Luck be a Landlord

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,488 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • replayability
Luck be a Landlord Game Cover
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In "Luck be a Landlord," you're down to your last coin, but the slot machine could be your ticket out. This roguelike game offers ever-changing symbols and items, allowing for unique build strategies each time. Face off against a ruthless landlord, pet a dog, and navigate the challenges of capitalism. With newly added screen reader support, the game is now more accessible than ever.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,488 reviews
gameplay141 positive mentions
grinding25 negative mentions
  • Very fun and addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged.
  • Unique blend of slot machine mechanics and deck-building strategy.
  • Regular updates and mod support enhance replayability and keep the game fresh.
  • Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating runs and lack of control over outcomes.
  • Limited variety in viable strategies, often leading to repetitive gameplay.
  • Some achievements are excessively grindy and may deter completionists.
  • gameplay389 mentions

    The gameplay of "Luck Be a Landlord" is characterized by its unique blend of slot machine mechanics and deck-building elements, creating an addictive and engaging experience. While the core loop is simple—spinning to earn money and selecting symbols—players appreciate the depth that comes from discovering synergies and strategic placements, though some feel the reliance on luck can lead to repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game offers a fun, casual experience with potential for more complexity and variety as it continues to evolve in early access.

    • “The gameplay is super easy, and yet super deep when you start realizing what combos with what.”
    • “With strategic placement of tenants and items, each run offers unique challenges and addictive gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple - spin a slot machine to make enough money to pay rent, which is due after a certain number of spins and increases with each payment.”
    • “However, as long as the essence mechanic exists, it's generally a fast run ender that reduces runs to boring little stints of 14 levels or less.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple: spin a slot machine to make enough money to pay rent, which is due after a certain number of spins and increases with each payment.”
    • “There's only so much you can do with a game based on one single mechanic, and without a very large variety of symbols or items, there's just very little to keep you coming back for another round.”
  • music140 mentions

    The music in the game receives a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its catchiness and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. While some find the soundtrack to be a standout feature that keeps them engaged, others note that it can become repetitive over time, leading them to prefer listening to their own music or podcasts. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as enjoyable and fitting for the game's vibe, contributing to its addictiveness and appeal.

    • “The soundtrack is great and I will be playing it as a personal soundtrack from now on.”
    • “The music enhances the overall experience, setting the perfect mood for each gameplay session and elevating the enjoyment to new heights.”
    • “The music is the perfect balance between bops and mind numbing, that you don't even notice after a while unless you pay attention.”
    • “The music and sound effects are also terrible... I had to turn them off after just 10 minutes.”
    • “There's no real music to speak of, either.”
    • “The one critique I have is the limited variety of music, that I finally just muted in favor of my own tunes.”
  • replayability122 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. Many players find it highly replayable due to its randomness, various strategies, and frequent updates, while others feel it lacks depth and runs out of content after a certain point, leading to diminished long-term replay value. Despite these criticisms, the game is generally regarded as fun and engaging, with enough variety to encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “Surprisingly deep, engaging, and replayable.”
    • “One of the better roguelites I've played with quite an innovative take on a sort of 'deckbuilder.' Lots of interesting combos to try and make builds for, and the randomness gives good replayability.”
    • “The constant bi-weekly updates by the dev team have led to a lot of great improvements and new challenges, making the gameplay always feel fresh and quite replayable.”
    • “It doesn't have that much replayability, but for the price it is still worth.”
    • “Fun at first but really lacks any deep replayability after the first 10 or so runs.”
    • “The biggest issue is replayability.”
  • graphics118 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as simple, low-fi pixel art that some players find charming, while others consider them lackluster and in need of improvement. Many reviews highlight that the visuals do not detract from the engaging gameplay, although there are calls for enhancements to better match the game's potential. Overall, the aesthetic is seen as cute and fitting for the game's style, but opinions vary on its appeal and execution.

    • “The pixel art style is charming, and the rogue-like elements keep you coming back for more.”
    • “Visually, the game opts for a simple yet charming aesthetic that perfectly complements its gameplay style.”
    • “The cute visuals are a treat for the eyes and contribute to the game's overall appeal.”
    • “The game stutters despite having one of the worst pixel graphics I've seen.”
    • “While luck be a landlord offers a decent gameplay experience with its slot machine mechanics and synergistic elements, it ultimately falls short in terms of visuals and sound design.”
    • “The lackluster graphics and underwhelming audio fail to create an engaging and immersive environment that would elevate the gameplay to a more enjoyable level.”
  • humor61 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its clever writing, whimsical sound effects, and amusing interactions, particularly in the context of gambling and anti-capitalist themes. Many reviews note the game's ability to blend humor with engaging gameplay, making it both entertaining and addictive. Overall, the lighthearted and often absurd humor contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “Funny, clever, addictive.”
    • “The mechanics are surprisingly deep for a game about playing a slot machine, and the humor of everything is great.”
    • “Love the game, love the anti-capitalist message, love the lighthearted humor.”
  • story54 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered minimal and simplistic, revolving around the premise of paying rent through slot machine winnings, which some players find amusing but lacking depth. While the narrative is not the main focus, it features a light anti-capitalist theme and offers a fun, if not profound, experience. Many reviewers express a desire for more dynamic storytelling and content to enhance the gameplay.

