Info about Novus Orbis:

Official game description:
**Novus Orbis** is a roguelike deckbuilder that encourages complex builds with deep deck combos, powerful Blessings, and a with a wealth of secrets to discover.
Advance through the last pieces of this broken world, against an out-of-reach entity.
Your goal is to explore, battle, and strengthen your might and knowledge to bring order back to your land.
**Features**
------------
*   _Combo System:_ Every card has a cost and a combo value: **Play your cards in the right order to achieve their full potential**, or break the combo to get a more favorable outcome.
*   _Countdown System:_ Every time you play a card and when you end your turn enemies will get closer to attacking you. They can and will attack during your turn!
*   _Multiple Classes:_ Three classes with completely different sets of cards and mechanics.
*   _Deck Building:_ More than 80 cards per class, more than 300 cards in total! Cards come in six types: Attack, Skill, Equipment, Item, Special, and Affliction.
*   _Blessings:_ More than 100 powerful upgrades to your character. Get them from bosses, special rooms, shops, and secret interactions!
*   _Pets:_ Find multiple companions per run, who will attack, support, heal _, and more_ every turn.
Please be sure to add **Novus Orbis** to your Wishlist!

Release date: Feb 10, 2025

Categories: Roguelike Deckbuilder, Deckbuilding, Turn-based Combat, Combo System, Countdown System, Multiple Classes, Pixel Art Style, Early Access


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows mixed sentiment: some reviewers find the game worth its full price, while others think it is only worth a deep discount. The phrases 'modest cost' and 'cheap' suggest the base price is low, likely in the $5-$10 range. The .99 comment is an extreme outlier, but it indicates that the full price is significantly higher, yet the reviewer believes the game is not worth it except at a steep discount. Overall, the community seems to consider a fair base-game price around $5-$10.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 2.5h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The session length is directly reported as 2.5 hours in a single sitting, providing a concrete value for sessionLength. The 1-1.5 hours is the time to clear a run on normal difficulty, which could be interpreted as a session length but is not used for story completion because the game has multiple routes and the full story is not defined by a single run. The 200 hours is total playtime including the demo, but it does not indicate completion of all content, so it is not used for gameCompletion or endgame.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially engages players with its unique pacing and combo mechanics, but enjoyment drops sharply around the 2-hour mark due to perceived repetitiveness, swingy runs, and a sense that winning is impossible without meta progression.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Initial play
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: rough around the edges; repetitive gameplay; swingy early runs; learning curve spikes; lack of consistent meta progression; inconsistent mechanics
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: enjoy pure deckbuilders; like StS-like games; tolerate rough edges; handle learning curve spikes; accept swingy early runs; can get the game on sale
- Player Archetypes:
  - StS Veteran Seeking a Fresh Fix (buy)
    - Motivation: To find a new deckbuilder that captures the Slay the Spire formula with enough innovation to feel fresh.
    - Playstyle: Compares mechanics, optimizes builds, and seeks strategic depth similar to established deckbuilders.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Slay the Spire; Monster Train
  - Challenge-Seeking Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: To overcome difficult runs and experience the thrill of high-risk, high-reward gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Experiments with different builds, persists through failures, and enjoys the adrenaline of tough decisions.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Frustrated Perfectionist (deep sale)
    - Motivation: To find a polished, balanced deckbuilder; frustrated by flaws and lack of progression.
    - Playstyle: Analyzes mechanics, compares to other deckbuilders, and seeks fairness and strategic depth.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Slay the Spire
  - Nostalgic Casual Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: To enjoy charming art, music, and accessible gameplay with a nostalgic feel.
    - Playstyle: Casual exploration, appreciates aesthetics, solves puzzles, and collects pets.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Adventure Quest


