Info about Dota Underlords:

Official game description:
NEXT GENERATION AUTO-BATTLER  
In Dota Underlords, strategic decisions matter more than twitch reflexes. Underlords includes compelling singleplayer and multiplayer modes, and offers level progression with rewards. Play a strategic Standard game, a quick Knockout match, or co-op Duos match with a friend.  
SEASON ONE NOW AVAILABLE  
Season One comes with a City Crawl full of content, a Battle Pass full of rewards, and multiple ways to play online or offline. Dota Underlords is now out of Early Access and ready to play!  
CITY CRAWL  
Mama Eeb’s death has left a power vacuum in White Spire. Take back the city neighborhood by neighborhood, Underlord by Underlord, in the new City Crawl campaign. Complete puzzle challenges, win quick street-fights, and complete in-game challenges to clear paths and take over the city. Unlock rewards like new outfits for your Underlords, new wanted poster artwork, victory dances, and titles.  
BATTLEPASS  
Season One comes with a full Battle Pass offering over 100 rewards. Play matches, complete challenges, and unlock areas of the City Crawl to level up your Battle Pass and earn rewards. Rewards include new boards, weather effects, profile customization, skins, and other gameplay cosmetics. Many of these rewards can be earned for free simply by playing the game. For more rewards and content, players can purchase the Battle Pass for $4.99 on all platforms. _The paid Battle Pass is not required to play the game, nor does it provide any gameplay specific advantage._  
WHITE SPIRE AWAITS A LEADER...  
A vertical metropolis of gambling and grit, just beyond the reach of Stonehall and Revtel; White Spire is known as a smugglers' paradise with loose morals and colorful residents to spare. Despite being overrun with syndicates, gangs, and secret societies, White Spire has never descended into chaos for one reason: Momma Eeb. She was respected... she was loved... and unfortunately, she was murdered last week.  
Eeb’s death has sent one question rippling through White Spire’s underworld: who is going to run the city?  
STRATEGIZE TO WIN: Recruit heroes and upgrade them into more powerful versions of themselves.  
MIX AND MATCH: Each hero you recruit can form unique alliances. Stacking your team with allied heroes will unlock powerful bonuses that can crush your rivals.  
UNDERLORDS: Choose from four Underlords to lead your crew to victory. Underlords are powerful units who fight on the field alongside your crew, and they each bring their own playstyle, perks, and abilities to the table.  
CROSSPLAY: Play on your platform of choice and battle players across the globe in a hassle-free crossplay experience. Running late? Start a match on your PC and finish it on your mobile device (and vice versa). Your profile in Dota Underlords is shared across all devices, so no matter what you play on, you're always making progress.  
RANKED MATCHMAKING: Everyone starts at the bottom, but by playing against other Underlords you'll climb through the ranks and prove you're worthy to rule White Spire.  
TOURNAMENT-READY: Create your own private lobbies and matches, then invite spectators to watch 8 Underlords duke it out.  
OFFLINE PLAY: Offering a sophisticated AI with 4 levels of difficulty, offline play is a great place to hone your skills. Pause and resume games at your leisure.  
SEASONAL ROTATION: Every season we'll say goodbye to certain Heroes, Items, and Alliances to make room for new additions that will shape the ever-evolving world of Underlords.

Release date: Jun 20, 2019

Categories: Auto-battler, Strategy, Tactical Gameplay, Multiplayer, Turn-based Strategy, Hero Management, Cross-platform Multiplayer, Progression System

