Info about Circadian Dice:

Official game description:
A cosmic entity has twisted time into an endless cycle. By observing the repeating patterns, the entity intends to destroy all uncertainty and ultimately control reality.  
In Circadian Dice, you control a group of heroes that have managed to step outside this unnatural cycle, and are now setting out to find and destroy its source. You will need to overcome a series of skirmishes by upgrading your dice to bend chance in your favor, and strategically using your limited resources to defeat your enemies.  
While the heroes and their dice are restored to normal after each scenario (whether they die or succeed), any upgrades, relics, abilities, and modifiers that you have unlocked persist - so your arsenal is constantly improving! The better you perform in battle, the quicker you will build your arsenal and progress through the game towards your ultimate goal to break the loop and save the universe.
Features
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*   A game about probability manipulation and combo crafting: shape 6-sided dice into weapons of destruction, generators of wealth, magic conduits, or stat-boosting machines!  
*   13 scenarios, each available in Normal and Hard Mode. In Hard Mode, each scenario is significantly changed with new enemies, secrets, and challenges!  
*   Built for quick pick-up-and-play sessions: each scenario takes between 10 and 30 minutes to play, and is designed as a stand-alone challenge.  
*   Unlockable end-game modes such as an endless randomized scenario, and a campaign mode that provides a more traditional, long-term roguelike experience.  
*   10 different heroes with unique characteristics and play styles.  
*   60 unlockable and equippable Relics that provide your hero with new abilities, change your stats, and give you game-warping bonuses.  
*   Tons of hand-drawn animations.  
*   110+ different abilities that strengthen your hero, manipulate your dice, or damage your enemies.  
*   A semi-random upgrade mechanic for each scenario and hero, that ensures new combo opportunities every time you play.  
*   66 enemies and 27 bosses, each with different characteristics and abilities.  
*   (Almost) every enemy can be captured in your dice to give you bonuses and new attacks based on the enemy's attributes!  
*   Rare random enemy mutations that can either make your adventure harder, or be turned to your benefit.  
*   High replayability: random mutators, semi-random upgrade opportunities, and near-infinite combo possibilities makes each run of a scenario unique!  
*   Lots of secrets to discover.  
*   Extensive tooltips for every element in the game help you learn and strategize.

Release date: Jul 11, 2022

Categories: Roguelike Deckbuilder, Dice-based Gameplay, Turn-based Combat, Character Progression, Meta-Progression, Procedural Generation, Resource Management, High Replayability


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $8.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews consistently highlight the game's low price point (around $5.99–$6) and describe it as a strong value, using phrases like 'well worth it' and 'good bang for your buck.' They also note that the game frequently goes on sale, implying the full price is acceptable but a discount is even better. The community's sentiment suggests the game is underpriced at its current cost, so the fair base-game price could be slightly higher, though no specific higher amount is mentioned. Thus, a reasonable fair price range is $5 to $8, anchored near the $6 price point.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 50.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 15.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Session length is directly supported by multiple quotes describing run durations of 5-15 minutes, with 10-15 minutes being the most common range. Game completion is supported by explicit estimates of 30-50 hours for full completion, with one reviewer mentioning 50 hours for 100% completion. Story completion and endgame hours are not clearly quantified in the provided reviews, so those metrics remain null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is immediately engaging and addictive, with players reporting enjoyment from the tutorial onward, despite some later criticisms of the progression system.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: N/A
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: N/A
- Player Archetypes:
  - Roguelike Deckbuilder Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: To experience a fresh twist on the roguelike deckbuilder formula and master its meta-progression systems.
    - Playstyle: Strategic deck/dice building, min-maxing, and exploring synergies across classes and relics.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: veteran
    - Reference games: Slay the Spire; Monster Train; Slice & Dice; Rift Wizard; WildFrost
  - Completionist Achievement Hunter (buy)
    - Motivation: To achieve 100% completion, earn all stars, and maximize high scores across every class and challenge.
    - Playstyle: Grinding, replaying levels for perfect scores, optimizing builds for maximum efficiency.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: completionist; achievement hunter; hardcore gamer
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Casual Chill Player (buy)
    - Motivation: To relax and enjoy quick, addictive gameplay sessions without heavy commitment.
    - Playstyle: Short, casual runs; occasionally experimenting with builds but not obsessing over optimization.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: chill
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Critical Design Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: To find a well-designed, strategic dice-based roguelike that respects player agency and balance.
    - Playstyle: Analytical, comparing mechanics to board games and roguelike standards; likely to abandon if design flaws are apparent.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Under Falling Skies