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:
- Combo system praised highly (weight 0.97): The combo system is consistently highlighted as a brilliant, engaging, and distinctive addition that adds strategy and depth to gameplay. It is described as the biggest feature and a fun twist that makes the game stand out.
- Excellent deckbuilding roguelike (weight 0.5): The game is widely regarded as an excellent, well-balanced deckbuilder and one of the best deckbuilder roguelikes played. It is praised for its strong foundation of cards, blessings, pets, and enemies, with plenty of interesting card/build combinations to explore.
- Pixel art looks great (weight 0.46): The pixel art graphics are consistently praised as great, gorgeous, and charming, elevated with good lighting and animations. The visual style is a standout positive feature for many players.
- Strategic depth and complexity (weight 0.37): The game has a lot of strategic depth while remaining simple to understand. The combo meter and countdown mechanics add complexity and encourage thinking ahead, providing a strategic layer that rewards careful planning.
- Gameplay is very fun (weight 0.27): The game is described as a lot of fun, an absolute blast, and very fun by multiple reviewers. The engaging and solid gameplay is a recurring positive theme across the feedback.
- Music and BGM praised (weight 0.26): The music and background music are described as good, surprisingly good, and great by reviewers. The soundtrack is noted as excellent and absolutely amazing, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- Countdown mechanic adds depth (weight 0.22): The countdown mechanic gives the player a lot to think about, encouraging foresight and acting as a safety valve on infinite combos. It makes gameplay more immersive than standard turn-based systems and plays into the combo mechanic.
- Unique mechanics and twists (weight 0.2): The game brings a lot of new and interesting mechanics into the genre, with a thoughtful blend of familiar mechanics and inventive twists. The mechanics feel fresh in a meaningful way, full of unique elements with solid fundamental design decisions.
- Hidden content and events (weight 0.09): There are tons of hidden events and Easter eggs to discover, many of which reward gameplay knowledge and foresight. The game offers many hidden things to unlock, adding replayability and discovery.
- Mage class unique playstyle (weight 0.09): The Mage has a unique playstyle revolving around elements, with a whole element mechanic that feels like a bonus game. This class-specific mechanic adds variety and depth to the gameplay.
- Polished despite Early Access (weight 0.09): Despite being in Early Access, the game already feels finished and is phenomenal in its current state. Reviewers note the high level of polish and completeness.

Common complaints:
- Early access lacks content (weight 0.42): Multiple reviewers note the game is in Early Access with limited content, including a small card pool, few classes, and low replayability. This leads to repetitive runs and a sense of being basic or unpolished.
- Balance issues across classes (weight 0.3): Class balancing needs work, especially for the more complex class, and there are mechanical balance issues and frustrating difficulty spikes. Some bosses hard counter certain decks, and enemy modifiers can be more frustrating than fun.
- Softlock and freezing bugs (weight 0.25): Several players encountered softlocks where the game fails to complete actions, preventing clicks and menu use, sometimes requiring ESC or ALT F4. Freezes also occur frequently, though a mitigation button exists.
- Difficulty spikes are brutal (weight 0.23): There are occasional but brutal difficulty spikes, especially from stage 3 bosses with inflated stats and harsh actions. The first act can be very hard without easy mode, and the dragon at the end is tough without a coherent build.
- UI is cluttered and confusing (weight 0.21): The UI has many icons that require hovering, small symbols under the health bar are easy to forget, and the player side is a cluttered mess, especially for the mage class. This hampers clarity and adds to the game's rough feel.
- Events are unclear and punishing (weight 0.2): Many events are unclear and require roguelike knowledge, with hidden elements and arcane card interactions. Consequences for getting them wrong can be harsh, such as destroying cards or causing death, leading to feel-bad moments.
- Card pool is limited (weight 0.2): The card pool is fairly small, and slow unlocks lead to seeing the same cards repeatedly. Card rewards only offer a pick out of 2, making it difficult to build decks around combos, and some cards with three elements are useless.
- Mage class relies on luck (weight 0.18): The mage class is heavily dependent on drawing synergistic cards, and without the right magic elements, players can be stuck with unplayable hands. This makes runs feel swingy and frustrating, especially in the early game.
- Runs can be ruined by bad luck (weight 0.17): Bad hands, bad cards added to the deck, or not getting pets early can force a restart. The game relies too much on luck to make it far, and a bad hand can completely ruin a run.
- Missing battle log and status info (weight 0.13): The game lacks a battle log and more status information, especially on enemy debuffs. This makes it hard to track what's happening and understand the game's inner workings, which are not documented or immediately obvious.
- Combat animations are minimal (weight 0.1): Most cards have minimal or absent combat animations, making battles feel unpolished and less engaging. This contributes to the overall impression of the game being rough around the edges.
- Boss variety is low (weight 0.1): There is low boss and elite enemy variety, with stage 1 and 2 bosses having 2 types and stage 3 and 4 bosses having only 1 type. This reduces replayability and makes runs feel repetitive.
- Game becomes boring after two hours (weight 0.1): The game becomes extremely boring at the 2-hour mark, and players realize they can't win. This is due to limited content and repetitive gameplay, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
- Healing encourages stalling (weight 0.09): Healing in the game encourages keeping one enemy alive, blocking and healing before the next fight, which prolongs battles and run length. This makes fights drag on and reduces the pace of gameplay.
- Enemy intentions are unclear (weight 0.09): Enemy intention could be communicated a lot better, and many small symbols under the health bar make it easy to forget what's what. This adds to the confusion and makes it harder to plan strategies.

