Info about Eternal Return:

Official game description:
Search, Craft, Hunt! An Eternal Survival Experiment
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On the deserted Lumia Island, the seedy organization known as AGLAIA is conducting secret experiments on human subjects in a bid to perfect a new race of extraordinary humans.  
Work with your teammates and craft weapons and armor that are required for your survival!
**The Experiment Has Begun.**
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Release date: 19 Jul, 2023

Categories: Battle Royale, Competitive Multiplayer, Cooperative Multiplayer, Survival, Resource Management, Build Crafting, Character Progression, Character-based Combat


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


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:
- Engaging & Addictive Gameplay (weight 0.73): Players consistently praise the game for its engaging and addictive gameplay, often highlighting its unique blend of genres. Many find it a refreshing and less stressful alternative to traditional MOBAs like League of Legends, offering a dynamic and deep experience that keeps them coming back.
- F2P Friendly & Fair Monetization (weight 0.24): The game is highly praised for its player-friendly monetization, being genuinely free-to-play with no pay-to-win elements. Players appreciate the generosity with in-game currency and free skins, making it accessible and enjoyable without real-money purchases.
- Appealing Art & Character Design (weight 0.22): The game receives strong positive feedback for its appealing visual design, particularly its anime-style art, attractive character models, and high-quality skins. Players enjoy the diverse and well-designed cast, finding them visually pleasing and full of personality.
- Unique MOBA-Battle Royale Hybrid (weight 0.21): The unique hybrid genre, combining MOBA and Battle Royale elements, is a significant draw. Players find this blend fresh, dynamic, and a welcome departure from traditional MOBA structures, offering a distinct and engaging experience.
- Friendly & Low-Toxicity Community (weight 0.13): The game's community is consistently described as friendly and less toxic compared to other competitive games, especially League of Legends. Features like automatic chat translation further enhance positive interactions among players.
- Fast-Paced & Short Matches (weight 0.1): The game's short match durations (typically 15-25 minutes) and fast-paced tempo are highly valued. This allows for quick, engaging sessions with minimal idle time, making it suitable for casual play and reducing frustration from prolonged matches.
- Active Developer Support (weight 0.09): Developers are actively engaged in improving the game, frequently implementing updates, balancing changes, and listening to community feedback. This commitment to evolution keeps the game fresh and addresses player concerns.
- Exciting Teamfights (weight 0.04): Teamfights are highlighted as a particularly fun and strategic aspect of the game. The dynamic nature of these engagements, combined with objective play and item progression, creates exciting and rewarding combat experiences.

