Info about The Battle of Polytopia:

Official game description:
Feature List
============
*   Turn-based civilization strategy game  
*   Single-player and online multiplayer for up to 16 players (PC, Mac OSX) including matchmaking  
*   4X gameplay (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate)  
*   Choose to play as one of 16 tribes each with their own unique nature, culture, and attributes  
*   Exploration, warfare, farming, building, and technology research provide a richly rewarding and varied gameplay experience  
*   Auto-generated maps ensure each game is a totally new experience  
*   Online leaderboards featuring the top scores for the best civilization builders  
*   Five map types – tiny, normal, large, huge, and massive!  
*   Configurable map types – Dryland, Lake, Pangea, Continents, Archipelago, and Water World  
*   Three game modes – Perfection, Domination, and Creative  
*   Diplomacy - Make Peace treaties & Build Embassies  
*   Invisible Cloaks and Daggers for Stealth attacks  
*   Player Avatars  
*   Allow Mirror matches (same tribes can meet in the same game)  
*   Keyboard controls and shortcuts
About the Game
==============
Welcome, friends, to The Battle of Polytopia, a unique, turn-based strategy game involving strange lands and charismatic tribes, clever technologies, and captivating magic where the ultimate goal is to rule the world. Obvs!
Scene: Enter the Square, the bizarre home planet of the Polytopians, a flat, square-shaped landmass drifting in the space of an alternate dimension to ours. A relatively simple and curious folk that has a penchant for fighting, the Polytopians are 16 individual tribes spread out across the Square, each with their own characteristics, motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. As a player, you will take on the role of the ruler of one of these tribes as you attempt to build your civilization in competition with the other tribes.
Will you choose to be the leader of the Xin-Xi, reserved yet adventurous traditionalists who are wary of change or outsiders? Perhaps the Hoodrick, who love archery, nature, and mushrooms, and are famed for their baked goods! Or maybe the Bardur, where the local tavern is their favorite place and Ullefurgh their drink choice, a delightful concoction of pine needles, hot water, and rabbit fat. Deeeelicious!!
But beware of the Vengir, purple rhino-pig riding warriors who, in between bouts of pillaging, like to sharpen their swords and vacation at the misty Kithkga Boneyards. You really don’t want to get on their bad side!

Release date: Aug 4, 2020

Categories: Turn-based Strategy, 4X, Civilization Simulation, Tribe Management, Diplomacy, Procedural Generation, Multiplayer, Single-player


- 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 4X strategy gameplay (weight 0.99): The game is praised for its simplified yet deep 4X strategy mechanics, offering a less complex alternative to Civilization while retaining strategic depth. Players appreciate its accessibility and replayability.
- High replayability and variety (weight 0.8): Diverse tribes, procedurally generated maps, and asymmetrical gameplay ensure high replayability. Each faction offers unique strategies, keeping the experience fresh.
- Casual-friendly yet deep (weight 0.6): The game is accessible to casual players but offers surprising depth, making it suitable for both beginners and strategy veterans. Its simplicity doesn’t compromise strategic nuance.
- Multiplayer and social fun (weight 0.6): The game excels in multiplayer, supporting varied playstyles, diplomacy, and long sessions with friends. Its short session length and dynamic human interactions elevate the experience.
- Ongoing developer support (weight 0.48): Regular updates, bug fixes, and impactful changes demonstrate the developers’ commitment to improving the game. Players appreciate the active and responsive support.
- Polished and well-built (weight 0.24): The game is highly polished, with smooth mechanics, competent AI, and a bug-free experience (especially on PC). Players commend its overall quality and design.
- Unique and charming art style (weight 0.18): The minimalist, low-poly art style is widely praised for its charm and effectiveness. It enhances gameplay clarity while delivering a visually appealing experience.
- Great value for money (weight 0.17): Players find the game worth its price, especially on sale, due to its addictive gameplay, depth, and frequent updates. It’s often recommended for gifting.