Gameplay feedback:
- Combo system enhances card play (weight 0.76): The game features a combo mechanic where playing cards in a specific order reduces costs and boosts effects. Cards have combo values, and matching them continues the combo, making optimal ordering crucial.
- Roguelike deckbuilder genre (weight 0.53): The game is consistently described as a roguelike deckbuilder, combining card-based combat with roguelike progression. This genre is a core part of its identity.
- Countdown timer for enemy actions (weight 0.53): Enemies have a countdown timer that decreases when cards are played and when turns end, triggering their attacks when it reaches zero. This adds a strategic layer to pacing your plays.
- Combo meter starts at zero (weight 0.35): Each battle begins with a combo meter at zero, and playing cards with matching combo values reduces their cost and increases their power. This encourages building combos from the start.
- Similar to Slay the Spire (weight 0.33): Many reviewers note the game plays very similarly to Slay the Spire, with some calling it a clone or inspired by it. The core mechanics are familiar but with a lighter tone and a few twists.
- Unique combo and countdown feel (weight 0.29): The combination of combo and countdown mechanics gives the game a distinctive feel compared to other deckbuilders. Reviewers highlight this as a unique aspect.
- Multiple character classes available (weight 0.26): Players can choose from different classes, including Warrior, Mage, and Mechanic, each with unique mechanics. The Mage, for example, uses elemental generation to play cards.
- Enemy timers are dynamic (weight 0.25): Enemy actions are not tied to a simple turn ratio; instead, they have individual countdown timers that decrease based on card plays and turn endings. This makes timing more complex.
- Ending turn reduces enemy timer (weight 0.24): Ending your turn decreases the enemy countdown by the equivalent of playing two cards, which can accelerate enemy attacks if you're not careful.
- Turn-based combat system (weight 0.14): The game is turn-based, with players and enemies taking actions in a structured sequence. This is a fundamental aspect of the gameplay.
- Cards have combo values (weight 0.13): Most cards have a combo value ranging from 0 to 4, which determines their synergy in the combo system. This adds depth to deck building and card selection.
- Combo breaks on wrong order (weight 0.1): Playing a card that doesn't match the current combo value resets the combo to zero. This punishes misplays and requires careful planning of card order.

