One game genre that continues to increase in popularity is the auto-battle genre. It is a game that was inspired by Dota 2’s Auto Chess mod. According to an article from PCGamer, Auto Chess is a strategy game that was born from a PC game mod scene. In this game, players will fight in round-based battles.
However, the difference this type of game has against other strategy-based games is that players can’t control their units. The only thing they can do is upgrade their units and place them on the battlefield that resembles a chessboard. Once the match starts, the units will automatically battle the enemy’s units. The outcome of the fight will depend on how strong your units are and if you used the right ones against the enemy’s unit.
If your strategy is spot on, you won’t have trouble winning the match. But if you somehow used the wrong units or you didn’t upgrade them, your chances of winning or low. But how did this PC game mod from Dota became a game of its own? And which is the current best auto-battle game right now? All of these are discussed in this article.
How the Dota 2 Auto Chess mod Became its Own Game
When Dota 2 came out with the Auto Chess mod, they didn’t expect the game to become as popular as it is. According to an article from Kotaku, it didn’t matter that the game was within a game. It became one of the most popular games on Steam after it came out in early 2019. People enjoyed playing Auto Chess and the strategic and tactical features it offers.
But what really made the game popular was the fact that it is unpredictable, yet you’ll still be able to work around that unpredictability. You don’t know what to expect when you play the game, especially during the battle. You can set up certain units on the board and expect them to win. But your enemy puts in better units on the board and beat the ones that you placed.
In the next match, you upgrade and enhance your units. And you even change the team composition to try different things. But the outcome of matches is not the only random thing about this game. The game also uses a slot machine-like system when it comes to the units you can use before the match starts.
Yes, you do not have any way of knowing what new units are available to you when you are just preparing. You can spend gold to replace the available ones right away. But there’s still no assurance that the replacement will contain the unit that you will need. It’s this randomness that makes the game appealing and frustrating at the same time for many people.
Which Auto-Battle Game Is the Best?
After discussing how Dota 2’s Auto Chess became popular, it’s now time to discuss what the best auto battler game is right now. There are many different games in this genre. But the most popular ones right now are Dota 2’s Underlords, Teamfight Tactics, and Auto Chess. We’ll discuss each game and see what makes them good and bad.
Dota Underlords
If you were a big fan of the very first auto battler game, Dota 2’s Auto Chess or even Dota 2 itself, then the Dota Underlords is the perfect game for you. The game is like the second version of Dota 2 Auto Chess with only a few minor changes. You will quickly realize how familiar this game is, from the gameplay, and even the characters. But what makes this game great, and probably better than the other 2 is its less reliance on randomization.
Instead of using randomization, the game has a fixed reward system where players will receive items after a set number of rounds. Though the items you can choose are still random, it’s still a good thing that you are guaranteed something. You will definitely enjoy playing this game. This is true even if you are not a Dota fan.
Teamfight Tactics
Teamfight Tactics is a game that you should play if you are a big fan of League of Legends and if you prefer faster matches. This game gives punishment to losing players in the form of a damage penalty. This means if you lose a round, you will be at a disadvantage in the next round since you’ll take in more damage. But if you battle against a losing opponent, it will be in your favor and you can make quick work of the match if you do it right.
Another positive thing that Teamfight Tactics offer is that it is the simplest auto-battle game out of the 3. The game also uses a drafting system, allowing last place players to select first from a random list of champions walking in a circle. This makes it easier for beginners to play the game and a chance for last place players to catch up to the winners.
Auto Chess
This game is the one that was pattered from the original Auto Chess mod for Dota 2. A complete and standalone version of this game was first developed for both iOS and Android devices. Players will have the option to transfer their mod accounts to the mobile version. This also means they can transfer the mobile version accounts to the complete game’s PC version.
This is the game you play if you want to fully experience the auto battler game that started the genre’s popularity. Of course, this also means experiencing the full and frustrating randomness of the game. But that’s what makes this game special and fun to play. You never really know what to expect but still have a sense of control over it. You can check out Auto Chess for yourself if you want to learn more about the game.
Conclusion
Each game presents something unique and fun. Deciding on which among them is better is not easy since every player will have a different experience playing the game. If you are new to auto battler, Teamfight Tactics should be your starting point because of its simple and easy-to-understand gameplay. If you are already experienced about auto battlers and you hate its randomness, then Dota Underlords is your choice. But if you want to experience what auto battler really is, then the Auto Chess is the game that you should play.
