Those who enjoy playing auto-battlers might have heard of Backpack Battles. In line with the Steam Next Fest, the German development team released a new update. MeinMMO author Linda B. reports why she is already excited about the demo.
What game are we talking about? Backpack Battles is a strategy auto-battler. You buy powerful items and place them as cleverly as possible in your expandable backpack to deal as much damage as possible in automatic battles.
Currently, you can test the game in a demo version with two playable characters. The early access is set to start on March 8th, adding two more classes.
The latest update added a German translation along with two items. Since the development studio PlayWithFurcifer is also from Germany, the translation was done in-house.
The trailer for Backpack Battles shows the new features of the early access version
The Tetris principle is as simple as it is brilliant
A round of Backpack Battles basically consists of two phases that repeat continuously:
- Buy items and organize inventory
- Automatic battle against another player
If you achieve 10 victories in battles, you have won the game. If you lose for the fifth time, it’s game over.
What is the strategic twist? The actual game takes place in the first phase. With gold, you can buy various items in the shop, which then need to be placed in the backpack.
By rotating and moving the items, it feels like a Tetris-like puzzle. However, your goal is not only to fill the backpack as much as possible. It’s also important where exactly the items are placed.
- Some items receive bonuses when placed next to certain other items.
- Some parts of your backpack provide specific bonuses.
- If you place matching items next to each other, they merge into a more powerful item in the next round.
You can also enhance weapons and armor with gemstones – and much more. Optimization enthusiasts will definitely find satisfaction in crafting the perfect inventory.
What classes are available? Currently, there are two playable characters to choose from:
- Ranger: specializes in critical damage
- Reaper: specializes in poison
In the early access version, two more characters are set to be added:
- Berserker: has a combat frenzy that increases damage and attack speed
- Pyromaniac: specializes in burning everything down
Each character has class-specific items that enable new strategies.
Just one more round!
What do I like? Backpack Battles strikes the perfect balance between strategy and luck for me, keeping me glued to the PC round after round.
The basic principle is easy to learn. However, I quickly want to try out all possible strategies. Should I focus on life steal, critical damage, high armor, or poison? Which items synergize particularly well with each other?
Yet even when I think I have the supposedly perfect strategy planned out, there is still the factor of luck. Will I even get the items I need? Which items are particularly cheap in the “sale” right now?
This combination often leads me to think, “Oh, next time it will surely work out! One more round, I’ll try again.” Five games later, I’m still refining the perfect build – and I love it.
It’s often the same with games like TFT, Brotato, or even Magic: The Gathering. However, the fact that even a demo can trigger this game flow in me really surprised me. If you’re looking for quick games that can still hook you, I can highly recommend Backpack Battles!
Who else has played it? YouTuber and streamer HandOfBlood had a similar experience as me. In no time he played his way up to diamond rank and describes the game as “maximally addictive.”
On his YouTube channel HandOfUncut, he dedicates nine videos to Backpack Battles.
What do I not like as much? Even in games played in separate rounds, I’m personally always a big fan of meta-progress. By that, I mean some kind of progress that I can achieve permanently.
Currently, Backpack Battles looks like this:
- In ranked games, you can collect points to increase your rank number.
- Skins for the characters can be purchased.
- An overview of items that have already been found.
- An overview of recipes (i.e., combined items) that have already been found.
That’s already great. However, for long-term motivation, I would wish for a little more to be added here. I’m thinking of achievements that might even unlock new items – or something similar.
All in all, Backpack Battles is already an entertaining game that leaves you wanting more. After my first sessions, the game actually ignited a true obsession in me to find comparable inventory management games, as I was so intrigued by the game mechanics.
Alongside the action-roguelike God of Weapons, I particularly found the dungeon crawler Backpack Hero. You can find out more about this game here: New game on Steam satisfies inventory fetish of MMO fans – 92% positive reviews: “104 hours played, it’s addictive, I love it”