Common complaints:
- Declining Game Quality & Fun (weight 0.46): Players report a significant decline in overall game quality and enjoyment, citing repetitive gameplay, lack of innovation, and a general feeling that the game is becoming less fun and more of a time sink. Many feel the game has lost its original appeal and is no longer worth playing.
- Poor Character & System Balance (weight 0.42): A major concern is the consistently poor and illogical character balance, with frequent and often detrimental changes. Players feel that new characters are released unbalanced, existing characters are unfairly buffed or nerfed, and the 'skill acceleration' system has further exacerbated these issues, making the meta feel artificial and frustrating.
- Unfair & Frustrating Matchmaking (weight 0.3): Matchmaking is consistently criticized for being unfair and unbalanced, frequently pairing new players with veterans or mixing all ranks. This leads to frustrating experiences, especially for solo players who often encounter toxic teammates, smurfs, or pre-made teams, making progression feel like a 'gamble'.
- Severe Server & Queue Issues (weight 0.28): Players across various regions (especially EU, NA, Asia 2) report severe server issues, including long queue times, high ping, frequent disconnections, and crashes. This significantly hinders the ability to find matches and enjoy stable gameplay, particularly outside of peak hours.
- High Barrier to Entry for New Players (weight 0.22): The game has a very steep learning curve and is extremely unfriendly to new players. There's a significant lack of comprehensive, in-game tutorials and official learning resources, forcing new players to rely on external guides or trial-and-error, leading to frustration and high attrition rates.
- Developer Mismanagement & Stubbornness (weight 0.2): There's widespread dissatisfaction with the developers' approach to game management and patching. Players feel that developers ignore feedback, make arbitrary and unnecessary changes, prioritize monetization over core gameplay, and exhibit an 'always right' attitude, leading to a lack of trust and repeated mistakes.
- Removal of Solo/Duo Modes (weight 0.11): The removal of Solo and Duo game modes has significantly impacted player enjoyment and retention, especially for those who prefer playing alone or with one friend. This forces players into a 3-person squad mode, leading to frustration due to reliance on random teammates and an unfair disadvantage against pre-made teams.
- Poor Game Optimization & Stability (weight 0.11): The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to frequent crashes, freezes, and low frame rates even on recommended hardware. This technical instability significantly detracts from the gameplay experience and indicates a lack of attention to core performance issues.
- Unstable & Experimental Patching (weight 0.09): Players feel like 'test subjects' due to constant, often directionless, and poorly implemented patches. These frequent large-scale changes introduce new problems, lack clear reasoning, and are perceived as rushed, causing significant discomfort and instability for the user base.
- Frustrating & Punishing Combat (weight 0.08): Combat encounters are often described as frustrating, with players dying too quickly or being 'one-shotted', especially new players. The high risk of combat, combined with the need for constant map awareness and the difficulty of recovering from setbacks, makes the gameplay feel punishing and discourages engagement.

Gameplay feedback:
- Unique MOBA-Battle Royale Hybrid (weight 0.21): The game is a unique hybrid, blending core elements of MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games with the survival and elimination mechanics of Battle Royale. It offers a distinct experience compared to traditional MOBAs like League of Legends, focusing on faster team fights and less on lane phases.
- Team-Based Battle Royale Focus (weight 0.15): The game is primarily a team-based experience, featuring 3-person squads competing against multiple other teams in a Battle Royale format. Success heavily relies on strong teamwork, coordination, and communication among squad members.
- Steep Learning Curve (weight 0.13): New players face a steep learning curve due to the game's complex mechanics, including crafting, routing, and understanding various character abilities. While challenging initially, the game offers increasing depth with continued play.
- Core Crafting & Survival (weight 0.08): A core gameplay loop involves scavenging for resources, crafting essential equipment, and hunting animals to level up. This crafting and survival system is integral to progression and strategic decision-making throughout matches.
- Matchmaking & Bot Inclusion (weight 0.08): The game features a ranked matchmaking system, but new players are often matched with bots for a significant period to ease them into the game. Bots can also appear in normal matches, especially during off-peak hours or at lower player levels.
- Limited Game Modes (weight 0.07): The game offers Normal and Ranked 3v3 modes, with a less popular Cobalt Protocol mode. There is a strong player desire for the return of Solo and Duo queue options, which are currently unavailable or heavily restricted.
- Ejection Prevention Mechanic (weight 0.04): The game includes an 'ejection prevention' mechanic, designed to help new players and allow teams to recover. However, some feedback suggests it can hinder comeback potential for teams that fall behind.
- Revival Mechanics (weight 0.03): The game incorporates a revival system where incapacitated players can be resurrected by teammates or respawn after a timer. However, a full team wipe after the mid-game typically results in immediate elimination.
- Frequent Balance Adjustments (weight 0.03): The game's balance is frequently adjusted across characters, items, and map elements. While some balance issues exist, skilled players can still perform well with various characters, indicating a reasonable overall balance.
- Specific Character Abilities (weight 0.03): Specific character abilities and their interactions are detailed, such as Debbi and Marlene's passive effects, projectile skills, and movement abilities that involve character switching.

Performance notes:
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.02): The game frequently crashes, sometimes from the lobby or during ranked matches, often displaying Unity errors. These crashes can prevent players from rejoining games, leading to frustration.
- NA server queue times are good (weight 0.02): One reviewer noted that queue times on NA servers are generally quick, rarely exceeding three minutes unless a bug occurs. Resetting the queue usually resolves any extended wait times.

