A 78 that only half recommend
Chivalware reviews are oddly lopsided. OpenCritic gives the roguelite a Top Critic Average of 78, yet only 50% of critics recommend it, even though all eight scores on its page sit between 7.5 and 8.2 out of 10. The game, from developer Regal Pigeon and published by Dotemu and Imperfect Games, launched on PC on 5 November 2026.
The scores say a good, slightly niche game. The recommend figure says a purchase some critics hesitated over. The 78 is the Top Critic Average; the three reviews badged Top Critic (TheSixthAxis, Digital Chumps and VGChartz) scored 8, 8 and 7.5. Here’s what all eight reviews praise and doubt.
Match-3 meets grid combat
The praise is consistent. TheSixthAxis (8/10) calls it “a roguelite, match-3 riff on the grid-based battling of Mega Man Battle Network” and “a hectic and fun game.” Digital Chumps (8/10) says it “nails its grid-battling gameplay loop with retro-inspired flair.” Nindie Spotlight (8.2/10, the highest score) says it’s “a roguelike that doesn’t feel quite like any other and that’s exciting.”
Elsewhere, GameBlast (8/10) singles out the mix of real-time combat and tile-matching, plus the variety of equipment, as its main strengths. EntreMandos (8/10) likes it for short sessions and for passing the controller around with friends, and says each character’s unique traits change how you play.
| Outlet | Score | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| TheSixthAxis | 8 / 10 | Hectic, fun match-3 riff on grid battling |
| Digital Chumps | 8 / 10 | Strong loop; no noticeable permanent progression |
| VGChartz | 7.5 / 10 | Takes its roguelike loops seriously |
| EntreMandos | 8 / 10 | Pick-up-and-play, varied characters |
| GameBlast | 8 / 10 | Inventive; limited variety, balance issues |
| CrazyGameCommunity.it | 7.5 / 10 | Bold, but some harsh design choices |
| BuffGaming.rs | 7.5 / 10 | Engaging; limited enemy variety, steep curve |
| Nindie Spotlight | 8.2 / 10 | Unlike other roguelikes, slow to dial in |
Where the doubts creep in
The complaints cluster around variety and progression. Digital Chumps calls its reliance on “an ever-growing pool of potential upgrades with no noticeable permanent progression” “somewhat punishing” and flags narrow appeal. GameBlast points to limited environmental variety and balance issues, and BuffGaming.rs (7.5/10) cites limited enemy variety and a steep learning curve.
CrazyGameCommunity.it (7.5/10) says some design choices may prove irritating or overly harsh, while Nindie Spotlight warns that getting started and dialed in to how the weapons work “can take a moment.” VGChartz (7.5/10) keeps its excerpt on the game’s seriousness: despite the punny title, it says, the game takes its roguelike mechanics and loops quite seriously.
What the Steam page promises
On Steam, Chivalware is a Windows-only release at $8.99 in US dollars, a 10% cut from $9.99, as of 8 November 2026. Steam describes a fast-paced action roguelite with tile-matching: you equip up to three weapon disks, each with its own colour, and charge them by matching tiles on the battlefield while dodging enemy attacks.
Steam lists 4 playable Disk Knights, over 80 weapons and 150+ upgrades, and a demo is available. BuffGaming counts five playable knights, so treat the roster size with a little caution. Steam also lists full controller support.
The reviews are fresh, dated 5 to 7 November 2026 on OpenCritic. Its player rating wasn’t visible yet on 8 November, showing 0 of the 20 ratings needed, so the critics are the only guide for now.
Our take on the split
We think the odd 50% is a more useful signal than the 78. Nobody scored it below 7.5, but the reservations are specific and practical: repeat-run variety, a steep opening and upgrades that don’t carry over. If those sound like dealbreakers, they probably are.
- Buy if you like quick, reflex-heavy roguelites and fancy a retro, Mega Man Battle Network-style grid fight at under $10.
- Buy if you want something that, in Nindie Spotlight’s words, doesn’t feel quite like other roguelikes.
- Skip if you want permanent progression between runs; Digital Chumps found that missing.
- Skip if you need lots of enemy and environment variety; GameBlast and BuffGaming both flag the limits.
Our pick: try the Steam demo first, then buy at the current price if the loop clicks. For more recent critic splits on smaller games, see our roundups of Psycho-Sleuth, Escape Academy 2 and Virtue and a Sledgehammer.
