Catalyst Black

About

Catalyst Black is an epic team combat and strategy shooter game with excellent mechanics and awesome visuals. However, it features intense grinding, frequent advertisements, and numerous bugs that can hinder gameplay. Overall, it provides a fun and challenging experience that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,627 reviews

graphics125 positive mentions

monetization20 negative mentions

Great graphics and gameplay, very addictive.
Unique gameplay mechanics that combine elements of different genres.
Fast-paced matches that keep players engaged.

Severe pay-to-win mechanics that unbalance gameplay.
Frequent matchmaking issues, often pairing new players with much higher-level opponents.
Connection problems and lag that disrupt the gaming experience.

graphics
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the art style and visual aesthetics as beautiful and colorful. However, several users report issues with blurriness, lag, and limited graphical options, particularly on lower-end devices, suggesting a need for optimization and improvements. Overall, while the graphics are generally appreciated, there is a consensus that enhancements are necessary to meet player expectations.
- “The graphics are perfect and also it doesn't crash or freeze when I play with my phone.”
- “The graphics and concept are great, but the game sucks in terms of network.”
- “The graphics is great and the arenas of the games are fun to play with friends.”
- “Normal settings the game lags and on low graphics, you can't make anything out and it lags even more.”
- “The characters and the environment lack quality/graphics, kind of looking like they're pixelated.”
- “The graphic style is not my kind.”
gameplay
202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
41%
6%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its smooth mechanics, engaging core loop, and unique blend of genres, particularly in its tactical shooter and MOBA elements. However, issues such as lag, poor matchmaking, and a heavy pay-to-win dynamic have been frequently highlighted as detractors from the overall experience. While some players find the gameplay addictive and enjoyable, others express frustration over balance problems and a lack of depth in character customization and progression.
- “The gameplay is honestly more suited for more casual ARPG with a multiplayer mode.”
- “The controls are very easy to pick up, loadout customization is varied, and gameplay is super smooth.”
- “Amazing graphics and gameplay, huge applause for the dev.”
- “The gameplay is boring, the in-game character models are uninteresting, and the sound effects lack punch.”
- “Heavy pay-to-win mechanics (seriously, it's ludicrous), terrible matchmaking (why am I routinely placed against people three times my level?) and level geometry that you will get stuck on means that this is only for die-hard fans of quick battle arena shooters who are starved for new games.”
- “Here there's an information for you before downloading: at first the UI is terrible; secondly, the gameplay, when you choose the play button and pick your game mode, the misery begins. There is no barrier from new players and those who got pay-to-win; you get wrecked in a single blow, and your match is not balanced because you started an already played match like from 0-5 and you are at the 0 point needing to struggle to win against the enemy who can already activate an ability.”
story
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
77%
9%
The game's story aspect is criticized for its repetitive daily and weekly quests, which many players find insufficient and lacking in variety. While some appreciate the overall concept and polished design, there is a strong desire for a more engaging narrative or campaign mode, as well as a greater number of quests to enhance gameplay and reduce the feeling of monotony. Overall, players express a need for improved quest diversity and a more substantial story-driven experience.
- “Very cool design and seemingly great story here.”
- “I'd be better if story mode was accessible sooner.”
- “You guys should add story-based missions.”
- “The reward from each match is not that much, so once you exhaust all your stamina and finish your daily/weekly quests, you're pretty much done; there's nothing else to do.”
- “The bounty only comes from daily quests. We played this game every minute, and the quest points are starting to get useless because there are no quests to complete.”
- “It's a good game, but the bulk of the quests are in the Coliseum (PvE), which is kind of boring. I think it should be in Eventide because that game mode is more fun.”
optimization
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
44%
12%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews from players. While some users report smooth gameplay and good performance on low-end devices, many others experience significant lag, glitches, and blurry graphics, indicating a need for further optimization. Players express hope that future updates will address these issues to enhance the overall experience.
- “It's nice now that match rewards are based on player performance.”
- “A really polished mobile game so far, I like how everything is balanced, the graphics look great but aren't too taxing, optimized to run and look good even on a cheap phone.”
- “One of the best and well-optimized different type games I've enjoyed completely.”
- “Hi devs! Firstly, as mentioned by other players, the graphics resolution seems quite blurry even on mid-end phones. Hope this is optimized.”
- “You get a ton of items after winning or losing, but what's the point of switching weapons when they're not optimized?”
- “The lag is real, still very unoptimized.”
monetization
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
21%
69%
The monetization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players labeling it as predatory and a cash grab, particularly criticizing the lack of customization options and the absence of a battle pass or meaningful rewards. While some appreciate the absence of intrusive ads and the potential for the game, concerns about pay-to-win mechanics and high prices for in-game purchases persist. Overall, players feel that the monetization strategy detracts from the game's quality and competitive integrity.
- “The microtransactions have yet to feel intrusive but remain a concern.”
- “I'm afraid of the monetization system to come, but gameplay is super addictive, has weight - unlike a lot of mobile MOBA-likes.”
