Game design deep dive: what makes autobattlers fun?

This is another video where I analyze existing games to try and figure out what game designers can do to make games fun (within a certain genre). I've talked about UI design, roguelite mechanics, and today we are going to deep dive into auto battling mechanics and features so see what makes auto battler games fun.

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[bexplosion]

from wiki:
The genre was popularized by Dota Auto Chess in early 2019 and saw other games in the genre released soon after by more established studios, such as Teamfight Tactics, Dota Underlords, and Hearthstone's Battlegrounds.

[QuietPenguinGaming]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your research into this genre, I'm trying to make a card game / autobattler of my own so this was very useful!

Great summary at the end too. Subbed! Best of luck with your game :)

[ihavecrabs]

theyre great because instead of relying on mechanics (like aim, apm, rotations), game sense and macro are king

[amuro]

The game that "started it all" is actually dota. Autochess was a dota custom game that a few players made and it got so popular they made it into a standalone game then riot and valve made their own version of it.

[christopher.nguyen]

Hi Savallion, really vibed with your video and thanks for your effort and time!

I'm working on my auto-battler PoC, and I got interested after playing so many of the genre, including TFT (I got to GM in set 4!). For me, the potentially enduring fun of these games come from these following mechanics: a shop, shop re-roll, gold interest, synergies (heroes, items, weapons, etc.), and unit upgrades (e.g., 3-star champions). However, they are all just good tools to serve the true enduring human desire: to mastering randomness.

With that POV, here are some games I feel that you'd like (or dislike): Luck be a Landlord, Brotato, Tiny Rogues, and Balatro


Look forward to playing your new game once it's ready!

[steevans]

Great video, been playing Dungeon Beneath since finding it

[christian_]

clash mini was a very casual and fun mobile auto chess game but sadly got deleted

[bradenator]

Just want to chime in and say that the game that really started it all (came before Teamfight Tactics) was a mod for Dota 2 called Dota Autochess. Riot was the first to see the trend and create their own version, but Valve also entered the genre with Dota Underlords.

[bluzenkk]

i've heard that most strategy game is actually rock paper scissor at its core. Hope this piece of information helps~
gd luck on your game~

[raelroque]

it's no use showing the blue eye and making random videos, you have to do something for others, or your channel will not go beyond that