Common complaints:
- Cymanti tribe severely unbalanced (weight 0.46): The Cymanti faction is widely criticized for being overpowered, with abilities like unrestricted bridge-building and high mobility disrupting fair gameplay. Players demand a rework to address these issues.
- Poor multiplayer matchmaking (weight 0.27): Online matchmaking is slow, lacks filter options, and suffers from host-dependent lobbies, making it difficult to find or sustain matches. Players also criticize the absence of casual modes.
- Polaris faction freezing mechanic unfair (weight 0.21): Polaris’ freezing ability is seen as overly powerful, rendering naval units useless and making the economy irrelevant in matches against them. Players find it unfun to counter.
- Limited tech tree and late-game variety (weight 0.2): The technology tree is small and lacks late-game progression options, leading to repetitive gameplay. Players also criticize the lack of unique faction mechanics beyond starting differences.
- Unfair map generation and spawns (weight 0.17): Randomly generated maps and spawns are criticized for favoring certain players unfairly, with bad RNG leading to unwinnable starts or Elo losses. Ranked map selection is also seen as punishing.
- Mobile-to-PC port feels incomplete (weight 0.17): The Steam version lacks features like remote play and full mobile version access, making it feel like a poorly executed port. Players note the game’s mobile origins detract from the PC experience.
- Weak AI and PvE content (weight 0.15): The AI is too easy even on high difficulties, and PvE options are limited, with poorly designed bots. Players want harder bot challenges and more offline content.
- Catapults and unit mechanics unbalanced (weight 0.15): Catapults are seen as disruptive to early-game freedom, while other units (e.g., bombing ships, cavalry) are overpowered or poorly balanced, creating frustrating gameplay dynamics.
- Lack of localization and features (weight 0.14): Missing Chinese language support and removed third-party localization frustrate non-English players. Additionally, the absence of achievements and tutorials limits engagement.
- Pay-to-win and monetization issues (weight 0.13): Paid tribes and donation-based mechanics are criticized for being overpowered and creating pay-to-win scenarios. Players accuse developers of prioritizing monetization over balance.

Gameplay feedback:
- Diverse tribes with unique traits (weight 0.54): The game features 12-16 playable tribes, each with distinct starting technologies, units, and playstyles. Players highlight the strategic depth and replayability from tribe diversity, though some critique initial balance.
- Turn-based strategy core (weight 0.43): The game is fundamentally a turn-based strategy experience, often compared to Civilization and chess. Players appreciate the thoughtful pacing and strategic depth, though some note the inclusion of timers adds urgency.
- Multiple game modes (weight 0.37): Modes include Perfection (score-based), Domination (all-out war), and Creative (sandbox), alongside PvE/PvP options. Players value the variety, though some modes (e.g., diplomacy) feel underdeveloped.
- Adjustable difficulty settings (weight 0.25): Difficulty levels range from easy to hardcore, with bot settings for multiplayer. Players appreciate the flexibility, though some note a steep learning curve for mastery.
- Tech tree and city development (weight 0.24): A streamlined tech tree (25 technologies) and city-leveling mechanics (farms, bonuses) add progression. Players enjoy the strategic choices, though some desire deeper customization.
- Unique unit abilities (weight 0.23): Units like exploding beetles, freezing mages, and knights offer tactical diversity. Players highlight counter-play mechanics, though some factions feel less distinct initially.
- Customizable maps and terrain (weight 0.22): Maps are procedurally generated with options for terrain types (e.g., Archipelago, Water World) and sizes. Players praise the variety, though some note limitations in map balance.

Performance notes:
- Optimized for low-end hardware (weight 0.13): The game is praised for its low PC requirements, small size, and lightweight performance, making it accessible on very old or low-spec devices (e.g., 'microwave').
- Stable launch with minor exceptions (weight 0.06): No major bugs were reported at launch, but a post-release update ('spy update') introduced critical issues, rendering the game unplayable for some users.
- Resolution scaling problems (weight 0.06): Players report issues with resolution scaling on 4K monitors, though launch options are available to mitigate this. The problem persists despite workarounds.

Recommendations:
- Ideal for strategy game fans (weight 0.51): The game is highly recommended for fans of the Civilization series, chess, and strategy games in general. It appeals to both veterans and newcomers to the genre, offering a balance of depth and accessibility.
- Mobile version as trial (weight 0.15): The availability of a free or trial mobile version is recommended for players to try before purchasing the full PC version, reducing the risk of buyer's remorse.
- Expand late-game content (weight 0.14): Players express a desire for more layers in late-game content to keep the gameplay engaging and replayable over time.
- Needs harder bots and PvE (weight 0.08): Players request the addition of harder bot options and more PvE content, including offline PvE modes, to enhance solo and casual gameplay experiences.
- Improve matchmaking and lobbies (weight 0.08): Feedback highlights the need for better matchmaking systems, including removing the lobby system for quicker games and addressing AFK abuse through turn timers.
- Enhance accessibility features (weight 0.07): Players suggest adding an in-game notation system and improving the tutorial to make the game more accessible and beginner-friendly.
- Balancing and tribe adjustments (weight 0.05): Feedback includes requests to nerf specific tribes (e.g., Cymanti) and restrict certain units (e.g., bombing ships) to maintain balanced and fun gameplay.
- Support player-created content (weight 0.05): The community requests an open Workshop for player-created content, such as custom maps (e.g., mirror maps), to enhance replayability and creativity.