- “I know it's free-to-play, but you can just focus monetization on the skins instead.”
- “The monetization practices of this game are extremely predatory in nature.”
- “It's a cash grab game.”
- “There is no goal of playing such a trash game, there are no objectives and it's simply grinding and losing to players with more money and in-game purchases which seems to defeat the point of such games if they ever plan on going into the competitive gaming business.”
stability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
96%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of bugs, glitches, and freezing issues that detract from the overall experience. Many players experience lag and unresponsive controls, particularly during critical gameplay moments, leading to frustration. While some users find potential in the game, the persistent technical problems hinder enjoyment and require urgent attention from developers.
- “The game runs smoothly without any glitches.”
- “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs during my playtime.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; it never lags or freezes.”
- “Serious bug issues. What's up with your server? My game freezes whenever I stay 10 seconds in a match, but I can still hear my party talk. This even happens to them too. It was a good start, but now it's just sad. Fix your bugs. 😡”
- “The game is extremely buggy.”
- “The game is kinda laggy and freezes a lot. Is this game supposed to be that heavy?”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it can feel excessive and often leads to no meaningful rewards, especially when competing against pay-to-win players. While some appreciate the engaging gameplay and variety in equipment, many feel that the lack of character customization and appealing shop options detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the grinding can be enjoyable but is marred by a sense of imbalance and insufficient incentives for casual players.
- “Please address this 🙏 I can't always spend a few hours grinding, so it's frustrating when the matches I do play end in no gain, or a net loss - and it's especially frustrating when I did very well in the match.”
- “The soul-crushing pay-to-win system quickly brings the game to a grinding halt.”
- “There is no goal of playing such a trash game; there are no objectives and it's simply grinding and losing to players with more money and in-game purchases, which seems to defeat the point of such games if they ever plan on going into the competitive gaming business.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the gameplay experience, with many noting its ability to add excitement to battles. However, there are concerns about sound quality and occasional issues with missing sound during matches. Overall, while the music and visuals are appreciated, improvements in sound quality and consistency are needed.
- “The music playing in the background really gives the battle more of a punch.”
- “Pros: good music and graphics.”
- “Love the music, art, and gameplay.”
- “A lot of improvements needed, and sometimes there is no sound in the match except for the music.”
- “Sound quality and music should be better.”
- “Please develop the match between friends and improve the game map graphics and background music.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The humor in the game is highlighted through its colorful graphics and playful gameplay, which many players find amusing and engaging. However, some users express frustration with certain features, such as the inability to play cooperatively with friends, and find irony in the game's ongoing technical issues despite patch notes claiming fixes. Overall, the humor is appreciated, but players desire more social features and content to enhance their experience.
- “It's funny because the new patch says you guys 'fixed' the crash on startup, but here we are... still crashing on startup 🙂🙃”
- “This game has funny and colorful graphics :) and it's fun too, but you all need to add more masks (that beast mask).”
- “Nice graphics and funny gameplay.”
- “I love how fast it is to find a match and the 'dive-in' feature, but I don't find it funny when I have to fight against my friends. The purpose was to play together as a team, so can you guys add a feature to create parties or something like that?”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game has been criticized for its lack of customization options and poor character design, leading to a perception of it being a cash grab. The overall user experience is marred by a clunky interface, contributing to a negative impression of the game's character progression system.
- “The game mechanic itself and the map design are fine and could still be polished a bit, but what puts me off massively is the character design and lack of customization, along with the clunky and cheap UI that feels like another cash grab mobile game.”
- “Typical, disgustingly greedy, pay-to-win mobile garbage, complete with uninspired character designs.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a profound emotional impact from the game, feeling a sense of insignificance within the team dynamic, which evokes strong memories and a desire to cry. The experience highlights the emotional weight of teamwork and personal contribution, leaving players reflecting on their roles and past experiences.
- “I don't know why, but this game brings back flash memories; I just want to cry.”
- “It made me feel insignificant on the team, like every player in the match contributes close to nothing, so it feels like it doesn't really matter whether there's 1 or 2 players missing.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere is perceived as overly bright and childish, especially in contrast to darker themes found in other games, leading to mixed feelings about the art style and worldbuilding.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into a world that feels alive and vibrant.”
- “The combination of sound design and visual elements creates a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after you stop playing.”
- “Every corner of the game is filled with intricate details that enhance the overall atmosphere, making exploration a truly captivating experience.”
- “The art style and worldbuilding feel too childish and bright for my taste, especially coming from a game that had a much darker atmosphere.”
- “The overall atmosphere lacks depth and fails to immerse me in the game world.”
- “I found the environment to be uninspired and lacking the tension that I was hoping for.”