The Bazaar for Windows

An intergalactic hub for strategic trading

The Bazaar, developed by Tempo Games, is a genre-defying Hero Builder that merges the tactical depth of a roguelike deckbuilder with the competitive structure of an asynchronous autobattler. Set in a vibrant, surreal galactic marketplace where magic and high technology collide, the game tasks players with surviving a ten-win journey against increasingly difficult opponents. Rather than relying on a traditional deck of cards, the game uses a board system where players must manage limited space to house a diverse arsenal of weapons, tools, and pets.

The game is structured around an asynchronous multiplayer framework, which removes the pressure of real-time matchmaking. When a player enters a combat phase, the game matches their board against a ghost of another player who is at the same point in their own journey. This system allows for a play at your own pace experience, as players can leave a run mid-day and resume later without a ticking clock or waiting for an opponent to make a move. As a result, the game transforms the typically high-stress environment of competitive autobattlers into a more relaxed, contemplative strategy game while maintaining the unpredictable challenge of facing human-crafted builds.

Engage in asynchronous competition

However, players should be mindful that certain transitions, such as the frequent opening and closing of the item stash, can feel slow and repetitive over long sessions. The meta-progression and currency rewards are heavily tied to winning, which can make a series of unsuccessful runs feel unrewarding.

Hero archetypes and specialized markets

The game includes a diverse roster of playable heroes, all of which act as a distinct class with a unique pool of items and skills. For example, Vanessa specializes in aggressive, aquatic-themed piracy and rapid-fire weaponry, while Dooley utilizes a robotic Core that can be upgraded into a primary weapon or a support tool for his Friend units.

Other characters like Pygmalien focus on the economy, with items that grow in power based and their monetary value, and Mak is an alchemist that manipulates Reagents and Potions. These heroes do not simply offer different visuals, as they also fundamentally alter shops and events encountered during a run, ensuring that the strategic priorities of a merchant-focused player differ entirely from those of a combat-heavy mechanic.

Distinct mechanics for strategy building

The Bazaar modernizes the strategy genre through deep mechanical synergy, with characters that offer fundamentally different item pools and playstyles. The lack of a real-time timer and the ghost opponent system allows players to enjoy a competitive experience on their own schedule. It focuses on a fair, hero-based entry system that ensures the game’s technical quality is balanced by the occasional complexity of its item interactions.