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 30; verdict: Standard; summary: The game features a Battle Pass system with purely cosmetic items and is advertised as truly free-to-play with no gameplay-altering purchases. However, there are indications of in-game purchases, and players have mixed feelings about the value of the Battle Pass, especially concerning long-term engagement.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game runs exceptionally well on Linux and Steam Deck, with users reporting flawless performance and compatibility. The Vulkan support is particularly appreciated, enhancing the gaming experience on Linux platforms.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game has received praise for its performance and compatibility on the Steam Deck, with users highlighting its seamless cross-play and technical polish. However, there are significant issues with controls optimization and stability, including crashes and disconnections, which negatively impact the user experience. These technical barriers are critical and need to be addressed to improve the overall gameplay experience on the Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $0.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the community considers the game to be worth trying and enjoyable, but there is a strong indication that it should remain free to play. The reviews highlight that the game is worth it at no cost, implying that any price above free may not be well-received.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: 400.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct statements about playtime. 'Having played this game for circa 800 hours' and 'RIP 900hrs' suggest high playtime metrics, indicating significant investment in the game. 'I myself have accumulated more than 40 hours of playtime in Dota' provides a lower bound for some players. '1 ~ 3 hours is actually enough to see the limitations of this game, but this is the beginning of Autobattler, so I've played for over 333 hours' suggests a session length and total playtime. The reasoning combines these to estimate typical playtime metrics.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Dota Underlords has a steep learning curve and inadequate tutorial, but becomes highly enjoyable once players engage in multiplayer modes, especially with friends.
  - Stance: Fun after learning curve
  - Anchor: Engaging in multiplayer modes with friends
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Inadequate tutorial; Complex UI with excessive clicks
  - Unlock drivers: Playing with friends; Engaging in team modes
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Multiplayer modes; Team play
- Player Archetypes:
  - Strategic Relaxer (buy)
    - Motivation: Strategic depth and relaxation
    - Playstyle: Flexible, enjoys both quick and long strategic sessions
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: strategy fan; casual player
    - Reference games: Dota 2; Auto Chess
  - Social Multiplayer (buy)
    - Motivation: Multiplayer and social interaction
    - Playstyle: Cooperative and competitive multiplayer
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: multiplayer fan; social gamer
    - Reference games: Dota 2; Team Fortress 2
  - Nostalgic Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and connection to the Dota universe
    - Playstyle: Long sessions, invested in ranked matches
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Dota fan; veteran gamer
    - Reference games: Dota 2; other Valve games
  - Casual Newcomer (sale)
    - Motivation: Casual and accessible gameplay
    - Playstyle: Short, casual sessions
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: new player; casual gamer
    - Reference games: other casual games


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Enjoyable and fun gameplay (weight 0.35): Many players find the game enjoyable and fun to play. It is described as addictive, entertaining, and frequently played, making it a highly engaging experience.
- Highly praised game (weight 0.28): The game is often described as amazing, very good, and one of the best games. Players appreciate its quality and potential, making it a standout title.
- Excellent autobattler experience (weight 0.21): The game is noted for being a good autobattler, offering depth and replayability. It is considered better than other autobattlers and enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- Cross-platform play (weight 0.16): The game supports cross-platform play, allowing players to enjoy it on various devices, including mobile platforms like iOS and Android.
- Active player base (weight 0.13): The game has an active player base and community, ensuring that players can always find matches and enjoy the game with others.
- Great animations and visuals (weight 0.13): The game features great animations and polished visuals. The aesthetics and animations are clean, coherent, and satisfactory.
- Good mechanics and optimization (weight 0.13): The game is praised for its good mechanics and optimization. It runs smoothly without performance issues.
- Addictive synergies and combinations (weight 0.12): The game offers pleasant and strategic synergies, making it addictive and enjoyable. Players find pleasure in building synergies and combinations.
- Easy and rewarding matches (weight 0.1): Players find it easy to find matches, and the matches are short and rewarding. The rules are also easy to understand, making the game accessible.
- Flexible game sessions (weight 0.09): The game is perfect for both short and long play sessions, catering to different player preferences and schedules.
- Good for Dota 2 fans (weight 0.09): The game is recommended for Dota 2 fans and is considered a good game from Valve. It is worth a try for those who enjoy Dota.
- Enjoyed for hundreds of hours (weight 0.08): Players have enjoyed the game for hundreds of hours, indicating its long-term appeal and replayability.
- Unique and exciting matches (weight 0.08): Each match in the game is unique and exciting due to varied alliances and item combinations, making the gameplay dynamic and engaging.
- Remains interesting despite lack of updates (weight 0.08): The game remains interesting and enjoyable despite a lack of updates. Players continue to find it fun and worthwhile.
- Hero diversity (weight 0.08): The game offers a wide choice of unique heroes, adding to the diversity and excitement of each match.
- Good time-killer (weight 0.07): The game is considered a good time-killer, especially on mobile platforms. It is ideal for passing time and enjoying quick sessions.
- Clear and intuitive interface (weight 0.07): The game features a good and intuitive interface, making it easy to navigate and play.

