Info about Into the Breach:

Official game description:
The free major update, **Into the Breach: Advanced Edition** is now available!
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Nearly every aspect of the game is expanded with new content, including:  
*   **New Mechs and Weapons:** Five new mech squads and nearly forty new weapons.  
*   **New Challenges:** More enemies, more bosses, and more mission objectives.  
*   **New Pilot Abilities:** Four new pilots and triple the amount of pilot skills.  
*   **“Unfair” Mode:** A more challenging difficulty to test the most seasoned tacticians.
The remnants of human civilization are threatened by gigantic creatures breeding beneath the earth. You must control powerful mechs from the future to hold off this alien threat. Each attempt to save the world presents a new randomly generated challenge in this turn-based strategy game from the makers of FTL.
Key Features:
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*   **Defend the Cities:** Civilian buildings power your mechs. Defend them from the Vek and watch your fire!  
*   **Perfect Your Strategy:** All enemy attacks are telegraphed in minimalistic, turn-based combat. Analyze your opponent's attack and come up with the perfect counter every turn.  
*   **Build the Ultimate Mech:** Find powerful new weapons and unique pilots as you battle the Vek infestation across Corporate-Nation islands.  
*   **Another Chance:** Failure is not an option. When you are defeated, send help back through time to save another timeline!

Release date: 27 Feb, 2018

Categories: Turn-based Strategy, Roguelike, Tactical Combat, Puzzle Solving, Resource Management, Character Progression, Single-player, Mech 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:
- Highly Engaging & Replayable Strategy (weight 1): Players consistently praise the game's addictive, fun, and challenging nature, highlighting its exceptional replayability due to varied content and strategic depth. It's often described as a 'masterpiece' that provides immense satisfaction and makes players feel intelligent.
- Innovative Tactical Depth & Variety (weight 0.38): Reviewers emphasize the game's astonishing strategic depth, achieved through simple elements and unique mechanics like environmental interaction and objective protection. The wide array of distinct mech squads, weapons, and pilot abilities ensures diverse playstyles and high replay value.
- Accessible Yet Challenging Difficulty (weight 0.14): The game offers well-balanced difficulty settings, making it accessible for new players while providing a significant challenge for veterans, especially on higher modes like 'Unfair'. The progression system, including unit upgrades and diverse enemies, keeps the experience fresh and rewarding.
- Charming & Functional Presentation (weight 0.12): The game's simple yet beautiful pixel art style is consistently praised for its clarity, charm, and effectiveness in conveying the sci-fi mech theme. The minimalist design extends to the UI, sound, and narrative, creating an immersive and cohesive experience.
- Rich Unlockable Content (weight 0.1): Players appreciate the extensive amount of unlockable content, including new mech squads, pilots, weapons, and challenges. The achievement system is well-integrated, motivating players to explore different strategies and extending the game's longevity without feeling like a grind.
- Engaging Mech Theme (weight 0.07): The game's mech theme is a significant draw, with players enjoying the cool and varied mech designs and their unique abilities. The concept of controlling mechs to fight alien bugs is well-executed and adds to the overall fun and strategic possibilities.
- Strong FTL Legacy & Improvements (weight 0.06): Many reviewers, especially fans of FTL, see this game as a worthy successor, often praising it for improving upon FTL's rougher edges and offering a similar, if not superior, level of strategic depth and engagement. It's recognized for sharing FTL's design philosophy while forging its own unique path.
- Compact & Flexible Play Sessions (weight 0.04): The game is highly valued for its ability to be played in short, bite-sized sessions, making it ideal for casual play or quick breaks. Its minimalist design and small footprint allow for flexible engagement, from a few minutes to hours of immersive play.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive & Lacks Replayability (weight 0.47): Many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, leading to quick boredom and low replay value. The core mechanics do not evolve enough to sustain long-term engagement, and content feels thin.
- Excessive Difficulty & Frustration (weight 0.43): Players consistently report the game is too difficult, even on lower settings, leading to significant frustration and a lack of enjoyment. This is often attributed to unfair mechanics, punishing mistakes, and a steep learning curve.
