Despot's Game: Dystopian Battle Simulator

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Despot's Game: Dystopian Battle Simulator is a turn-based strategy game where players equip gladiators with weapons and send them into battle. The game features procedural generation, creating unique weapons, enemies, and environments in every playthrough. Players must navigate the dystopian world, manage resources, and make tactical decisions to lead their gang of gladiators to victory.

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Despot's Game: Dystopian Battle Simulator screenshot

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,360 reviews

gameplay78 positive mentions

grinding14 negative mentions

Unique blend of roguelike and autobattler mechanics, providing a fresh gameplay experience.
Charming pixel art style and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
Engaging and humorous writing with plenty of pop culture references that add to the fun.

The food mechanic is overly punishing, discouraging exploration and making runs feel tedious.
Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially when losing key units leads to a death spiral.
Limited variety in classes and abilities, leading to repetitive gameplay and reliance on specific strategies.

gameplay
252 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
58%
12%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of auto-battling and resource management, with a core loop that involves navigating through rooms, battling enemies, and managing a food mechanic that many players find frustrating and unnecessary. While the game features whimsical aesthetics and some engaging mechanics, the reliance on the food system often detracts from the overall experience, leading to repetitive gameplay and a lack of meaningful decision-making. Despite its potential and fun elements, the gameplay suffers from balance issues and a steep learning curve, making it a mixed experience for players.
- “The core gameplay loop is solid, enjoyable, and unique.”
- “The strategic gameplay does not disappoint, always encouraging you to plan ahead as you design your team based on the items and mutations you're able to find, while always limiting your food resource that depletes faster as you decide to add more fighters.”
- “It's a 2D roguelite with a bopping soundtrack and a strong gameplay loop.”
- “The food mechanic is just artificial difficulty; the combat has no depth, pretty boring overall.”
- “The punishing nature of the mechanics, the RNG, and the lack of clarity sum up to make the game unenjoyable for me.”
- “The food mechanic leaves you completely at the mercy of map generation, as you don't know where the boss is until you're in an adjacent room, and your units require food every time you walk through a door.”
music
131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
37%
3%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising its catchy, energetic soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some noted that the limited variety can lead to repetitiveness, the majority agree that the soundtrack is a standout feature, often described as "banging" and "incredible." Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal, making it a key reason for players to engage with the experience.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely great though, the writing is charming and the art direction and animations are just excellent.”
- “The music is spectacular, the scenes at the start of each floor are fun, the designs are neat.”
- “Fantastic game overall, love the soundtrack.”
- “The gameplay didn't really hook me and the music, aesthetic, and humor were also not really hitting for me.”
- “The seems to be only a few tracks, so music becomes repetitive very fast, gameplay doesn't really change much no matter how many things you unlock and overall there aren't that many relevant decisions to make throughout a run.”
- “The music is rather grating, and I turned it off after a few minutes.”
humor
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, absurd, and often dark comedic elements, with many players enjoying the witty dialogue, funny weapons, and pop culture references. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss or overly random, the overall consensus is that it adds a delightful layer to the gameplay experience, making it both entertaining and engaging. The combination of humor with strategic gameplay creates a unique atmosphere that resonates well with players looking for a lighthearted yet challenging experience.
- “The dialogue is funny and the options are unique enough to keep the combinations interesting.”
- “The music is incredible, the sound effects are hilarious, and the wit is boundless.”
- “It's quirky and humorous, with relatively deep and satisfying strategy without so much complexity that it becomes intimidating.”
graphics
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
43%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant animations, and cohesive aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the nostalgic feel and unique visual design, which complements the game's humor and mechanics. However, some critics note that while the visuals are appealing, they may not compensate for perceived shortcomings in gameplay depth and balance.
- “The graphics are charming; it reminds me of my childhood with the stick fight animations on YouTube or that 3DS note game.”
- “Despot's game is a nice little auto battler with beautiful graphics and fourth-wall breaking humor.”
- “The pixel graphics are top-notch and have a ton of character; the sound effects are very organic and memorable, and the gameplay is insanely addictive.”
- “I don't go in for auto battlers and, being old, I find pixel graphics a bit silly given the state of the art.”
- “All the game has to offer is neat pixel graphics to look at, but if you are looking for some actual game aspects, you won't find them here.”
- “The game itself is just a loop of going to a few rooms, clicking a few things, clicking a door, then watching armies fight; that much in itself is hollow and you see it as soon as you get past the aesthetic of the style and graphics.”
replayability
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its variety and potential for multiple playthroughs, particularly through PvP and different modes, while others note a decline in replay value after completing the main content. Many appreciate the random events and customization options that enhance replayability, but some feel that the limited content and familiarity can diminish long-term engagement. Overall, while there are elements that support replayability, the experience may vary significantly depending on individual preferences and play styles.
- “I love this game! I'm not that far and I beat the campaign on my second run, but I can already tell this game will have so much content and replayability!”
