Master of Piece Early Access Impressions
Medieval Gothic art style and deep strategy make this roguelite deckbuilder stand out.
Master of Piece. Credit: I M GAME
Master of Piece from Seoul-based indie studio I M GAME launched into Steam Early Access on February 4, and it immediately stands out in the increasingly crowded roguelike deckbuilder space. Instead of building a hand of cards to play directly against enemies, you assemble a band of mercenaries that resemble hand-painted board game pieces, deploying them onto compact grids for tactical battles. The graphics will grab your attention first, but it’s the layered strategy that gives the game staying power.
From Steam:
Master of Piece is a deck-building roguelite inspired by classic board games, offering simple rules with deeply strategic gameplay. In a world shrouded by black mist, set out on an expedition with your own band of mercenaries to uncover the secrets hidden within the darkness.
The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest. Credit: Elden Pixels / Acclaim
Each run begins with a small squad, which you’ll expand by recruiting new mercenaries and upgrading their stats and traits as you progress. Structurally, it follows a familiar roguelite format: you travel across branching paths through multiple regions, choosing between battles, shops, outposts, and random events. Of course, bosses block your path at the end of each map.
Mercenaries are defined by three base stats—attack, health, and speed—along with up to two traits that dictate special behaviors or abilities. Success hinges on proper synergy, demanding smart combinations of complementary traits and relics. This is where the game’s potential for varied, deep strategy lies.
Master of Piece. Credit: I M GAME
Master of Piece. Credit: I M GAME
Fights remind me of the classic board game Stratego, but on a smaller scale and with a lot more depth. At the start of battle, you spend action points to drag units from your reserves onto the battlefield grid. Once the turn begins, units act automatically according to their speed and traits, advancing and attacking without further input. Between turns, you can activate a commander ability or spend additional action points to deploy more mercenaries or move existing units laterally or backward, reinforcing weak spots or setting up decisive pushes. Your goal is to reach the enemy camp at the end of the board and destroy it before the enemies do the same to you. The crucial detail is that your camp’s health won’t regenerate between battles, and if it falls to zero, the run is over.
The Gothic medieval presentation really stands out. Mercenaries resemble painted, carved wooden miniatures, hopping across battlefield grids that feel like a tabletop war game. The sharp, angular art direction of the 3D models extends to the UI, which is both attractive and intuitive. The tactile, board game-inspired aesthetic reinforces the strategic focus and gives Master of Piece a distinctive identity among similar roguelites.
Master of Piece. Credit: I M GAME
In its current Early Access state, the game includes four regions, eight bosses, outposts, two playable commanders, and a wide array of relics and traits to combine. I M GAME estimates six months to a year in Early Access, during which they plan to refine gameplay based on player feedback and add content expansions. Even at the start of this Early Access period, the game is strong. I’d recommend checking it out now before any potential price increases.
Master of Piece is available now on Steam Early Access.
Played on: Steam Deck