- Insufficient Mechanic Explanations (weight 0.33): New players struggle due to a lack of clear explanations for game mechanics. This forces a trial-and-error learning process that is often punishing, contributing to the overall difficulty and frustration.
- Dated/Simple Graphics & UI (weight 0.3): Some players find the game's graphics to be simple, low quality, or unappealing. Issues with pixel stretching and UI design are also noted, detracting from the overall visual experience.
- Restrictive Undo/Save System (weight 0.28): The game's limited undo and save features are a major source of frustration. Players feel punished for minor mistakes, as a single error can ruin an entire run or save file, hindering experimentation and learning.
- General Lack of Fun (weight 0.23): A subset of players simply did not find the game fun or engaging. They report boredom, a lack of exhilaration, and a general disinterest in continuing to play, often feeling that the game's design choices actively hinder enjoyment.
- Misrepresented Genre & Expectations (weight 0.17): The game is often perceived as a puzzle game rather than a tactical or mech combat game, disappointing players expecting a different experience. Comparisons to other titles like FTL highlight its perceived shortcomings in strategy, narrative, and overall engagement.
- Poor RNG & Unfair Luck (weight 0.16): A significant number of players feel the game relies too heavily on random number generation (RNG), leading to unfair or unwinnable scenarios. This randomness often dictates outcomes rather than player skill, causing frustration.
- Unbalanced Mechs & Progression (weight 0.08): There are concerns about the balance of mechs and pilots, with some feeling overpowered and others useless. The progression system is also criticized for being slow, unrewarding, and lacking a sense of meaningful advancement.

Gameplay feedback:
- Mech vs. Alien Combat (weight 0.26): Players control a squad of three unique mechs to defend humanity from giant insectoid aliens (Vek) across various timelines. The game focuses on mech positioning, diverse abilities, and environmental manipulation rather than raw damage output.
- Challenging Difficulty Curve (weight 0.21): The game is noted for its high difficulty, even on 'easy' settings, requiring significant brainpower and strategic mastery. It follows an 'easy to learn, difficult to master' philosophy, with higher difficulties presenting substantial challenges.
- Diverse Enemy Types & Objectives (weight 0.13): The game features a variety of enemy types, each with different behaviors and attack patterns, introduced incrementally. Missions involve diverse objectives beyond simply eliminating all enemies, such as protecting buildings or specific units, often requiring strategic enemy manipulation.
- Unlockable Mech Squads & Pilots (weight 0.09): Progression is tied to an achievement system that unlocks new mech squads and pilots, each offering unique abilities and playstyles. This system encourages replayability and experimentation with different tactical approaches.
- Power Grid as Core Health (weight 0.08): The player's 'life' or progress is directly tied to the civilian power grid. Losing buildings reduces power grid points, and depletion results in a game over, forcing players to prioritize defense and minimize collateral damage.
- Grid-Based Roguelite Structure (weight 0.08): Battles occur on small 8x8 grid maps, often with pixel art graphics. The game incorporates roguelite elements, including procedurally generated maps, randomized enemy placements, and meta-progression through achievements.
- Island-Based Campaign Structure (weight 0.07): A full playthrough involves progressing through 2-4 distinct islands, each with unique hazards, enemies, and scenarios, culminating in a final boss. Runs are relatively short, typically lasting 1-3 hours, allowing for quick, repeatable sessions.

Performance notes:
- Low PC System Requirements (weight 0.03): Many players appreciate that the game runs smoothly on older or low-end hardware, often referred to as 'potato PCs.' This broad accessibility allows a wider audience to enjoy the game without needing high-spec machines.
- Excellent Steam Deck Performance (weight 0.02): Players consistently report that the game performs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, making it a highly recommended portable gaming experience. This indicates strong optimization for handheld devices.
- Stable and Bug-Free Experience (weight 0.01): A significant number of players have not encountered any bugs, crashes, or performance issues during their gameplay. This suggests a well-optimized and polished game experience.