Recommendations:
- Game is Recommended (weight 0.3): Many players recommend the game, especially for those seeking a unique blend of MOBA and Battle Royale genres or an alternative to League of Legends. They highlight its potential for fun and strategic depth.
- Play with Friends (weight 0.08): Players strongly recommend playing with friends in a trio queue, as solo play is often discouraged due to the game's design and difficulty. Finding experienced players or friends to guide new players is also advised.
- New Player Guidance Needed (weight 0.05): New players are advised to watch tutorials and guides before playing to understand game mechanics and avoid frustration. The game has a steep learning curve, and unprepared players will likely struggle.
- Bring Back Solo/Duo Mode (weight 0.05): There is a strong demand for the return of Solo and Duo modes. Players feel the current trio-only format is alienating solo players and contributing to a decline in the player base.
- Play Normal, Avoid Ranked (weight 0.04): Players suggest focusing on normal matches for enjoyment and relaxation, reserving ranked play for skill testing. There's also advice to ignore or report toxic players, especially in ranked mode.
- Developer Focus on Content (weight 0.02): Players are asking developers to focus on creating unique character skills and content, and to prioritize user-desired patches over experimental ones, emphasizing that the community is vital.
- Choose Characters Wisely (weight 0.02): Players advise choosing a character based on personal preference for graphics and playstyle rather than just strength, as this helps with long-term engagement.