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:
- Highly enjoyable and fun (weight 0.68): Players consistently describe the game as fun, satisfying, and addictive, with engaging mechanics and deep gameplay. The positive sentiment is widespread across many reviews.
- Excellent dice-building roguelike (weight 0.58): The game is praised as a unique and brilliant dice-building roguelike, with innovative mechanics and serious depth. It stands out among similar games in the genre.
- High replayability and longevity (weight 0.42): The game offers exceptional replay value with a ton of content and unlocks, keeping players engaged for a long time. Many mention they haven't explored everything yet.
- Diverse character playstyles (weight 0.35): Each class or character plays differently, with unique strengths and weaknesses, requiring different strategies. This variety adds to the game's depth and replayability.
- Abundant content and unlocks (weight 0.32): The game features an insane amount of content, including many unlocks, characters, and mechanics. Players appreciate the steady drip-feed of new elements.
- Surprising and diverse mechanics (weight 0.31): The game introduces new mechanics and elements at every turn, keeping gameplay fresh and varied. Players enjoy the constant surprises and diversity.
- Well-designed and deep mechanics (weight 0.26): The gameplay is described as well thought out, addicting, and surprisingly deep, with a solid foundation of mechanics. The design is praised for its coherence and polish.
- Easy to learn, hard to master (weight 0.23): Reviewers note that the game is simple to pick up but offers layers of complexity, providing a satisfying challenge for both casual and hardcore players.
- Deep dice customization (weight 0.15): Dice customization is deep, allowing players to swap out faces with various effects like hearts, swords, flames, and more. This adds strategic depth.
- Short but involved runs (weight 0.14): The game features short runs that are still involved and engaging, making it suitable for quick sessions. This pacing is appreciated by players.
- Elegant mechanic introduction (weight 0.11): New mechanics are introduced gradually and elegantly as players progress, making the learning curve smooth. This approach is praised for its design.
- Earned victories despite luck (weight 0.11): Victories feel earned even though luck is involved, indicating a good balance between skill and chance. Players find this satisfying.
- Plays well on Steam Deck (weight 0.1): The game runs well on the Steam Deck, making it a great portable experience. This is a positive point for players using that device.
- Hard mode offers challenge (weight 0.1): Hard mode provides a reasonable and fun challenge for players seeking extra difficulty. It is well-received by those who want more.