- Decent Graphics and Good Audio (weight 0.01): Players generally find the game's graphics to be decent and the audio quality to be good. While not groundbreaking, these elements contribute positively to the overall experience.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended Strategy/Puzzle Game (weight 0.35): Players overwhelmingly recommend this game, especially to fans of grid-based tactical games, turn-based combat, roguelikes, and puzzle genres. It's often described as a must-have for strategy enthusiasts and a great choice for those who enjoy thoughtful, challenging gameplay.
- Start on Easy Difficulty (weight 0.05): Many players advise new players to begin on easy mode to learn the mechanics and familiarize themselves with the gameplay. This approach helps prevent frustration and allows for a better overall experience before increasing the challenge.
- Comparison to FTL (weight 0.04): The game is frequently compared to Faster Than Light (FTL), another title from the same developers. While many recommend it to FTL fans, some note that it's a very different experience, with some players preferring one over the other.
- Not for Everyone (weight 0.03): While highly praised, a small segment of players found the game not to their taste, with some even requesting refunds or uninstalling it. This feedback is based on limited and low-quality feedback.

Other player notes:
- High Replayability and Longevity (weight 0.08): Players report spending dozens to hundreds of hours in the game, often achieving 100% completion across multiple platforms. The game's design supports both short and extended play sessions, indicating significant replay value and content depth.
- Initial Misconceptions & Visuals (weight 0.07): Some players initially misjudged the game based on its simple or retro visuals, expecting 'just a turn-based tactics game.' However, many found the graphics to be clean, superb, and well-adapted to the gameplay, with the game eventually 'clicking' for them.
- Developer Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players express strong appreciation for Subset Games, the developers, often repurchasing the game to support their work or wishing them well. There's a clear desire for more games from this studio.
- Accessibility Across Platforms (weight 0.04): The game is available and enjoyed across various platforms, including PC, Xbox, Switch, and mobile devices. Its suitability for different age groups and its small file size make it highly accessible and portable.
- Achievement System (weight 0.03): The achievement system is well-integrated with game progression, encouraging players to explore different squads and strategies. Many players enjoy the process of unlocking all achievements, which typically takes around 40-60 hours.
- Affordable Price Point (weight 0.02): Many players acquired the game at a very low price, often during sales or bundles. This affordability is frequently highlighted as a positive aspect, making the game accessible and a great value for the content offered.
- Pacific Rim-like Theme (weight 0.02): The game's core theme of giant robots fighting kaijus strongly resonates with players, drawing frequent comparisons to the 'Pacific Rim' films. This setting is a significant draw for those fascinated by such concepts.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.33): Players feel satisfied by the game's deep strategic and tactical gameplay, which rewards thoughtful planning and problem-solving. Achieving victories, mastering challenges, and completing achievements contribute to a sense of accomplishment. The game's high replayability, diverse mech squads, and fair mechanics also provide lasting enjoyment and value.
- Excitement (weight 0.1): Excitement stems from the game's addictive and challenging strategic gameplay, often compared to chess with unique mech abilities. The replayability, diverse squad combinations, and the thrill of discovering complex interactions keep players engaged. The game's overall quality and the developer's reputation also contribute to a sense of anticipation and enjoyment.
- Frustration (weight 0.09): Frustration primarily arises from the game's high difficulty, perceived unfairness, and unforgiving nature, especially on harder modes. Players struggle with unwinnable situations, random enemy spawns, and the harsh consequences of mistakes due to limited undo options or save systems. Repetitive gameplay and grindy achievements also contribute to this negative emotion.
- Admiration (weight 0.07): Players admire the game's brilliant and elegant design, strategic depth, and overall quality, often calling it a masterpiece or classic. The minimalist yet profound mechanics, charming art style, and balanced gameplay are frequently praised. The developers' skill and consistent quality in creating such a unique and engaging experience also garner significant admiration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): Disappointment often comes from the game not meeting players' expectations, particularly regarding replayability, narrative depth, or genre fit. Some find the game repetitive, too short, or lacking in compelling progression compared to similar titles. Perceived imbalances, uninteresting unlocks, or a lack of desired features like multiplayer also contribute to this feeling.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.06): Players experience enjoyment from the game's fun and addictive core gameplay, which blends turn-based strategy with roguelite elements. The challenging yet accessible puzzles, engaging combat, and strategic depth provide a consistently entertaining experience. The art style, soundtrack, and the ability to return to the game repeatedly also enhance overall enjoyment.