Common complaints:
- Game no longer updated (weight 0.41): Players report that the game has not received updates for a long time, with the last updates dating back to 2019 and 2020. This has led to a perception that the developers have stopped supporting the game.
- Game too reliant on luck (weight 0.32): Many players feel that the game depends too much on luck rather than strategy. This reliance on luck affects the overall gameplay experience and can make the game feel unfair.
- Technical issues and poor optimization (weight 0.22): Players report various technical issues, including game loading problems, connection issues, and poor optimization. These issues hinder the overall gaming experience.
- Repetitive gameplay (weight 0.18): The gameplay can become repetitive and monotonous over time. Players feel that the strategies and content lack variety, leading to a stale experience.
- Lack of achievements and content (weight 0.12): There is a notable lack of achievements, updates, and new content in the game. Players feel that there is not enough progression or maintenance to keep them engaged.
- Long matchmaking times (weight 0.12): Players experience long matchmaking times and durations, leading to frustration and a poor gaming experience. The matchmaking system is reported as broken.
- Balance issues (weight 0.12): The game suffers from balance issues, with some aspects being totally unbalanced. This affects the overall fairness and enjoyment of the game.
- Not beginner-friendly (weight 0.09): The game is reported as not being beginner-friendly, with an insufficient tutorial and a steep learning curve. This makes it difficult for new players to get into the game.
- Interface needs improvement (weight 0.07): The game's interface is reported as not being very convenient, especially on PC. Players suggest that the interface could be optimized and arranged more effectively.

Gameplay feedback:
- Synergy and alliance mechanics (weight 0.28): The game emphasizes synergies and alliances between heroes, allowing players to combine units for strategic advantages and buffs.
- Board placement and size (weight 0.18): Strategic placement of units on the board is crucial, and the board size can influence gameplay tactics.
- Auto battler genre (weight 0.16): The game falls within the auto battler genre, similar to Dota Auto Chess, where players strategically plan and watch automatic battles.
- Multiple game modes (weight 0.14): Offers various game modes including normal, ranked, competitive, casual, and knockout modes, catering to different player preferences.
- Item and ability experimentation (weight 0.13): Players can experiment with different item combinations and hero abilities to find optimal strategies.
- Balance and RNG elements (weight 0.13): The game includes balance issues and randomness (RNG) that can affect the outcome of matches and strategic planning.
- Unit merging and upgrading (weight 0.1): Players can merge units to upgrade them and gain buffs, adding a layer of strategy to team composition.
- Economic strategies (weight 0.1): Economic decisions and management are key components, influencing the overall strategy and success in the game.
- Dota 2 universe (weight 0.08): The game is based on the Dota 2 universe, featuring heroes and lore from Dota 2.
- Progression and leveling (weight 0.06): Features a simple leveling and progression system, allowing players to advance and improve their strategies over time.
- Short game sessions (weight 0.06): Game sessions are relatively short, allowing for quick and engaging gameplay experiences.
- City Crawl campaign (weight 0.05): Includes a City Crawl campaign mode, offering a unique gameplay experience within the game.

Performance notes:
- Game loading and performance issues (weight 0.26): Players report various issues related to game loading, including long load times, game crashes, and connection problems. These issues significantly impact the gameplay experience.
- Mobile version issues (weight 0.09): Players report login issues and small lags on the mobile version of the game. Additionally, there are mentions of seamless cross-play with the mobile version.
- Steam Deck performance (weight 0.08): The game has mixed reviews on Steam Deck. Some players report that it runs perfectly, while others experience controls and optimization issues.
- Graphics and hardware compatibility (weight 0.07): The game has average graphics and may not be fully optimized for high-end hardware, such as the 5090. Some players report bugs causing artifacts on high-end hardware.
- Linux version performance (weight 0.06): The Linux version of the game is reported to work perfectly, with smooth performance and the use of Vulkan for rendering.