Common complaints:
- Score system forces bad choices (weight 0.74): The scoring system forces players to skip rewards to earn stars, which feels counterintuitive and reduces fun. This design was widely criticized as a fundamental flaw.
- Graphics and art criticized (weight 0.69): Multiple reviewers found the graphics and art style subpar, describing them as amateurish, poor, or dated. This was a common complaint across several clusters.
- RNG frustrates players (weight 0.61): The game's heavy reliance on random number generation (RNG) was a major frustration, with players feeling that outcomes were too dependent on luck rather than skill. This was mentioned in multiple clusters.
- Difficulty balancing poor (weight 0.32): Difficulty is poorly balanced, with normal mode too easy and hard modes sometimes absurdly difficult without perfect rolls. This leads to frustration and repeated restarts.
- UI needs improvement (weight 0.28): The user interface was described as uninspired, low-resolution, and sometimes confusing, with specific issues like hard-to-read text on Steam Deck and an awkward abilities accordion.
- Mechanics feel unrefined (weight 0.25): The game has too many mechanics that don't mesh well, making it feel like a prototype. Some abilities are poorly written and don't work as described.
- Progression feels grindy (weight 0.23): Unlocking classes and relics is grindy and does not provide direct improvements, leading to a linear progression that forces replaying the same content. This was a common complaint.
- Class balance issues (weight 0.18): Some classes and mechanics feel better than others, with certain characters outclassed at higher difficulties. This leads to imbalanced gameplay.
- Sound and music lacking (weight 0.17): Sound effects are generic, music repeats, and there is a lack of music overall. The OST is only passable, contributing to a low-budget feel.
- Reward system punishing (weight 0.15): Players are punished for spending gold and leveling up, and must artificially extend rounds to rack up score, which feels counterintuitive and frustrating.
- Title and presentation poor (weight 0.14): The title is awful and the overall presentation is low-budget, which may turn off potential players.
- Missing features (weight 0.13): The game lacks features like Steam achievements, Chinese language support, and a loadout system, which are expected by players.
- Lack of gameplay variety (weight 0.1): There is a lack of gameplay elements between runs or additional mechanics within a run, making the game feel repetitive and less engaging.
- Lack of positive feedback (weight 0.1): Later in the game, there is insufficient positive feedback, making progression feel unrewarding and reducing motivation.
- Endless mode weaker (weight 0.09): The endless mode is considered weaker than the campaign, and the longer run mode unlocked at the end feels like an afterthought.
- Unique bug encountered (weight 0.04): A unique bug was encountered during a campaign run, indicating potential technical issues that need fixing.

Gameplay feedback:
- Roguelike dice deckbuilder (weight 0.97): The game is consistently described as a roguelike deckbuilder that uses dice instead of cards, with randomized levels and RNG as core elements. Players assemble dice by buying faces from a shop, similar to Slay the Spire but with dice.
- Dice building mechanics (weight 0.51): Players build and customize dice by purchasing different faces from a shop, which can be swapped at any time. This dice-building mechanic is central to the gameplay, offering strategic depth.
- Multiple classes and unlocks (weight 0.29): The game features multiple classes with distinct abilities and starting dice, unlocked through play. Unlocking characters also introduces new abilities and dice types shared across classes, adding variety.
- Short run duration (weight 0.26): Runs are typically short, lasting around 5-10 minutes, with some reports of 15-30 minutes. This makes the game suitable for quick sessions, though there is some variance in reported times.
- Scenario-based gameplay (weight 0.22): The game includes handcrafted scenarios and characters, with gameplay structured around these scenarios. This provides a narrative or mission-based framework for the roguelike runs.
- High content volume (weight 0.11): The game is praised for having an insane amount of content, with tons of content available. This suggests high replayability and long-term engagement.
- Strategic dice manipulation (weight 0.11): Gameplay involves strategic choices such as rerolling dice, changing dice faces, and timing ability usage. This adds depth and tactical decision-making.
- Progression and leveling systems (weight 0.11): There is a points-based level-up system and a star system for progression, offering structured advancement. This adds a meta-progression layer beyond individual runs.
- Dice-based RPG elements (weight 0.1): The game blends dice mechanics with RPG elements, reminiscent of Dungeons & Dragons. This hybrid approach may attract fans of tabletop RPGs.
- Turn-based with time limits (weight 0.1): There is a turn limit, but no time limit on turns, allowing players to think carefully. This design supports strategic planning without pressure.
- Difficulty options (weight 0.1): Each stage can be played on normal or hard difficulty, providing adjustable challenge. This allows players to tailor the experience to their skill level.
- Smooth and intuitive controls (weight 0.1): The game has smooth mechanics and is intuitive to play, making it accessible to new players. This positive aspect enhances the overall experience.

Performance notes:
- Steam Deck compatibility praised (weight 0.07): Players report the game runs well on Steam Deck, highlighting smooth performance and good handheld experience.

