitment system. Play through Adventure, local PvP, or online ranked matches.

Who this is for

If you enjoy turn-based tactics with a chess-like twist, this free-to-play title offers deep elemental strategy and a generous collection system. Worth a try for strategy fans.

Hardware Guide for Comfortable Play

Based on the game's recommended specs, showing a comfortable performance target and example parts (PassMark reference)

CPU

Game's recommended spec

Intel Core i5-6500 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or equivalent

Comfortable play target

17,107 pts(~130% above spec of 13,159 pts)

Parts near this range

Samsung s5e996517,126 pts Intel Core i5-11500B @ 3.30GHz17,075 pts AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS Creator Edition17,069 pts

GPU

Game's recommended spec

Integrated graphics or GTX 750 equivalent

Comfortable play target

4,264 pts(~130% above spec of 3,280 pts)

Parts near this range

GeForce MX5504,325 pts GeForce GTX 660 Ti4,416 pts Radeon RX 4604,097 pts

* Scores are reference values. Actual performance varies by in-game settings, resolution, and system environment.

Details

Overview

Pactmage: Chess Roster is a turn-based tactics game from Penzai Studio, released on October 30, 2026. It blends chess-like positioning with elemental matchups and creature collection.

Every unit on the board has HP, a role, a skill, and a passive, so each move matters more than just moving pieces.

Highlights

Elemental Chart: Seven elements (Water, Fire, Grass, Thunder, Ice, Wind, Earth) interact in a simple 2×/0.5× damage chart, rewarding smart counter-picking.
Five Roles: Units fall into Fighter, Shooter, Mage, Tank, or Support, each with unique skills and passives that shape team composition.
Three Modes: A 5-chapter Adventure campaign, local PvP on one machine, and Steam online PvP with casual/ranked queues and friend room codes.
No Paywall: 60+ units are available without gacha or microtransactions – you recruit defeated enemies by forming a Pact.

Who It's For

If you enjoy turn-based tactics like Fire Emblem or Advance Wars, but want a lighter, chess-inspired twist, this is a good fit. The elemental system adds a layer of strategy without overwhelming complexity.

Collectors will appreciate the Pact recruitment mechanic, and competitive players can jump into ranked online matches. Since it's free-to-play with no gacha, it's easy to try without commitment.

Game Info

Developer/Publisher: Penzai Studio
Release Date: October 30, 2026
Platform: Steam (PC)
Genres: Indie, Strategy, Free To Play
Modes: Single-player, Multi-player, PvP, Online PvP
Languages: English, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Traditional Chinese (full audio support)
Price: Free to Play (check the latest Steam listing for details)