Chess with real-time fights
Archon Classic takes a chess-like board and adds combat you control yourself. When you challenge an opposing piece, both sides are teleported into a Combat Arena and fight in real time until only one comes back to claim the square. So every capture is a small action sequence, not an automatic swap. Your teams are made of fantasy creatures and monsters, and the whole struggle is framed as Light against Dark. Pieces gain experience and level up as the match goes on, and each one has a primary and a secondary ability to use. Various spells are available too, so there is more to think about than just movement.
Playing with friends
Up to four players can be on the board at once, which the store text describes as pure mayhem in battle. You pick Free-for-All, where it is everyone for themselves, or Teams mode, where players gang up on opponents' pieces in battle, such as 2 vs. 1. There are three different boards to play on. If someone in your group cannot fill a seat, four AI settings with three different personalities are there to take a slot. USB controllers are supported and described as the best way to play, and keyboard and mouse work as well. Remote Play Together is available, so the group can join in from there.
Before you start
The original Archon came out in 1983 and mixed action with strategy, and this remake aims to play just like it while adding enhancements for today's players. You can choose modern or classic icons for the pieces. Winning works two ways: wipe out all of your opponent's pieces on the board, or claim all of the Power Squares for a quicker victory. Beyond multiplayer, there is a fully featured 1-player campaign called Conquest, with 4 campaigns and over 60 quests, listed at over 16 hours of gameplay on its own. Tracking and statistics are recorded per game, alongside achievements and leaderboards.