Recommendations:
- Overall positive recommendation (weight 0.33): A broad set of reviewers give the game a thumbs up and explicitly recommend purchasing it, with some saying they cannot recommend it enough. This indicates a strong general approval of the game.
- Highly recommended for deckbuilder fans (weight 0.31): Multiple reviewers strongly recommend the game to fans of deckbuilding and strategy card battlers, noting it is a no-brainer for genre enthusiasts. The game is praised for its quick, strategic gameplay that appeals to both veterans and newcomers.
- Try the free demo (weight 0.23): Several reviewers encourage players to try the extensive free demo to get a feel for the core loop and basics. They suggest downloading the demo to decide for oneself, indicating confidence in the game's appeal.
- Recommended for roguelite fans (weight 0.15): The game is strongly recommended for fans of roguelites and roguelikes, as well as dice game enthusiasts. Reviewers note it is easy to recommend to all fans of these genres.
- Consider waiting for sale (weight 0.1): A couple of reviewers suggest picking the game up when it is on sale, implying that while it is good, waiting for a discount might be a prudent option for some players.
- Great for short sessions (weight 0.06): One reviewer highlights the game as ideal for a 10-minute break from work or chores, emphasizing its suitability for quick, casual play sessions.
- Alternative game suggested (weight 0.05): One reviewer suggests looking at Under Falling Skies as an alternative for a good single-player dice-based game, indicating that Circadian Dice may not be the top choice for everyone.

