Genre guide

PvE auto chess

PvE auto chess is an auto battler where you build and merge a squad from a shop, as in Dota Auto Chess or Teamfight Tactics, but fight computer-controlled enemies instead of seven other players. The difficulty comes from a map, waves or bosses, so you can play alone, take your time and build greedy comps that a human opponent would punish

Why people look for it

Auto chess is a thinking game, but the big titles wrap it in an eight-player lobby with a clock and a ladder. Many players love the building and hate the stress. PvE versions keep the shop, the stars and the synergies and swap the opponents for a campaign, a roguelite run or an endless mode

How Erumaru does it

Erumaru is a PvE auto chess roguelite for PC. A run is three acts of 13 floors and a finale on the Spire, 42 floors in 60 to 90 minutes, on a branching map with fights, elites, guardians, bosses with phases, bazaars, workbenches, chapels, caches, rests and 40 text events. Between fights you buy heroes from a shop with a shared pool, merge three copies into a star, assemble items from components, set perks and pick relics. Heroes level up to 100 like in Dota, and a lost run still levels the Lantern that unlocks new heroes, items and lands. Battles are deterministic and you can skip to the result

What to expect from the genre

Runs that end, not matches you lose to a lucky roll. Difficulty you pick instead of a ladder that picks it for you. And the same satisfaction of a comp coming online, except that nobody takes it away from you

Games in this genre

Questions people ask

Is there an auto chess game without PvP?

Yes. Tales & Tactics, The Last Flame and Despot's Game are single-player auto battlers on Steam, and Dota Underlords has an offline mode against bots. Erumaru is a PvE auto chess roguelite in development with a free closed beta

What is the difference between auto chess and auto battler?

Auto battler is the genre name; auto chess comes from Dota Auto Chess, the game that started it, and usually means the specific shape with a shop, a shared pool, stars from three copies and synergies on a board. Erumaru is auto chess in that strict sense and PvE on top

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