There’s something really compelling about a game that is super easy to pick up but offers that “one more round” feeling. Lunchbreak Tactics is exactly the type of game I’d envisioned playing play on a lunchbreak at work, and one I’ll still be playing at four in the morning.
This auto battle card game pits you against other players using a horde of anthropomorphic supermarket characters. It’s silly and simple at the same time, with plenty of tactical options for those who love list building.
It’s Break Time!
Runs in Lunchbreak Tactics last for 12 rounds. You begin in the shop where you buy units like wine bottles, toasters or empty chip packets. You lay them out in a line of five, then do battle against a randomly selected opponent. Pretty simple, right?
The complexities start to pile up when you get through those rounds, and you’re juggling multiple stacking effects like a master. I’ve had runs built around summoned units, where my five base units each summoned additional ones when they die, and others that increase their own health when new units are summoned. I’ve also had runs where my hero ability is built around refreshing the shop, so you build your core list early, and rotate through the shop constantly to buff those stats.
Matches are played asynchronously, so while you’re climbing the ladder, you’re battling against a constantly rotating mix of opponents of all skill levels. That’s a really cool system, the battles are fast, and the tactics are constantly evolving.
Leading The Battle
When you begin a run in Lunchbreak Tactics, you choose a Hero and draft two Clans of units. The heroes add passive benefits to your run that change the way you play. These characters are all eccentric weirdos, some you might find working at the supermarket or in and around this hub of humanity.
The hero abilities range from shop stat boosts, additional card options and other bonuses. I wish there was a Story Mode to give these heroes some character. They’re wonderfully drawn in a colourful anime style that seems straight out of Yu-Gi-Oh, and they have some one-liners in-game to give you a bit more flavour. But more than anything, it feels like a missing piece. I want more from these characters.
The main mode is a twelve-round ladder, and you gain experience and renown for how many wins and losses you land. There is also a King of the Aisle mode. In that, every day, the latest King of the Aisle is crowned, and you have to beat their composition to take the crown tomorrow. Apart from that, you have a practice mode, and that’s about it.
If you like the core loop, that’ll keep you going, but it is a simple premise.
Assembling the Troops
The biggest run-to-run change is in the Clans you choose and the synergies you build. When you enter battle, the units on the left attack one another; if either dies, the next one along automatically cycles to the front. Many of the abilities cards hold are triggered by other cards. Such as a Bananerman card (a banana knight with a banner), at the start of the battle, he gives half of his attack to the unit in front. Or a Crumbfather (box of empty biscuits with just crumbs left). When he dies, he summons a Lil’ Chip to fight in his place.
Lunchbreak Tactics is designed to give you many options for building your list of units. As I was playing, I slowly picked up what each Clan is built to do. There are six clans, each composed of various supermarket items and themed around concepts such as pirates, medieval cuisine and the undead.
Checking Out The Art
The card art is really awesome. You can see the length they’ve gone to make the Backpack Thief monkey look adorable, and the Aristoglass of wine look snobbish.
There are some weird ones that might put people off; the vampire tampons, ghost condoms and used toilet paper come to mind. But humans can be gross, and working in a supermarket means dealing with that — we’ll call it realism.
Should I play Lunchbreak Tactics?
If you love a game where “one more run” turns into five, this is right up your alley. If you like repeating cycles and mastering your build, then most definitely. I do feel like outside of that specific crowd, Lunchbreak Tactics will either hook you or throw you back.
I love the simple premise of Lunchbreak Tactics, and from my first run to my last run, I kept tinkering excitedly. This will live or die on post-launch support; new heroes, new clans, and new modes would all be amazing. Because the core game is here… if you’ve got a lunch break to play it.
Quest Daily scores Lunchbreak Tactics:
8/10
Lunchbreak Tactics is available now on PC via Steam.
A copy of Lunchbreak Tactics was supplied to Quest Daily for this review.