Performance notes:
- Performance issues and crashes reported (weight 0.15): Several players experience performance problems, including crashes at startup, especially in windowed mode after resizing, and frequent freezes. These issues can significantly hinder gameplay and require workarounds like a mitigation button.
- Long loading times and resolution glitches (weight 0.1): The game takes a long time to load, and the resolution may be incorrect on first launch, requiring a restart to fix. These technical hiccups add to the overall frustration with the game's stability.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for deckbuilder fans (weight 0.41): Many reviewers recommend the game to fans of deckbuilder roguelikes, noting it offers a fresh twist on the genre. It is considered a no-brainer for enthusiasts seeking a challenging deckbuilding experience.
- Worth the low price (weight 0.36): Several reviewers highlight the game's low cost of entry, stating it is highly worth the price. They suggest it offers good value for money, especially for fans of the genre.
- High difficulty but rewarding (weight 0.3): Reviewers mention the game's relatively high difficulty, but they still recommend it to those not put off by challenging deckbuilders. It is seen as a rewarding experience for players seeking a tough challenge.
- Strong genre recommendation (weight 0.28): A significant number of reviewers give a strong recommendation to fans of the roguelike deckbuilder genre. They emphasize that the game is definitely worth checking out for genre enthusiasts.
- Buy the game immediately (weight 0.2): Some reviewers are very enthusiastic, urging players to buy the game without hesitation. They use strong language like 'BUY THE GAME' and 'Don't second guess' to convey their excitement.
- Try the demo first (weight 0.14): Reviewers recommend trying the demo before purchasing, as it provides enough content to gauge interest. This approach helps players decide if the full game is worth buying.
- Suitable for new players (weight 0.1): The game is recommended for players new to the genre, suggesting it is accessible despite its complexity. Reviewers note it is easy to get into, especially for experienced players.
- Bugs hinder recommendation (weight 0.08): Two reviewers cannot recommend the game due to specific bugs: a click bug and a frustrating soft lock bug. These issues significantly impact the gameplay experience.
- Interesting concepts on sale (weight 0.08): Reviewers find the game's concepts interesting but suggest waiting for a sale. This implies the game has merit but may not justify full price for some.
- Worth wishlisting if unsure (weight 0.05): For those not ready to buy, reviewers suggest wishlisting the game. This allows players to track it and consider purchasing later, especially if they are hesitant.
- Support indie developer (weight 0.05): Reviewers encourage supporting the indie developer by purchasing the game. This appeal to community support is a motivating factor for some players.
- Mixed recommendation (weight 0.05): One reviewer gives a mixed recommendation, indicating some reservations about the game. This suggests it may not appeal to everyone, despite overall positive feedback.
- Avoid unless on sale (weight 0.05): A reviewer advises avoiding the game unless it is on sale for a very low price. This indicates a perception that the game may not be worth full price for some players.

