The Bazaar

About

The Bazaar is a multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by Tempo and was released on August 13, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

The Bazaar is a hero-building strategy game set in a vibrant, ever-changing galactic marketplace where players collect exotic tools, weapons, and creatures to craft powerful decks. With an expanding roster of heroes and over 100 unique items, every run offers a fresh strategic puzzle to solve. Face fantastical creatures and rival players in turn-based encounters that blend planning and creativity.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,298 reviews

gameplay397 positive mentions

stability41 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of deckbuilding and autobattler mechanics, providing endless replayability and strategic depth.
The asynchronous PvP system allows players to take their time, making it easy to play casually without the pressure of real-time matches.
The art style and presentation are top-notch, with charming character designs and engaging voice acting.

The monetization model is criticized for being expensive, with additional characters priced at the same cost as the base game, leading to feelings of being paywalled.
There are frequent technical issues, including crashes and connection problems, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
The game can feel overly reliant on RNG, making it difficult to consistently execute strategies and leading to unpredictable outcomes.

gameplay
862 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
2%
The gameplay of the game is widely praised for its addictive and engaging mechanics, offering a unique blend of roguelike, deck-building, and auto-battler elements that keep each run feeling fresh and varied. Players appreciate the depth of strategy involved, with distinct heroes and synergies that encourage experimentation and creativity, although some express concerns about balance and monetization practices. Overall, the core gameplay loop is considered one of the strongest in the genre, providing hours of enjoyable content despite some technical and community management issues.
- “The gameplay loop is quite addictive, and being a fan of roguelikes, deckbuilders, and autochess genres, I find myself playing this for hours on end.”
- “Each run feels different thanks to the gameplay loop, and while there are meta builds, the game still leaves plenty of room to experiment.”
- “The core gameplay loop is incredibly satisfying, and I love that it’s fully offline-friendly— I can drop the game mid-run and pick it back up anytime.”
- “The gameplay suffers modestly from stale gameplay once you get out of the newbie phase.”
- “The game is riddled with technical issues, and the mechanics surrounding cosmetics and ranked rewards are constantly changing for no reason.”
- “The gameplay loop was already stale, but they made it even worse with this steam release patch by removing the most interesting start option: enchanted item.”
monetization
798 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The monetization of the game has undergone significant changes, transitioning from a free-to-play model to a pay-to-play structure, which has sparked considerable controversy among players. While some appreciate the current model as fair, allowing access to core gameplay without aggressive microtransactions, many criticize the high costs for additional characters and the frequent shifts in monetization strategies that have left players feeling misled. Overall, the game's monetization remains a contentious issue, with mixed opinions on its fairness and sustainability.
- “Now, however, the monetization is completely overhauled for the better.”
- “In a world full of monthly battle pass slop, AAA games releasing $50-70 underbaked expansions, and gacha-style card games forcing bulk expenditures for just a chance of getting what you want, the bazaar's monetization is extremely fair.”
- “I came back after they changed the monetization and it has been a pure joy.”
- “The monetization is predatory.”
- “It's a cynical, broken tech demo wrapped in a predatory monetization scheme, and my experience has been an unmitigated nightmare from start to finish.”
- “The only negative thing about this game was in the previous client and the constant monetization blunders, as of right now, a fair price for the base game, an unfair price for the additional characters...”
graphics
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, high production values, and engaging animations, often compared favorably to titles like Hearthstone and other AAA games. While some users noted performance issues and a few found the visuals overly flashy, the overall consensus highlights the game's beautiful artwork, immersive sound design, and the charm of its aesthetic, contributing to a captivating gameplay experience. Despite minor criticisms, the visuals are generally regarded as a standout feature that enhances the game's appeal.
- “Even when you’re speed-running decisions, the visuals stay readable — and when you have a second to breathe, you realize how much worldbuilding is baked into the illustrations.”
- “The artwork is beautiful.”
- “The graphics are incredibly polished.”
- “The imaging, voiceovers, and graphics all feel awfully artificial.”
- “It's one of those games that think that fancy special effects and big colorful graphics are more important than information, and as a result whenever you go into battle things just start flying all over the screen and you have no idea what does what.”
- “Until the team shifts focus from prioritizing flashy aesthetics to addressing these foundational issues, I strongly urge players to withhold their support.”
replayability