    • “The story and the plot are so vivid, it feels almost too real.”
    • “This game has an easy-to-follow story and an expansive lore.”
    • “The story is simple: you must pay an ever-increasing rent to a landlord whose flat I assume we occupy.”
    • “The story is barebones and clearly not the focus as it's told through small text bubbles, but I nevertheless found some of the little anti-capitalist humor quite enjoyable.”
    • “The game has no story apart from a nonsensical backdrop: you have rented an apartment with a slot machine, and you have to use that machine to earn enough money to pay your rent, within a limited number of spins.”
    • “The 'story' is that you are a new tenant who has to pay off increasing rent from your slot machine winnings.”
  • grinding29 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the core gameplay and deckbuilding mechanics are enjoyable, the achievement system is excessively grindy and often relies on random events, leading to tedious repetition. Completionists may find the grind overwhelming, as some achievements require hundreds of hours and can feel pointless or frustrating. Overall, while the game offers fun strategic elements, the grind can detract from long-term replayability.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Fair warning too that while a lot of the achievements are fine and some are funny, there are some incredibly grindy RNG-based achievements.”
    • “Do not buy this game if you are someone who enjoys completing 100% of achievements, as some of them don't make sense and require excessive grinding.”
    • “One word of warning to completionists - some of the achievements for this game require hundreds of hours of grinding.”
  • monetization15 mentions

    The game is praised for its straightforward monetization model, requiring only a one-time upfront payment with no ads or microtransactions, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the absence of in-game purchases, allowing for a more enjoyable and addictive gameplay without the fear of additional costs. This approach is seen as a refreshing throwback to earlier mobile gaming, where fun and engagement were prioritized over monetization tactics.

    • “But I want to praise this one because it's literally slots without the consequences of gambling and the allure of gacha all combined into a single package with power-ups, replayability, and zero microtransactions.”
    • “The game can be quite fun for killing 10-20 minutes when needed and considering the game does not contain any microtransactions already gives it some 'yay' points; buy the game once and you get everything in it.”
    • “It's straightforward, addicting, and lacks microtransactions.”
    • “We must unite and stand against the throngs of microtransactions!”
    • “It makes you afraid of trying it for fear of microtransactions.”
    • “It's a throwback to the days when iPhone apps weren't littered with obnoxious ads.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting various bugs, particularly in the interface and achievement systems. While some glitches are minor and manageable, issues like controller input problems and crashes when changing resolution detract from the overall experience. Despite its enjoyable gameplay and aesthetics, many players find the stability issues significant enough to impact their recommendations.

    • “I will not recommend because of the very buggy and far from user-friendly interface.”
    • “Lacking and buggy menus crushes this one; there are way better free games that do better than this honestly.”
    • “That being said, fullscreen on Mac is still pretty buggy, and I encountered a bug where changing resolution mid-game would crash the game (which messed up one of my really good runs).”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game offers extensive optimization opportunities with various strategies and synergies, allowing players to create highly efficient builds, including an endless mode for experimentation. Deck space serves as a crucial resource, influencing the consistency of performance, making it appealing to both casual players and fans of puzzle and optimization genres.

    • “Would recommend to a casual player or someone who likes puzzle/optimization games.”
    • “There is a lot of optimization to be done and tons of different ways to play.”
    • “Using deck space as your currency—this translates to the consistency of your deck's performance, like any deckbuilder—you pick up symbols (your 'cards') based on different sets of calculations and risk propositions.”
    • “There are tons of synergies and viable ways to win, and even an endless mode if you want to be silly and try to make ridiculous, highly optimized builds.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke feelings of emptiness and heartache, particularly through its poignant narrative about the struggles of renters against systemic injustices. The experience is described as both impactful and engaging, leaving players with a mix of sorrow and satisfaction.

    • “10/10, would cry again.”
    • “A heart-wrenching tale of the average renter's struggle against their greedy landlord and a brutally rigged system, condensed into a wonderfully designed bundle of pure dopamine.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere is generally inviting and effective in drawing players in, though it lacks groundbreaking elements. However, the sound effects are considered generic, which detracts from the overall immersive experience.

    • “While they may not be groundbreaking, they serve their purpose admirably, creating an inviting atmosphere that draws players in.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highlighted through the unique and expressive character designs, which imbue the human symbols with distinct personalities, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

    • “I particularly like the human symbols, as they have a surprising amount of personality solely based on their character designs and effects.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

13hMedian play time
63hAverage play time
6-78hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 40 analyzed playthroughs

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