Other player notes:
- Cross-platform sync issues (weight 0.11): Players report problems with syncing progress between PC and mobile versions, limiting seamless gameplay. Cross-save functionality is frequently requested to improve accessibility.
- Desire for crossplay functionality (weight 0.11): Players want crossplay support to allow seamless multiplayer experiences across different platforms, particularly between PC and mobile.
- Lack of Chinese language support (weight 0.08): Chinese players criticize the absence of official language support, making the game less accessible. Community efforts are underway to provide unofficial translations.
- Free-to-play model on mobile (weight 0.08): The game's free-to-play model on mobile platforms is noted, with additional paid tribes available, making it accessible to a wider audience.
- Request for additional classes (weight 0.06): Players express interest in expanding gameplay variety with more classes, including specific suggestions like 'Knightsborne.' This reflects a desire for deeper customization.
- Active development praised (weight 0.06): Players appreciate the game's long-term developer support and frequent updates, which contribute to its longevity and evolving content.
- Demand for achievements system (weight 0.06): Players request an achievements feature to enhance engagement and provide long-term goals. This is a common expectation in modern games, especially on platforms like Steam.
- Quality of life improvements needed (weight 0.04): Players request features like an Army Tab and other QoL updates to streamline gameplay. These improvements are seen as essential for long-term player retention.
- Diplomacy features suggested (weight 0.04): Players propose implementing diplomacy mechanics to add depth to gameplay, reflecting a desire for more strategic and interactive elements.
- Soundtrack availability requested (weight 0.03): Players express interest in having the game's soundtrack available on platforms like Steam, which is a common feature for enhancing immersion and replayability.
- Request for sandbox/god mode (weight 0.03): Players suggest adding sandbox or god mode to allow creative freedom and experimentation, which could appeal to a broader audience.
- Lack of Steam integration features (weight 0.03): Players note the absence of Steam-specific features like cards, emoticons, and wallpapers, which are often expected in Steam releases to enhance user engagement.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.21): Players experience frustration primarily due to unbalanced gameplay mechanics, such as unfair turn timers, poor matchmaking, and overpowered or broken tribes (e.g., Cymanti). Technical and design issues, including lack of save/load functionality, screen clutter, and inconsistent difficulty, further exacerbate the problem. Monetization policies, like paid DLCs locking essential features and perceived pay-to-win mechanics, also contribute significantly to this emotion.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.15): Players feel satisfied with the game's strategic depth, accessibility, and balanced design, which caters to both beginners and experienced players. The replayability, frequent updates, and shorter gameplay sessions compared to similar strategy games enhance this positive experience. Multiplayer accessibility and the inclusion of unique tribes or mechanics also contribute to long-term enjoyment.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.14): Enjoyment stems from the game's engaging and fun gameplay, which is easy to learn but offers enough depth to keep players invested. The ability to play with friends, the variety in factions, and the game's suitability for casual or offline play add to its appeal. The overall simplicity and addictive nature of the gameplay loop make it a favorite for many.
- Excitement (weight 0.11): Excitement is driven by the game's strategic potential, unique experiences in each playthrough, and the thrill of multiplayer competition. Players appreciate the condensed 4X experience, frequent updates, and the discovery of new strategies or mechanics. The game's addictive and dynamic nature, along with its high replayability, keeps players hooked.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): Players appreciate the game's fairness, polish, and depth, which strike a balance between simplicity and complexity. The variety in factions, accessibility, and the developer's responsiveness to feedback are frequently highlighted. The game's innovation, strategic clarity, and avoidance of common pitfalls in the genre (e.g., endless endgames) also earn high praise.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Disappointment arises from repetitive or shallow gameplay, lack of unique faction features, and poorly balanced mechanics (e.g., RNG or overpowered units). Players also express frustration with monetization strategies, such as pay-to-win DLCs, and the absence of cross-platform features. The game's failure to evolve or meet expectations over time contributes to this sentiment.
- Amusement (weight 0.03): Amusement is derived from the game's quirky and lighthearted elements, such as unique race mechanics, adorable art style, and fun multiplayer experiences with friends. The game's ability to facilitate creative or hyperbolic scenarios (e.g., roleplaying multiple factions) adds to its charm.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's connection to classic strategy games like Civilization, with players reminiscing about past experiences on older devices or earlier versions. The game's evolution over time and its ability to recapture the magic of older titles contribute to this emotion.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Admiration is directed toward the game's refined mechanics, minimalist art style, and ability to combine simple rules with deep strategic complexity. Players praise its accessibility, innovation, and overall excellence, often comparing it favorably to other strategy games.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom results from repetitive gameplay, lack of long-term content, and the absence of meaningful progression or variety in single-player experiences. Players feel the game becomes tedious over time, especially when new content or challenges are not introduced.
- Challenge (weight 0.01): Players experience challenge due to the game's difficulty modes, such as Hardcore mode or Perfection mode, which require strategic depth and skill to master. The AI's unpredictability and the need to optimize strategies for victory also contribute to this emotion.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is tied to anticipated improvements, such as updates addressing balance issues (e.g., Cymanti tribe), the addition of new features (e.g., cooperative mode), or localization efforts (e.g., Chinese translation). Players express optimism for the game's future development.}