161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many reviewers highlighting its endless combinations, dynamic gameplay, and frequent updates that keep the experience fresh. Players appreciate the strategic depth and variability in each run, making it a highly engaging and addictive experience. Overall, it stands out as one of the most replayable games in its genre, offering countless hours of enjoyment.
- “The bazaar is a unique game full of depth and infinite replay value.”
- “Deep roguelike progression, meaningful deckbuilding decisions, and an asynchronous competitive multiplayer structure make every run tense and endlessly replayable.”
- “The bazaar captures much of what I connected with in that game - the amazing depth, replayability, build variety, and skill ceiling.”
- “Pricing is way too aggressive, and the removal of enchantment item start has significantly reduced long-term replayability for enfranchised players.”
- “The replayability is endless.”
- “There is a ton of replayability, lots of combos and every patch brings fresh new content or item balances that shifts the meta.”
music
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, while others find it somewhat forgettable or lacking standout tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is described as beautiful, cozy, and fitting for the game's theme, contributing to a polished experience alongside the impressive artwork and sound design. Despite some criticisms regarding its memorability, the music is generally appreciated for its role in creating an engaging and immersive gameplay environment.
- “Fantastic art, fantastic music, crazy decision-making depth, lots of viable strategies, consistently fun to play; it's pretty much a perfect game.”
- “The music, art, and world-building are all fantastic.”
- “The overall style is detailed and immersive, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the atmosphere.”
- “Music is basically non-existent; the current base theme is very tame. It is very possible that you can win different records inside the cosmetic chests, but it still has never occurred once to me.”
- “$80 for a cosmetic board and OST is nuts.”
- “The OSTs are on Spotify/YouTube; those purchases just add it as optional in-game music tracks.”
stability
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues such as freezing, crashes, and unresponsive UI elements. Many players express frustration over game-breaking bugs that can invalidate progress, leading to a generally negative perception of the game's reliability despite its enjoyable core gameplay. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," significantly detracting from the experience.
- “The art style is top-notch, the gameplay loop is loads of fun, it runs great on the Steam Deck, it can be picked up and played whenever, and it's one of a kind right now.”
- “This game is a buggy mess but it's fun.”
- “On top of that, there are a number of game-breaking bugs that will invalidate your run when it glitches out and animations prevent you from interacting with the UI.”
- “For the past month it's been nothing but crashes, freezes, and server lag, and the developers have done nothing about it.”
story
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
71%
7%
The game's story aspect is polarizing, with many users noting the absence of a traditional narrative or single-player mode, leading to frustration within the community. While some appreciate the art and character design, which convey a sense of storytelling, others feel the lack of a cohesive story undermines the experience. Overall, the game is seen more as a live-service title focused on PvP and daily quests rather than a rich narrative experience.
- “Even calling it an 'auto-battler' doesn't do it justice; each run feels like a different story and experience.”
- “Every single run has its own story, its own near-misses, and its own surprising victories.”
- “The quality in this game is crazy good, from the graphics, to the voice lines, to the storybuilding.”
- “The game was clearly designed as a live-service title (including a battle pass), as it lacks a story mode or any content beyond ranked and unranked PvP.”
- “The full details of the story are exhausting to take in and have left much of the community feeling resentful, mistrustful, and unable to recommend the product without heavy caveats.”
- “It's a long story involving a lot of broken promises from the Kickstarter campaign and continuous adjustments, paired with insta-banning anyone who comments about it on Discord or other sites they moderate.”
optimization
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
64%
28%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting persistent performance issues such as lag, stuttering, and crashes, even on modern hardware. While some users note improvements post-launch on Steam, many still find the UI clunky and the overall experience marred by technical bugs and poor optimization. Despite these challenges, some players enjoy the gameplay and believe it has potential if optimization issues are addressed.
- “Overall, this is a fun game, but it has optimization problems that make it its own worst enemy.”
- “The amount of optimization you can do to your builds and creativity you can employ here, coupled with minimum RNG required to consistently keep winning, this game is definitely worth it to at least try if you are a fan of the genre, and if you are not, I think it is very easy to pick up.”
- “Super fun game, lots of strategy and optimization.”
- “Sometimes it's worse and sometimes it's not so bad, but rarely can you play this game without some sort of performance issue.”
- “Technical issues: persistent lag, stuttering, and general clunkiness suggest spaghetti code and poor optimization.”
- “It's also extremely buggy, poorly optimized, has an unresponsive and clunky UI, and regularly crashes.”
