This new Steam hit actually makes inventory management fun. I didn't believe it, either.
Be honest: How annoyed are you with grocery shopping, trying to fit all your new stuff into your bag? Especially when space is limited, your childhood Tetris skills will come in handy. Although video games often lack realism in this regard (in Starfield, for example, you can carry 135kg), inventory management is a frequently disliked aspect of games.
But this new indie game turns it into a main feature... and it is actually fun.
Backpack Battles Is Steam's Latest Indie Hit
The autobattler Backpack Battles is currently making waves on Steam. With 100,000 copies sold so far and up to 35,000 simultaneous players, it is currently ranked number 1 among the trending games at the time of writing this article. But what do you actually do in the game, and why is it being celebrated by so many?
In classic RPG fashion, you choose one of the typical classes, including ranger, berserker, pyromancer, yada yada at the beginning of your run. Then it's straight to the action: shopping. You purchase equipment and healing items that you have to cleverly arrange in your backpack so you can carry as much as possible. At the start, your backpack is more like a small pouch, which you progressively upgrade throughout the game.
Once everything is packed, it's time for battle, where your character faces off against the characters of other players. However, this doesn't happen in real-time, as Backpack Battles is an asynchronous multiplayer game. So, your "build" now battles against other players' builds while you sit back and relax. This is how an autobattler works; it's all about preparation.
After the battles, it's back to the item shop, where you can invest your newly earned money and improve your strategy.
I have to admit: The art style of the game doesn't appeal to me at all – I feel like the game sparks a certain flash game vibe in terms of looks. But luckily it's not just about the style, and the many positive reviews speak for themselves. In Early Access on Steam, Backpack Battles has a rating of 95% from over 2,600 reviews, and players are really enjoying it.
- Steam user Jack Frost writes, "Best inventory management simulator 10/10 The demo has an insane amount of playability as it currently stands!"
- Steam user Radiant Being writes, "Roguelike, low stress PVP, autobattler, and inventory manager. Reminds me a lot of Slay the Spire."
- Steam user MidoBoss writes, "nothing like spending 20 minutes rearranging my things just to lose in 3 seconds, 10/10 worth."
You can currently purchase the Early Access version of Backpack Battles on Steam for $11.69. If you want to give it a try first, you can simply download the free demo (Sometimes there's a good reason to make the purchase after trying out the demo.) Have fun packing!