- Engagement (weight 0.04): Engagement is driven by the game's mentally stimulating and addictive puzzle-like gameplay, which requires constant strategic thinking and planning. Players often find themselves hooked, running simulations in their heads, and spending hours trying to master challenges. The desire to unlock all teams and complete achievements also fuels this deep involvement.
- Challenge (weight 0.03): The game's high difficulty and strategic depth are the primary causes of challenge, requiring significant brainpower and careful planning. Players find the game demanding, often describing it as 'brain-burning' and difficult to master, even on easier settings. The unforgiving nature of mistakes and the need for perfection contribute to this intense mental demand.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Joy is derived from the game's super fun and enjoyable gameplay, often highlighted by its strategic depth and mech-versus-bug theme. Players express happiness from exploring tactics, overcoming challenges, and the overall positive experience. The charming pixel graphics and great soundtrack also contribute to this feeling of delight.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's clever puzzle design, unique mechanics, and strategic depth, often noting its stunning design and value. The developers' continued updates, the game's respect for player time and intellect, and its near-perfect blend of genres are also highly valued. The game's overall quality as a tactical masterpiece is a key factor.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger arises from perceived unfairness, unbalanced difficulty, and frustrating design choices, particularly random elements and tight resources. Players express strong negative reactions to 'unfair difficulty' and situations where they feel cheated or forced to lose. The game's design being seen as 'stupid' or 'disgusting' also fuels this emotion.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise often comes from unexpectedly enjoying the game, especially for players who typically dislike roguelikes or strategy games. The game's complexity, addictiveness, and strategic depth often exceed initial expectations. The quality of a small game and the provision of significant free DLC updates also contribute to this positive surprise.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement is caused by the game's pilot and civilian barks, humorous self-criticism about player intelligence, and narrative dissonance. Players find humor in the game's ability to make them feel both smart and foolish, as well as creative comparisons to other games. The satisfying combat, like 'judo slamming enemies,' also provides entertainment.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): Addiction is driven by the game's engaging and rewarding combat loop, often described as having a 'one more turn' quality. The replayability, challenge, and the game's ability to hook players for extended periods contribute to an inability to stop playing. The continuous return to the game signifies its highly addictive nature.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in due to repetitive gameplay, especially in later stages or after many hours of play. Players find the game becoming stale, monotonous, or a 'slog' due to predictable monster-fighting processes and slow turns. The quick repetitiveness after a few hours also contributes to this feeling.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion stems from difficulty understanding specific mech squad playstyles, unclear mechanics, or genre mismatches. Players express bewilderment over why the game restarts from the beginning or the perceived illogical difficulty scaling. UI issues leading to misclicks and narrative inconsistencies also contribute to this confusion.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is centered around the desire for future content, such as remakes, sequels, or additional updates that address current shortcomings. Players express a wish for improved graphics, more refined gameplay, and new features like multiplayer. The mission to save humanity by returning to the past also evokes a sense of hope within the game's narrative.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game is expressed due to its overall quality, focused gameplay, and deep strategic design. Players adore the synergies, strategies, and characters, finding the entire game experience to be exceptional. This emotion signifies a profound positive connection and strong affection for the game.
- Humor (weight 0): Humor arises from the game's addictive nature, often leading to self-deprecating jokes about exceeding refund playtime or personal difficulty. Players find amusement in describing their initial overconfidence and subsequent struggles, as well as creative comparisons to other games. The gameplay loop itself can also be a source of humor.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0): Enthusiasm is generated by the game's overall appeal and perceived perfection, often leading players to buy the game specifically to leave a positive review. The game is seen as a 'timeless gem' and evokes a strong, positive, and eager sentiment. This emotion reflects a high level of excitement and admiration for the game.}