Backpack Battles cleverly combines strategic inventory management with an auto-battler and has already impressed many players with its demo. The game has now officially launched in Early Access on Steam.
Especially in the indie game sector, free demos are a good and popular way to attract potential players. However, rarely are demos as extensive as in the case of Backpack Battles. It offers 2 classes that you can start with directly and unlimited.
This led to the demo already gaining significant popularity and also attracting YouTubers and streamers like HandOfBlood.
On March 8, the title from the German indie developer studio PlayWithFurcifer finally launched officially on Steam in Early Access and immediately reached a milestone.
Inventory Management – The Game
In Backpack Battles, it is your task to buy various items and position them as cleverly as possible in your expandable backpack. During the automatic battle against other players, it becomes clear how powerful your build really is.
You will receive bonuses, for example, when you place matching items next to each other. If you find the right combinations, you can even create even more powerful items this way.
The game creates a good mix of strategy and luck, which can keep players engaged for many rounds at the PC. You can find out how the game works exactly, and why MeinMMO author Linda Baumgartl can spend hours puzzling over her inventory, here:
What’s new? With the release of the Early Access version, 2 completely new classes were added to the game, the Pyromancer and the Berserker. There are now 4 classes available, each with different specialization options. Additionally, there are a whole bunch of new items and crafting recipes.
Overall, the feel of the demo remains intact. This means:
- If you liked the demo, you can look forward to more content here.
- If the demo didn’t really catch your interest, it’s unlikely that this will change here.
If you haven’t tested the game yet, you don’t have to worry. The free trial version will still be available on Steam, just of course without the new content.
The Launch in Early Access
The Early Access version of Backpack Battles launched on March 8 and had an immediate successful start. In less than 2 days, the indie game managed to break the milestone of 100,000 sales.
“This number is much greater than we ever expected,” writes developer PlayWithFurcifer on Steam.
And the reviews are also extremely positive. Currently, the game has 96% positive reviews on Steam.
What’s next? On Steam, the developer also shares what the future plans are. The main focuses are:
- Balancing and fine-tuning of the new classes
- Lobbies to play with friends
- Item statistics to see, for example, how often you’ve purchased an item and how far you’ve gotten with it
- Overhaul of the combat log to see exactly when an item is activated
- Overhaul of the ranking system, possibly with seasons
- More unique items
- More outfits
Additionally, the final release will also include:
- A fifth class: the Adventurer. He is intended to have fewer restrictions due to his class and start with random items.
- Steam Achievements
Another indie hit is currently exciting many players. We’re talking about Balatro, which transforms classic poker mechanics into a deckbuilding roguelite. With 97% positive reviews on Steam, Balatro is even slightly ahead of Backpack Battles and has captivated MeinMMO author Niko Hernes:
Steam: The new indie hit is like poker, but much better – Only costs €14