humor
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying the quirky dialogue, funny character interactions, and the satisfaction of discovering overpowered synergies. However, some find the humor in the dialogue to be hit-or-miss, often criticizing it as unfunny or out of place. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute positively to the experience, despite some players expressing frustration with the game's monetization and balance issues.
- “The amount of personality given to each vendor, with funny lines and charming, quirky details all over the place, just keeps you smiling the whole way through.”
- “The humor hits and the art style goes great with the gameplay.”
- “A deck builder roguelite that is always going to be ever changing because of the constant shifting in metas because of balance changes and items being removed due to funny bugs.”
- “The dialogue is a major turn-off—the units say unfunny, modern 'millennial humor' that feels completely out of place in a fantasy world.”
- “The game's not perfect - I find the dialogue and voice acting obnoxious, unfunny, and poorly written in general.”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
96%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the lack of tedious currency grinding and the ability to earn chests and duplicates for currency, others find the grind for unlocks and cosmetics to be frustrating and unfulfilling. The introduction of paid options for quicker access to content has also sparked dissatisfaction among free-to-play players who feel their previous efforts have been undermined. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable strategic gameplay, the grind can sometimes feel excessive and detracts from the overall experience.
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worthwhile.”
- “Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
- “While there are moments of grinding, the sense of achievement when leveling up is incredibly satisfying.”
- “Right now, unless you already remember the NPC or are just farming XP, there’s very little meaningful decision-making involved.”
- “It's not a huge deal but feels too grindy and comes across as content meant for the try-hards only.”
- “Right now, the new character is overpowered, and there are too many duplicates in the chests, which makes the whole gear unlocking experience frustrating and tedious.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from disappointment over unmet expectations to joy derived from strategic victories and meaningful choices. While some players express frustration with the game's potential and the developer's handling of feedback, others celebrate the emotional highs and lows that come with gameplay, highlighting a deep connection to the experience. Overall, the emotional engagement varies significantly among players, reflecting both personal investment and dissatisfaction.
- “If you crave strategic freedom, emotional highs from a clutch win, and a universe that evolves with your choices, the bazaar is essential.”
- “The wasted potential is heartbreaking.”
- “I could write pages upon pages about the highs and lows that this game has made me feel.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its exceptional art, immersive sound design, and engaging worldbuilding, creating a rich and captivating experience. Players appreciate the blend of fear, frustration, and humor, alongside detailed environments and character interactions that enhance the overall vibe. The unique gameplay mechanics, such as competing against "ghosts," contribute to a distinct atmosphere that resonates with both newcomers and seasoned players.
- “The atmosphere of the bazaar is almost unmatched; the characters, the visual art, the music(!), and the little interactions with shopkeepers are all so wonderful for the feeling of the game.”
- “The overall style is detailed and immersive, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the atmosphere.”
- “Art, voice acting, and atmosphere are all top notch as well.”
- “Instead of dialogue, it creates an atmosphere of fear and frustration.”
- “The fact that you don’t face opponents in real time, but instead compete against their 'ghosts,' further diminishes the competitive atmosphere.”
- “Even if you've never played anything remotely similar, you will find something in this game; vibes, atmosphere, creativity, competitiveness, skill expression, improvement, fun.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Character development in the game is highlighted by exceptional character designs and voice acting, often compared to high-quality standards set by major studios like Blizzard and Riot. While opinions on the character designs vary, with some praising their polish and gameplay integration, others criticize them as subpar. Overall, the game offers significant roleplay potential and diverse build options, contributing to a rich gameplay experience.
- “It also deserves to be mentioned that the character designs and voices in this game are unreasonably good; there's no reason for them to be this good, it's like Blizzard/Riot level design quality.”
- “The character designs (gameplay-wise) are brilliant, the board system is amazing, the roleplay potential is immense, lore and world design are becoming more and more interesting, and the gameplay is sensational!”
- “It's clear that whomever worked on this game busted their asses off to make it with its visual design, sound effects, character design, lore building, voice acting, and numerous balance passes.”
- “The character designs look bad and almost like AI slop, and the voice lines are painful to listen to.”
- “Even though I'm not a big fan of character designs (by personal preference), they went fine for me.”
- “The character design is... okay.”