Sword Dancer

Route-planning strategy

Sword Dancer is a route-planning roguelite strategy game set around the Tang Dynasty legend of Gongsun Daniang, a sword dancer whose performances were praised by the poet Du Fu. You plan her path through enemy ranks and place each step and strike before the action begins. The game then carries out the routine one blade-stroke at a time.

Plan each dance

Combat is turn-based in its sequence: you choreograph first, then watch the result as Gongsun Daniang follows the route you set. The suspense comes from seeing whether the dance you planned matches what happens when it’s performed.