Other player notes:
- Comparable to popular deckbuilders (weight 0.63): The game is frequently compared to genre giants like Slay the Spire, Balatro, and Vampire Survivors, with many reviewers finding it on par in terms of gameplay satisfaction. It is also compared to other titles like Monster Train, Dicey Dungeons, and Slice & Dice, though often noted as being distinct enough to feel fresh.
- Great value for price (weight 0.52): Reviewers consistently praise the game's low price, frequent sales, and the large amount of content offered for that cost. Multiple players note the game is cheap, reasonably priced, and offers an insane amount of content for the money.
- Hundreds of hours of content (weight 0.24): Reviewers highlight the game's extensive content, with some estimating 100+ hours of playtime and others noting unlocks continue after 40 hours. Completionist players could easily spend over 100 hours conquering every challenge with every class.
- Demo available for testing (weight 0.23): Several reviewers mention the availability of a demo, which allows players to try the game before purchasing. One review notes the demo is extensive, featuring 3 characters and 5 stages.
- Previously available on Itch.io (weight 0.22): The game was originally available on Itch.io before coming to Steam, and the Steam release includes more content and improvements. Some players primarily played the game through Itch.io before the Steam launch.
- Steam Deck compatibility issues (weight 0.18): The game works on Steam Deck, but some users report needing to change to launch full screen or remap the middle click. Text can also be hard to read on the device, though one reviewer says it works well overall.
- Tabletop game adaptation (weight 0.17): The game is described as a tabletop game turned into a digital game, with one reviewer comparing it favorably to Under Falling Skies. It is also compared to D&D as one of the most interesting dice games.
- Hidden gem on Steam (weight 0.15): Several reviewers describe the game as a hidden gem that does not get the attention it deserves. This suggests the game is high quality but underappreciated by the broader gaming community.
- Active and helpful developers (weight 0.14): The developers are described as sweethearts, super active on Discord, and very involved with the community. One reviewer mentions the developer graciously helped them work through a bug.
- New content in Steam release (weight 0.11): Several characters were added with the Steam release, along with more content and improvements compared to the Itch.io version. The game now also has achievements and controller support.
- Missing Steam achievements initially (weight 0.1): Some reviewers noted the game lacked Steam achievements at launch, but the developer mentioned they would be coming soon. This was a minor point of feedback for some players.
- No Chinese support initially (weight 0.09): The game does not support Chinese, but a translator allows completion. A reviewer provided a link to a Chinese localization and achievement guide to help other players.
- Not a clone of similar titles (weight 0.09): One reviewer explicitly states the game is not a clone of similar titles, despite the comparisons. It is similar to deck builders but different enough to be new and fresh.
- Long tutorial duration (weight 0.06): The tutorial takes about 10-20 hours, which is quite long for a game. This might be a barrier for some players, but it also indicates the game's depth.
- Unique werewolf stage mechanic (weight 0.05): The game features a werewolf stage where killing humans gives a score penalty, adding a unique strategic element. This specific mechanic was highlighted by a reviewer as an interesting twist.
- In-game progress tracking (weight 0.05): The in-game menu offers high scores and a progress tally, helping players track their achievements. This feature was noted as a positive addition.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.21): Players find the game highly enjoyable due to its blend of dice-based mechanics, roguelike elements, and strategic depth. The variety in classes, enemies, and locations, along with the addictive gameplay loop, keeps players engaged and wanting to play more.
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Frustration stems from the game's heavy reliance on RNG, which can make success feel dependent on luck rather than skill. The star system and forced choices between progression and fun rewards create negative feedback, and some hard modes require perfect setups, leading to repeated restarts.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players feel satisfied with the well-designed gameplay that offers meaningful decisions and a good challenge. Victories feel earned, and the depth of mechanics and content provides a rewarding experience that is easy to get lost in.
- Admiration (weight 0.07): The game earns admiration for its phenomenal and original design, with impressive mechanical depth and unique class implementations. The epic music and the fact that gameplay trumps graphics contribute to the high regard players have for the game.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Excitement is driven by the addictive 'one more turn' feeling and the unique dice-customization mechanics. The vast amount of unlockable content and the ability to create powerful, broken builds keep players hooked and eager to explore more.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Disappointment arises from weaker aspects such as the longer run mode feeling like an afterthought and the endless mode being less engaging. Poor art, lack of polish, and a progression system that feels poorly designed compared to genre peers also contribute to letdown.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the game for its fresh, innovative ideas and compelling gameplay. The flexible build possibilities, high replay value, and active developer community make it a hidden gem that offers good value for the price.
- Love (weight 0.03): Love for the game comes from its status as an all-time favorite roguelike, with a variety of dice and characters. The nostalgic 80's fantasy graphics and the many hours of enjoyment it provides have endeared it to players.
- Fun (weight 0.03): The game is fun due to its extremely engaging and complex gameplay, with mechanics like smothering dice with music notes and executing powerful attacks. The dice-building roguelike elements and crazy combos add to the enjoyment.
- Addiction (weight 0.03): The game is unexpectedly addictive, with players describing it as addictive like crack. The gameplay loop is surprisingly compelling, keeping players coming back for more.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is fueled by the game's class variety, dice-building mechanics, and new features. Players consider it the best on Steam, with lots of content and innovative improvements that keep it from being boring.
- Delight (weight 0.01): Delight comes from the new mechanics and elements introduced as players progress, which bring smiles of disbelief and satisfaction. The assortment of meaningful unlocks also contributes to the positive experience.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief is felt because the game doesn't overload the brain and features smaller missions. Additionally, fears about endgame randomness were unfounded, providing a more relaxed experience.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise arises from the game being fun despite a clunky art style and negative initial expectations. Players are surprised by how much they ended up enjoying the game.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): Amazement is triggered by the game's resemblance to top-tier titles like Rift Wizard and WildFrost, and the sheer amount of content and viable strategies to explore. This depth leaves players in awe.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by minor but persistent issues like having to remap the middle click and hard-to-read text on Steam Deck. The auto-unequipping of relics when changing areas is also a source of irritation.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Approval is given because the game plays great on the Steam Deck with interesting dice-building mechanics. The engaging gameplay more than compensates for the less appealing art and graphics.
- Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike is directed at the art style, UI, sound effects, and music, which are not appealing to some players. These aesthetic and interface issues detract from the overall experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from runs that feel downright silly due to how well certain ideas work, providing a humorous and entertaining experience.
- Praise (weight 0.01): Praise is given for the game potentially being the best in its category, rivaling top titles like Monster Train and Slay the Spire. This high praise reflects the game's quality and design.}