The Bazaar (2025)

I reviewed this game just a little over two months ago, but it's undergone some major changes - the more I read about it, I'm glad I played it when I did even though the game has resolved some of the issues I had. Now costing $40 instead of its prior freemium model + $20 per new character I think, which all has some pretty significant implications across different aspects of the game, it seems to be having some growing pains based on posts I read online which are making returning to it not sound very appetizing. Unlike an auto-battler peer like TFT that has totally distinct sets with a limited number of reprints, it is continually adding more stuff on top of the game and seemingly struggling to keep it all balanced. Players are also understandably pretty frustrated at how much stuff costs—the game does have high production values, but I would sacrifice that to keep it free if there were a more sustainable model for them. I'm not sure if or when I'll go back if the eventually-released iPad version is going to cost money. Just interesting thinking for example about if this survives to make it onto an end of year GOTY top 10 for me, I'd be recommending something very different from what I actually played.