PioPow is a strategic turn-based game for the NES developed by the late Jeremias Babini. You play as a cute chick on a mission to rescue animals that have vanished following the opening of a sinister restaurant run by an evil chef. The game blends a whimsical narrative with thoughtful gameplay, requiring quick thinking and planning.

Gameplay unfolds on grid-based levels composed of square tiles. Every action you take—moving, attacking, or using an item—is followed by enemy movements, allowing you to strategize without time pressure. Your main goal on each level is to find the exit key, held by one of the enemies. Since you don’t know who has it, you must decide whether to confront foes directly or use environmental tactics.

Combat involves “bumping” into enemies, but direct attacks can be risky due to varying enemy strengths. Strategic use of bombs is crucial. Levels feature dormant bomb creatures that can be activated to follow you and explode after a few turns in a cross-shaped pattern, similar to Bomberman. You must avoid the blast while using it to damage enemies. Some foes throw smaller bombs that you can kick across the grid for ranged attacks.

Chests scattered throughout levels offer power-ups like health boosts, extra bombs, or abilities to reveal the key-holding enemy. These items are stored in your inventory for strategic use. The game introduces a variety of enemies with unique behaviors: some chase you, others avoid you, and some can spawn additional foes. Understanding their patterns is key to effective strategy.

As you progress, new environmental elements appear, such as destructible obstacles and special tiles like snow that certain enemies can traverse. The game is divided into worlds or areas with several floors each. After completing a set of floors, you reach a restorative spa where you can recover health before facing new challenges.

Levels are procedurally generated, enhancing replayability by offering unique experiences each time. The difficulty increases steadily, requiring you to adapt your tactics. Defeating the final boss unlocks a New Game Plus mode, where you play as a smaller chick with less health and face tougher enemies, adding significant challenge and replay value.