New game genres are emerging rapidly as developers experiment with different in-game mechanics.
These innovations have led to the creation of some of the most popular genres, including Battle Royale, Real-Time Strategy, and more. Supercell‘s new game, Squad Busters, exemplifies this trend. Squad Busters integrates game systems from Battle Royale, MOBA, and Strategy genres, offering an engaging experience with remarkably short game sessions.
Core Game Loop
Squad Busters primarily emphasizes the battle experience, incorporating many elements from its predecessor, Brawl Stars. Unlike the dual-stick mechanics of Brawl Stars, players in Squad Busters use a single stick to move their squad as a unit, and they can shoot when they stop moving. This change in player input makes the game more accessible to a wider audience.
Game Economy
Squad Busters primarily revolves around Gold. With Gold, players can:
- Buy more chest tickets (which are required to receive chests for upgrading busters in battles)
- Purchase copies of busters (including Mega Units, which are super busters)
- Obtain keys and reroll (for a chance to acquire better and more frequent busters)
Other in-game currencies include Hammer Coins (used for purchasing cosmetics for the main menu) and Portal Energy (determines player progression between game worlds- each world has different game modes and new busters)
Game Monetization
Game monetization relies entirely on in-app purchases (IAP), with offers tailored to players’ progression through the game worlds. In addition to coin packs, players can also buy a season pass, which is linked to their in-game progress
Conclusion
Squad Busters is a remarkable collaboration by the team at Supercell, incorporating elements from their previous games and leveraging well-established mechanics.
- Visual Overload for New Players: Squad Busters can initially overwhelm new players due to their limited attention span. Progression should be more gradual to help newcomers fully adapt to the game’s First-Time User Experience (FTUE).
- Party System and Co-op Play: The game introduces the ability to create parties, allowing players to join and compete against each other. However, cooperative play, which was a significant feature in Clash Royale, is currently lacking in Squad Busters.
- LiveOps Variety: Squad Busters should introduce a wider variety of LiveOps events with different game mechanics from the core gameplay to provide a refreshing experience for players.
