It’s fair to say that auto-battlers can be a mixed bag. There’s something about the joy of constantly levelling up and watching your units come out victorious that scratches an itch, but if it’s too hands-off, it ends up feeling like it’s barely a game at all. Thankfully, Seer’s Gambit strikes a perfect balance by empowering players to mix and match units, strategically build teams, and equip them with cool gear, enabling them to create powerful synergies and buffs.
However, this isn’t an auto-battler focussed on individual units, as it also lets you buff your teams by collecting resources in runs and then upgrading the different levels you’ve been to with better passive generation, or ultimate boosts. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable mix of systems, which makes it a perfect gaming accompaniment to some background work or TV viewing (we all know you do it!)
One important thing to note is that the game can feel incredibly frustrating until all the mechanics truly “click” for you. For instance, failing to recognize the importance of including a healer or tank in your party composition can quickly lead to disastrous runs that end far sooner than you might hope. This, in turn, creates a snowball effect where you’re left with insufficient resources to make future attempts any easier or more successful. On top of that, there’s a layer of randomness (RNG) involved in acquiring the right units, which can add to the challenge. If luck isn’t on your side, you might struggle to assemble a balanced and effective team, making progress feel even more elusive.
However, once you grasp these core strategies and start to account for the game’s nuances, the experience becomes far more rewarding. At this point, you can simply hit the “fight” button, sit back, and let your units handle the action autonomously, only needing to intervene at key moments to level up your units, refine your strategy, or interact with the various events and choices that emerge along the way.
Seer’s Gambit is one of the more interesting auto-battlers out there right now, offering up plenty of reasons to keep coming back outside of just trying to do a little bit better. Complete with an overarching narrative, meaningful progression and a brand-new endless mode, it combines the strategic planning and casual enjoyment you expect from the genre greats.