Recommendations:
- Strategy lovers' top pick (weight 0.16): This game is highly recommended for those who enjoy deep strategy and tactical planning. It is considered a must-have for strategy enthusiasts.
- Auto-battler enthusiasts' choice (weight 0.13): The game is recommended for fans of auto-battlers and auto-chess games. It offers a mix of strategy and unpredictability, making it a great choice for enthusiasts of the genre.
- Dota 2 fans' recommendation (weight 0.1): Suitable for fans of Dota 2 and tactical gameplay. It is recommended for those who enjoy the Dota 2 universe and auto-battlers.
- Free and recommended (weight 0.1): The game is recommended due to it being free to play. Many reviews suggest trying it out because of its accessibility.
- Needs updates (weight 0.06): Some reviews suggest that the game would be better with more updates. There is a desire for the game to be resurrected or improved.
- Solid cross-platform choice (weight 0.05): A solid choice for both mobile and PC players, offering a consistent experience across platforms.
- Highly polished game (weight 0.03): The game is noted for being highly polished, offering a smooth and well-refined gameplay experience.
- Consumer-friendly design (weight 0.03): The game is designed to be consumer-friendly, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of players.
- Time capsule of goodness (weight 0.03): Described as a time capsule of premium, tactical goodness, offering a nostalgic and high-quality experience.
- Better than Artifact (weight 0.03): The game is considered better than Artifact, offering a more enjoyable experience for players.
- Strategic and accessible games (weight 0.03): Offers games that are both strategic and accessible, catering to a wide range of players with different skill levels.
- Add unit list feature (weight 0.03): Players suggest adding a unit list feature to read through, enhancing the game's usability and strategy planning.
- Display Dota 2 cosmetics (weight 0.03): Players suggest adding the ability to display Dota 2 cosmetics in the game for a more personalized experience.
- Pioneering game recommendation (weight 0.03): Recommended as a pioneering game in its genre, offering innovative and groundbreaking gameplay.
- Play alternatives instead (weight 0.03): Some reviews suggest playing alternatives like Auto Chess/Atomic Wars on Dota 2 arcade or Teamfight Tactics instead.
- Magic Chess alternative (weight 0.03): Some reviews mention Magic Chess as an alternative to this game, suggesting it as another option for players.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.25): Players feel disappointed due to the lack of updates and support from the developers, leading to a sense of abandonment. The game's balance issues, reliance on luck, and the absence of progression and achievements also contribute to this sentiment.
- Frustration (weight 0.24): Frustration stems from the game's balance issues, excessive reliance on luck (RNG), and technical problems such as crashes and loading issues. Players also express frustration with the game's complexity, lack of updates, and poor matchmaking.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the strategic depth, variety of heroes and item combinations, and the engaging gameplay. The game is seen as fun and relaxing, with smooth matches and satisfying learning curves.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.07): Nostalgia is driven by memories of past enjoyment, familiarity with characters, and the game's initial success. Players reminisce about the frequent updates during beta and the game's potential that was not fully realized.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement comes from the game's unique mechanics, strategic depth, and the potential for it to become a hit. Players are thrilled by the engaging gameplay and the possibility of playing with friends.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Satisfaction is derived from the game's challenging yet rewarding gameplay, deep tactical elements, and polished visuals. Players appreciate the consumer-friendly model and the overall positive impression of the game.
- Hope (weight 0.04): Hope is expressed by players who wish for the game to be revived and updated by Valve. They see potential in the game and hope for its future development and success.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Anger is caused by frustration with game mechanics, cheating, and lack of maintenance. Players are also angry about the changes made by developers that negatively impacted the game.
- Sadness (weight 0.02): Sadness stems from the game being abandoned by developers and the lack of future updates. Players are saddened by the decline of a potentially great game.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Positive feelings come from enjoying the game's strategic elements, build variety, and the auto-chess genre. Players appreciate the gameplay and hero variety.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Appreciation is shown for the game's strategic depth, good mechanics, and excellent design. Players value the unique features and tactical depth.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from a lack of understanding of unit abilities and mechanics, as well as unclear updates and changes. Players are puzzled by the game's direction and lack of communication.
- Hopeful (weight 0.01): Hopefulness is driven by the desire for updates and improvements. Players hope for the game's resuscitation and suggest ways to enhance it.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm comes from the game's strategic depth, dynamic matches, and balanced meta-gameplay. Players are highly engaged and recommend the game.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise is expressed by players who realize the game is engaging and well-developed. They are positively surprised by the game's features and frequent updates.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Gratitude is shown for the game's help during difficult periods and the overall positive experience it provides.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.01): Mixed feelings arise from enjoying the game for short sessions but not for long-term investment. Players have conflicting emotions due to frequent updates and unclear changes.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from the humorous aspects of the game and its entertaining nature. Players find joy in the dynamic and engaging gameplay.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness is derived from enjoying the game with friends and the overall positive experience. Players are happy with the game's mechanics and want more attention from developers.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Joy comes from successful strategies and gameplay mechanics. Players find happiness in playing against the computer and achieving victories.}