- “Very fun auto-battling roguelike, with lots of replayability thanks to different mutagens (mutations that affect class abilities).”
- “The leaderboards really give the game another layer of replayability!”
- “The replay value dies completely after defeating the final boss, who is also extremely easy to defeat.”
- “There is no story and very limited replayability unless you want to chase achievements, but even those are pretty uninspired.”
- “The content doesn't vary a lot though, so unless you really love the PvP at the end, there isn't a ton of replayability.”
story
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
71%
9%
The game's story is largely considered minimal and not a primary focus, with many players noting a lack of depth and narrative engagement. While there are creative quests and humorous dialogue that add some charm, the overall experience feels more like a vehicle for gameplay rather than a cohesive story. Players express a desire for a more substantial narrative to enhance replayability and immersion.
- “A lot of the quest dialogues are well written and feature nice references.”
- “Pop culture references, really funny dialogue, stupid (in a good way) quests and a tone that's just fun.”
- “There are many cool dialogues, texts, and quests you might encounter during the gameplay; don't skip them, they're pretty fun.”
- “I just don't see any way I'd come back to this game unless it got an actual story added to it.”
- “It's seriously to the point where it seems like the game and story is just a shallow vehicle for the devs to spout over 9000!!!11!”
- “There is no story and very limited replayability unless you want to chase achievements, but even those are pretty uninspired.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
The reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Many players find the resource management and food systems to be particularly frustrating, leading to a gameplay experience that feels overly punishing and shallow. While some appreciate certain elements of the game, the consensus is that the grind significantly hampers the fun factor.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Puny-human-friendly, not grindy; it only took me about 3-4 attempts to beat it on normal difficulty.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “This game feels tedious rather than fun.”
- “It's not fun anymore: it's repetitive and grindy.”
- “But as it stands, I can't recommend this game with such a tedious feature that halts down the gameplay.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, the game's optimization is currently lacking, with users reporting significant frame stuttering, especially in busier areas, and some bugs that require restarts. While the potential for deep squad optimization exists, many players feel that the game is not yet running smoothly and recommend waiting for further optimization improvements. As it is still in alpha, performance issues are expected, but there is a desire for gameplay to encourage creativity over strict optimization.
- “Even with all the rogue-like wackiness, things get a little repetitive after your first full run, but then the semi-PvP aspect comes into play to really give you an incentive to delve deeper into the insane amounts of optimization you can do for your squad!”
- “The game is in alpha, so performance issues are expected.”
- “Performance struggled on the busier rooms with some stuttering.”
- “But, it is so unoptimized it's painful.”
- “Performance struggled in the busier rooms with some stuttering.”
- “I had a few issues of frame stuttering when a lot of sprites were on screen.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
11%
11%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging art, humor, and music, creating a fun and immersive experience. However, some players note that the repetitive nature of gameplay can lead to a sense of monotony over time. Overall, the combination of a unique concept and strong presentation contributes to a captivating yet occasionally redundant atmosphere.
- “It is a game with a great atmosphere and an idea.”
- “I like the humor and the atmosphere, and the fact that you are leading this hopeless rag-tag crew of puny humans through high-tech dungeons makes you actually fond of them once they won some battles and manage to survive to the next room, ready for whatever mechanical horror is waiting.”
- “Despot's game is addicting and the incredible presentation really sells the dark atmosphere.”
- “Art and atmosphere is 11/10, though it does settle in after a while and become a bit monotone.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The game's stability has been a significant concern for players, with many reporting persistent bugs and game-breaking glitches even years after its release. While some users appreciate the game's potential, the frequency of issues such as freezing battles and save failures detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration and the need for restarts. Overall, the game is seen as needing substantial improvements in stability to enhance gameplay.
- “An okay game, but unfortunately still buggy years after release.”
- “Good game, lots of potential, but tons of bugs and game-breaking glitches that ruin the game. I'll change the review when these get fixed.”
- “I like it, but there are still many bugs that prevent me from moving, or it glitches so I have to start over again.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a heightened emotional experience upon replaying the game, noting that the balanced randomness in room layouts and events encourages personal reflection and decision-making rather than frustration. This shift in perspective fosters a sense of growth and engagement, enhancing the overall emotional connection to the game.
- “Replaying it after a long time, I found it honestly feels way better!”
- “The random events in the levels and the selection of class items create a balanced experience that encourages smarter decision-making rather than feeling cheated.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players appreciate the character development aspect, noting that skills can be upgraded, which enhances the depth and progression of characters throughout the game.
- “The skills can be upgraded, adding depth to character development.”
- “The character arcs are incredibly well-written, making each journey feel personal and impactful.”
- “I love how the choices I make influence my character's growth and relationships throughout the game.”
- “The skills can be upgraded, but the character development feels shallow and lacks depth.”
- “Character development is minimal, making it hard to feel invested in the characters.”
- “There are few meaningful choices in character development, which limits player engagement.”