Other player notes:
- Growth and Player Count (weight 0.18): Players appreciate the game's unique charm and the developers' vision, but express a strong desire for increased player numbers and better promotion to ensure the game's growth and sustainability. There's a clear call for more content, improved matchmaking, and a reintroduction of solo modes to enhance the player experience and attract a wider audience.
- Regional Player Base & Servers (weight 0.08): The game's player base is predominantly Asian, particularly Korean, leading to server-specific issues like low player counts on non-Korean Asian servers and challenges with matchmaking. Players are requesting better server infrastructure, including dedicated servers for regions like Taiwan and improved ping stability for Japanese players.
- MOBA Comparisons & Toxicity (weight 0.05): The game is frequently compared to League of Legends, both in terms of gameplay mechanics and player behavior. While some players find the community generally less toxic than LoL, there's a concern about new players bringing over negative behaviors from other MOBAs, highlighting a need for a more welcoming environment.
- Anime Aesthetic & Characters (weight 0.05): The game features a strong anime aesthetic with appealing character designs, which is a major draw for many players. This 'otaku' style is a defining characteristic and contributes to the game's unique charm.
- Game Improvements Over Time (weight 0.03): Players acknowledge significant improvements in the game since its launch, particularly regarding tutorials and balance. While some express nostalgia for previous versions, the general sentiment is that the changes have been beneficial.
- Successor to Black Survival (weight 0.02): The game is a spiritual successor to 'Black Survival,' with its development building upon the previous title. Knowledge of 'Black Survival' can provide additional context and lore for the current game.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.28): Players are frustrated by a wide array of issues, primarily stemming from perceived developer incompetence, poor and inconsistent balance patches, and a lack of responsiveness to community feedback. This includes technical problems like server instability, frame drops, and persistent bugs, as well as design flaws such as unfair matchmaking, high learning curves for new players, and the removal of popular game modes. The overall sentiment is that the game is poorly managed, leading to a decline in quality and an unrewarding experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.2): Players express satisfaction with the game's core gameplay, unique genre blend, and engaging characters. Positive aspects include the free-to-play model, fair monetization, and a generally friendly community. Many find enjoyment in mastering the game's strategic depth and appreciate the continuous improvements and developer responsiveness.
- Disappointment (weight 0.17): Disappointment arises from the game's perceived declining quality, unfulfilled developer promises, and a shift in game direction, often towards monetization over gameplay. Players are let down by poor balance changes, a lack of originality, and persistent issues that remain unaddressed. The low player count on certain servers and a perceived neglect of the game's potential also contribute to this emotion.
- Anger (weight 0.08): Anger is primarily directed at the developers due to perceived incompetence, arrogance, and stubbornness in decision-making, particularly concerning balance patches and game management. Players are also angered by toxic community behavior, ineffective reporting systems, and unfair matchmaking. This emotion often stems from a feeling of being ignored or exploited by the game's creators.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Joy is experienced when playing the game with friends, appreciating its unique MOBA gameplay, and enjoying the character designs and animations. Players find joy in the overall positive game experience, including a supportive community and generous in-game rewards. The game's ability to provide a fun and engaging experience, especially in team fights, contributes to this emotion.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Players find enjoyment in the game's addictive nature, fast tempo, and casual playability, especially after overcoming the initial learning curve. The engaging characters and improved game pacing contribute to a fun and entertaining experience. Playing with friends significantly enhances this enjoyment.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement is generated by the game's high quality, unique genre combination, and refreshing gameplay. Players are excited by the relentless action, strategic depth, and engaging character designs. The anticipation of the game's future and its potential to surpass competitors also contributes to this feeling.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Players express hope for the game's future, including potential improvements, increased player count, and continued development. There is a strong desire for the game to succeed and grow, with specific hopes for better balance, an improved reporting system, and a less toxic community.
- Concern (weight 0.01): Concern is primarily focused on the game's future, particularly due to low concurrent player counts and the developer's approach to game management. Players worry about the new player experience, the high learning curve, and the overall direction of the game. Excessive influence of community feedback on development is also a point of concern.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's diverse character cast, appealing art style, and the free-to-play model with its associated benefits. The developers' efforts in implementing suggestions, providing helpful navigation, and offering continuous improvements are also highly valued. The game's suitability for specific player preferences and its supportive community contribute to this appreciation.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief is felt by players who find the game to be an enjoyable and less stressful alternative to other popular titles, particularly League of Legends. The game's healthier environment, reduced toxicity, and faster pace provide a welcome escape from common issues found in other games.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement stems from the absurdity of some developer decisions, the chaotic and unpredictable gameplay, and the humorous aspects of player interactions. Players also find amusement in the game's self-suffering elements and the integration of memes and character voice lines.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from unclear developer decisions, the game's current state, and complex game systems that are difficult for new players to understand. Issues like the MMR system, early game material farming, and unexpected ultimate abilities contribute to this confusion.
- Encouragement (weight 0.01): Players feel encouraged to recommend the game to others, especially new players, due to its ease of learning for those familiar with similar genres. There is a strong desire to see more players join and experience the game, fostering a positive new player experience.
- Addiction (weight 0): Addiction is described as a strong, long-term engagement with the game, even despite existing issues or skill levels. Players find it difficult to stop playing, indicating a compelling and persistent draw to the gameplay experience.
- Challenge (weight 0): Players experience challenge due to the game's inherent difficulty, steep learning curve, and the demands of ranked server experiences. Mastering skill accuracy and team play, along with overcoming a high entry barrier, contribute to this feeling.
- Desire (weight 0): Players express a strong desire for specific game features, most notably the return of solo mode and other previously removed game modes. There is also a desire for the game to continue, for more players to join, and for personal progression to higher ranks.
- Admiration (weight 0): Admiration is directed towards the game's core idea, plot, and characters, as well as the high quality of its art team. Players admire the developers' dedication, efforts, and engagement in creating a high-quality game with compelling world-building.
- Caution (weight 0): Players express caution regarding the game's difficulty, community behavior, and potential issues like server shutdowns or loss of purchased items. Advice is given on monetization, the need for VPNs for certain characters, and suitability for specific player types, highlighting potential pitfalls.
- Boredom (weight 0): Boredom sets in due to a loss of fun after prolonged play, the current game state, and repetitive gameplay. A lack of randomness and predictable progression also contribute to players feeling disengaged and uninterested.}