6 answers
I'd recommend checking out Teamfight Tactics on League of Legends client - it's pretty polished and gets regular updates, plus Autochess if you want something closer to the original that started the whole genre. Valve's Dota Underlords is solid but yeah hasn't gotten love in a while, so TFT tends to have the healthier playerbase these days. If you're into something a bit different, there's also Marvel Snap which has some auto-battler elements but plays pretty differently overall.
I'd add Hearthstone's Battlegrounds mode if you haven't tried it yet - the randomness is a bit higher than most auto-battlers but it's genuinely fun and the tavern recruitment system feels pretty distinct. If you want something a bit more chill and less competitive, Inscryption has some auto-battler elements mixed in that scratched a different itch for me when I was looking for variety.
Guys, those are solid picks. I'd throw Ironmight Arena into the mix if you want something a bit different - it's got that same addictive loop but with a focus on positioning that actually matters way more than most auto-battlers. Also worth checking out Marvel Snap's auto-battler mode if you're into something lighter and less time-intensive for when you just want quick games.
like folks here said, TFT and Battlegrounds are both solid choices. I'd also throw in Valve's Artifact 2.0 if you want something with a bit more strategic depth - the card synergies feel really rewarding once you get the hang of them, though fair warning it's not quite as polished as the bigger titles.
TFT is the safest bet if you want something polished and constantly updated. Valve's Artifact 2.0 is worth checking out too if you want deeper card synergies, though it's less forgiving than Underlords was.
If you're into the crafting/building aspect specifically, Battlegrounds mode in Hearthstone hits different because you're literally discovering and pivoting your entire comp on the fly. Yeah it's more random, but that's kinda the point - forces you to adapt instead of forcing a specific build. Autochess itself is still solid if you want that OG experience without the polish of bigger studios.
Ironmight Arena if you want positioning to actually matter more than just stat checking. Most auto-battlers kinda gloss over it but that game leans heavy into it, makes your board placement decisions actually impactful. Just depends what angle interests you more - the synergy puzzle, the itemization, or the tactical board setup.
don't just download whatever has the highest player count - auto-battlers can feel pretty different depending on whether you want pure chaos or something more calculated. i spent way too long bouncing between games looking for that sweet spot and kept getting frustrated because i'd pick something based on vibes alone.
the thing that clicked for me was realizing what i actually wanted: do you prefer games where you're reacting to what the game throws at you, or do you like having more control over your composition? if you lean toward chaos and variance, the card-based ones (Hearthstone Battlegrounds or Artifact 2.0 that was mentioned) might scratch that itch better than TFT, which rewards planning ahead way more. conversely if you hate feeling helpless when rng goes sideways, TFT's economy system lets you pivot around bad luck pretty smoothly.
here's what might help narrow it down: are you coming from Underlords looking for something almost identical, or are you open to pretty different vibes? and do you care about how active the community is, or are you just looking for solo fun? once you know that much you can probably figure out which one won't feel like a waste of install space.
Your answer
Log into answer.