Lunchbreak Tactics is a smart and fast auto-battler that plays to the genre’s strengths. A complete winning 12-battle run can take under 20 minutes once gamers understand the mechanics and know the type of team they want to create. The fast speed, with its cool rock soundtrack, condenses a battle to under one minute. The game looks good, and developing a team during the shop phase involves a balance of long-term thinking and luck. The only issue I have with the mechanics is that the meta-progression feels a little slow. The world-building is a little limited, but it doesn’t matter much given the engrossing gameplay loop. Lunchbreak Tactics is easy to learn, quick to play, and gets more fun as players understand it more and unlock new heroes and clans.

In a year with lots of GOTY contenders and many more indie bangers, Lunchbreak Tactics will definitely fall into the banger category. It won’t be winning any GOTY awards, but if the right audience finds it, I am fully confident it could grow into a really good Esports game, much like Hearthstone.