Palworld publisher called Combolands the best indie game of the year and the most addictive since Balatro

John Buckley, head of publishing at Pocketpair, made an unexpected compliment about someone else's game instead of his own studio. Despite the successful launch of Palworld 1.0 this year, Buckley says another, much less prominent title is contending for the season's top indie spot – Combolands.

100% Combolands. I strongly recommend you guys check it out on Steam, even if you think you won't like it. I haven't played a game more addictive since Balatro. Perhaps the best indie of the year in my opinion! Simply a 10/10!

Combolands is described on its Steam page as "a mini citybuilding roguelike" where players place buildings, stack combos, and master deep strategy in short bursts, turning a tiny settlement into a thriving metropolis. The gameplay loop revolves around placing buildings to unlock new synergies and cascading combos, along with unlocking guilds that come with distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Crux Games, the studio behind the game, is a two-person team. According to the developers, blending roguelike, deckbuilder, and citybuilding elements creates "strategic depth and a 'number-go-up' rush in satisfying 30 minute bursts."

The formula seems to be working beyond just Buckley's enthusiasm. As of publication, 97% of Steam reviews for the game are positive.

Comparing Combolands to Palworld as rivals for indie game of the year isn't entirely fair when it comes to scale. Crux Games consists of two developers, while Pocketpair is a publisher and developer with roughly 100 employees. Still, seeing independent developers support one another remains a rare and welcome sight in the industry, and a genuine recommendation from someone who's typically skeptical of roguelikes and deckbuilders carries extra weight for players who usually skip these kinds of games.