Other player notes:
- Favorable comparison to Slay the Spire (weight 0.71): Many reviewers compare the game to Slay the Spire, often stating it improves upon the formula with unique mechanics like combos and countdowns. Some even prefer it over the original, finding it fresher and more engaging.
- Developer is highly responsive (weight 0.55): The developer is very active on Discord and Steam forums, responding well to player feedback and criticism. They frequently update the game based on community input, fixing bugs and adding content quickly.
- Unique mechanics add strategy (weight 0.51): The combo and countdown mechanics differentiate it from other deckbuilders, adding an extra layer of strategy. Reviewers find this innovation refreshing and engaging.
- Comparison to other deckbuilders (weight 0.46): Reviewers compare the game to Monster Train, Wildfrost, and NEOVERSE, often stating it takes good design elements and adds new mechanics. Some prefer it over these titles.
- Early access with active development (weight 0.4): The game is in early access but already offers substantial content and is consistently improving. Reviewers note it is intuitive and satisfying to play even in its current state.
- Frequent updates and bug fixes (weight 0.38): The game receives regular updates that include bug fixes and new content. Reviewers appreciate the rapid pace of improvements and the developer's commitment to refining the experience.
- Great value for the price (weight 0.23): Reviewers highlight the game's low price, often $10, and consider it a steal given the content and ongoing updates. The cost of entry is low, making it accessible to many players.
- Plans for more content (weight 0.17): The developer has a roadmap promising additional classes, bosses, card sets, and alternate paths. Reviewers expect the game to expand significantly over time, with a fifth stage already planned.
- High replayability and content depth (weight 0.13): The game offers 50-100+ hours of gameplay with multiple levels, hidden bosses, and secrets like pets that aid in combat. This depth contributes to its long-term appeal.
- Publisher and developer praised (weight 0.11): The publisher, 2 Left Thumbs, and developer, Seizo Games, receive praise for their work. The developer is noted as a great person to talk to and dedicated to the game.
- Demo provides enough experience (weight 0.09): The demo version is sufficient for players to experience the core gameplay and decide if they want to purchase. This lowers the barrier for trying the game.
- Technical performance and localization (weight 0.08): Restarting the game takes about 20 seconds, and the Japanese translation is mostly fine. These are minor technical points that do not significantly detract from the experience.
- Third playable character released (weight 0.05): The developer recently released the third playable character, expanding the roster and adding variety.
- Developer is a solo parent (weight 0.04): The creator is a parent of a newborn, which adds context to the development pace. Reviewers appreciate the dedication despite personal challenges.
- Font choice available (weight 0.04): The game offers a choice of fonts, which is a small but appreciated accessibility feature.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.19): Players frequently encounter soft-lock bugs, UI issues that require restarts, and crashes, which disrupt gameplay. The game's difficulty spikes, particularly with bosses and enemy modifiers, can make runs feel unwinnable, and the combo system can be punishing with bad draws or hidden interactions.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.19): The game is praised for its unique combo system, strategic depth, and the variety of runs and deck-building options. Players enjoy the challenge, the enemy countdown mechanics, and the developer's active engagement, making it a fun and rewarding roguelite deckbuilder.
- Excitement (weight 0.12): The fresh combo and enemy turn mechanics, along with the potential for broken builds and infinite combos, generate excitement. Players are eager to see future updates, new classes, and the game's growth through early access, with the power fantasy of scaling damage being a highlight.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): The game feels unique and well-developed, offering multiple viable strategies and dynamic combat. The combo system and enemy turn counters provide a satisfying strategic layer, and the game remains balanced even in deep runs, making it an underrated gem.
- Appreciation (weight 0.07): Players appreciate the developer's active involvement, the game's visual and audio design, and the thoughtful mechanics like the combo system and readable font options. The engaging deck building and inventive twists are also valued.
- Love (weight 0.04): The combo mechanic is seen as a brilliant addition, and the game's fresh, puzzley gameplay and deep mechanics resonate with players. The unique battle system, especially the Mage class, and the music are particularly loved.
- Disappointment (weight 0.04): Some players are disappointed by the lack of polish, minimal combat animations, and the combo system's restriction on hand order. The limited content, only two classes, and lack of Chinese support also detract from the experience, with low variability making runs feel similar.
- Anticipation (weight 0.04): Players are looking forward to the full game and future updates, expecting improvements and more content. The developer's frequent updates and potential for growth generate anticipation for what's to come.
- Engagement (weight 0.02): The countdown mechanic and the need to plan multiple actions keep players engaged. Learning new secrets and tricks adds interactivity, making the game mentally stimulating.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): The game is seen as promising despite being in early access, with immersive gameplay, cool graphics, and clever puzzles. The working combo system is an awesome spin on the genre, generating enthusiasm.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): The humor in events, including one that pretends to softlock, and the soft lock bug becoming funny after repeated occurrences, amuse players. Forgetting about the turn mechanic also leads to amusing deaths.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised the game isn't more popular given its quality. It has made its own characteristics among card roguelikes, which is unexpected and refreshing.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Some players find the game boring, especially after the two-hour mark, leading to a loss of interest.
- Delight (weight 0.01): The game is an absolute delight, with charming events like finding a pet cat, getting eaten by a mimic, digging through trash, and meeting god, providing delightful moments.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about other things to uncover, like pets, and are interested in seeing what other classes will be like in the future.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): The game is considered one of the best deck builder roguelikes played, and the developer's updates show they know what's best for the game, earning admiration.
- Impression (weight 0.01): The unique turn timer countdown system and captivating combo system leave a strong impression, and the game shows promise even in early access.
- Desire for challenge (weight 0.01): Some players feel the game is maybe a bit too easy, expressing a desire for more challenge.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Players wish there was more content, indicating a desire for additional features or depth.
- Reward (weight 0.01): Learning to work around the combo system is rewarding, as players feel a sense of accomplishment when mastering the mechanics.}