Rank 01Why this
Shares meta progression with Defend the Rook.
- $24.99 (Price checked Nov 3)
- Deck Verified
- 2023
Games like Defend the Rook
- 16 games
- Updated May 4, 2026
Players who liked Defend the Rook also play
The closest matches to Defend the Rook: The Last Spell, DungeonTop, Crown Trick, Trials of Fire, and For The King. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.
- Rank 01
Rank 02Why this
Also Turn-Based and Tactical RPG, like Defend the Rook.
- $15.99 (Price checked Oct 31)
- Deck Playable
- 2020
Rank 03Why this
Also Turn-Based and Perma Death, like Defend the Rook.
- $4.99 (Price checked Nov 3)
- 2020
Rank 04 
Rank 05 
63 new reviews this week- Trending
For The King
Why this: Also Party-Based RPG and Turn-Based, like Defend the Rook.
Rank 06 
Rank 07 
Rank 08 
The full ranked list: top 24 games like Defend the Rook
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- Released: 2021
- Developer: One Up Plus
- Price: $17.99checked Oct 31
- Steam Deck: Deck Verified
- 77% of 93 reviews
- Genres: Strategy, Indie, RPG
- Platforms: Windows
Players highlight
- Chess like tactical positioning matters deeply
- Meta progression unlocks fresh strategies each run
- Randomized upgrades create unique builds
- Atmospheric
- Challenging
- Contemplative
More games like Defend the Rook, sliced differently
Cheaper alternatives
Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below Defend the Rook at current Steam store prices.
Tower Escape
Why this: Also Perma Death and Tower Defense, like Defend the Rook.
Heroes of Steel RPG
Why this: Also Party-Based RPG and Turn-Based, like Defend the Rook.
Overfall
Why this: Also Party-Based RPG and Strategy RPG, like Defend the Rook.
Templar Battleforce
Why this: Also Turn-Based and Tactical RPG, like Defend the Rook.
Monsters are Coming!
Why this: Shares tower defense and meta progression with Defend the Rook.
About Defend the Rook
The closest matches to Defend the Rook: The Last Spell, DungeonTop, Crown Trick, Trials of Fire, and For The King. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.
If Defend the Rook is your kind of game, the closest matches are The Last Spell, DungeonTop and Crown Trick — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers describe it as atmospheric, challenging and contemplative, and single out its hero class variety and meta progression. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
About Defend the Rook: A roguelike tactics board combat combined with tower defense elements. Defeat the invading hordes to stay alive and save the land! Enjoy more tactics than a normal TD game, combined with the added challenge of building towers and fighting off waves of enemies!
Is Defend the Rook worth buying?
Mostly recommended
A summary of what players say, not a promise you'll like it. Every signal is listed below.
- 77% of 93 Steam reviews are positive.
- We don't track this game's daily reviews yet, so this is the all-time picture.
- Price: $17.99 (checked Nov 7).
- People who recommend it had played a median of 7 h when they wrote their review.
- Critics had played a median of 4 h before their negative review.
- Steam Deck Verified.
What fans praise · Themes mined from positive reviews
- Chess like tactical positioning matters deeply
- Meta progression unlocks fresh strategies each run
- Randomized upgrades create unique builds
- Synergies between units and spells feel rewarding
Top critical reviews
The most up-voted negative English reviews in our sample, quoted as written.
“Go through the 5 same levels 20 times because they didn't want to want to hire a decent story writer. I beat the first round in a few hours and let down to find that I was going to go through the same content 20 more times as it gradually…”
People who play it also play: The Last Spell, DungeonTop, Crown Trick
Frequently asked about Defend the Rook
Can I run it?
Is Defend the Rook verified for Steam Deck?
Yes — Defend the Rook is Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve has confirmed it runs well on the Deck with full controller, text legibility, and default configuration support.
How much does Defend the Rook cost?
Defend the Rook is listed on Steam at 17.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
What games are most similar to Defend the Rook?
Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside Defend the Rook are The Last Spell, DungeonTop, Crown Trick.
Who developed Defend the Rook?
Defend the Rook was developed by One Up Plus and published by Goblinz Publishing, Maple Whispering Limited.