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Strategy Auto-Battler Prototype Inspired by TFT + Mahjong

A topic by Justin created 10 days ago Views: 97 Replies: 2

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Hey everyone,

I’m working on an early prototype of a strategy auto-battler called Kami, inspired by TFT with some Mahjong-style mechanics, mainly discarding and reacting to what other players toss away.

Play the prototype (WebGL, no download):
Kami (Playtest) by Justin

It’s designed with mobile in mind, but for now, I recommend playing on desktop due to current WebGL bugs on mobile (e.g., pawn movement stutters or UI glitches). The final version will be a native iOS/Android app.

What I’d love feedback on:

Does the discard mechanic make sense and feel strategic?
Is the no-selling system intuitive or limiting?
How’s the pacing (gold gain, rounds, decisions)?
Are the synergies and unit types easy to understand and fun?
General thoughts on mechanics, balance, and flow

Quick Info:

Fast-paced matches (5–10 mins)
Every round, one benched unit is placed into the discard slot to be destroyed — adds tension like Mahjong. You can swap the discard unit before it’s gone, giving you a choice of who to give up. Once discarded, units cannot be bought again. This removes it from play for you but also all other players.
No interest or selling, so every choice matters
Types and abilities offer synergy-based bonuses
Built for short mobile sessions, though desktop play is recommended for now

Optional feedback form:
https://forms.gle/abRineCzDefzntfeA

Thanks so much for checking it out! All comments welcome, even short impressions help a ton.

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AlSoKnown10 days ago (1 edit)

I played your game. Here are some notes on design and feel of the game. Please excuse me for sounding a bit negative, these are only my opinions and although I do like autobattlers, I am not a big fan of mobile games, so my feedback may be not representative of your target audience.
1) The time-based system is extremely discouraging, especially for new players. After losing first two fights while I tried to read ability descriptions I was very frustrated, and continued playing only to give a better feedback.
2) It seems that there are some interesting abilities and potential combos, but I had no chance to understand them due to problem above. Similarly, unit names and lore seems relatively fresh, but I did not have chance to enjoy it.
3) I did not understand what '1v1v1v1' means in Normal mode description. Is it supposed to be 4-sided fights?
4) Inability to see enemy units removes any chance for strategy / planning, which is perhaps good for casual mobile game, but I would prefer it the other way.
5) The constant removal of units is another detrimental element for me, it forces player to remember to buy extra 'trash' unit every round, for no purpose other than to disable this strange effect. The feeling of game constantly trying to sneakily screw me is unpleasant. Again. mobile players are perhaps more accustomed to such behaviour of games.

Sorry again for some critique, I wish you good luck in development.

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Justin10 days ago

Thanks so much for playing and leaving such thoughtful feedback—it’s super helpful, and I totally get the frustration.

1) Yeah, the timer is a problem for beginners, actually gave me a idea—I'll just remove it from Beginner mode entirely.

3) For the “1v1v1v1” confusion: basically there are three other AI opponents, each with their own teams. I’ll definitely reword that to make it clearer.

4) You’re also right about not seeing other players’ teams—there’s a backwards way to get a hint by looking at what units they discard in the trash list, but I’ll improve that by showing who discarded what, and who you're matched with that round. That visibility should help with planning.

5) As for the discard mechanic, I think I didn’t explain it well. Each round, one of your pawns gets removed from play—not just for you, but for everyone. So it’s kind of a way to signal what you don’t want, while also denying units to others. But sometimes if someone already has a pair of that unit, they might be waiting for it—so maybe you hold onto it instead. There’s more depth there but I need to find a better way to convey it.

Anyway, I really appreciate you taking the time to write all this out. It’s already helping me think about how to improve the early experience. Thanks again!

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