The Battle of Polytopia is a turn-based strategy game for Android in which you act as a tribal chief. Your goal is to grow a civilization while competing against other tribes. The core activity is managing a tribe over a series of turns: researching technologies, recruiting soldiers, exploring the map, and fighting other civilizations to conquer their cities.
Core gameplay
The listing describes the game as a 4X strategy title, with the four Xs standing for explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. Its activities span exploration, farming, building, warfare, and technology research. Because maps are auto-generated, each game starts from a different layout, so the early decisions about where to settle and which regions to pursue can differ from match to match.
Game modes
The game lists three modes: Perfection, Domination, and Creative. The source gives the most detail on Perfection and Domination. In Perfection, players compete within a time frame of 30 days, and the player with the highest score wins. In Domination, the aim is to dominate the map by destroying rival tribes until you become the majority ruler. The source names Creative mode but does not describe its rules.
Multiplayer and tribes
The game supports single-player and multiplayer play. Multiplayer matchmaking is described as connecting players from around the world, and mirror matches let you face opponents who use the same tribe. The listing also mentions a Pass and Play option and a leaderboard that ranks top scores. Multiplayer matches are described as requiring a win within a set time limit, and each player may adopt a different strategy that must be countered.
The listing also describes a tribe system in which members of the same tribe collaborate, advance their town, and gain stars and upgrade abilities after match wins. The source does not explain how these stars convert into specific upgrades.
Diplomacy and stealth
Diplomacy lets players make peace treaties and build embassies with other tribes. Stealth play is supported through invisible cloaks and daggers, which are described as tools for stealth attacks. The recent update notes say the diplomacy features were balanced and improved.
Maps, tribes, and display
The game offers a wide range of tribes, each described as having a distinct nature, culture, and style of play. It can be played in portrait or landscape orientation, and the listing states that offline play is allowed. The graphics use low-poly, stylized visuals. The listing also includes player avatars.
Listed limitations and recent changes
The listing's pros and cons section names unbalanced gameplay and occasional instances where players are kicked out of matches as drawbacks. The changelog for version 2.16.8.15757 lists diplomacy balancing and several fixes, including a correction to Elo handling, a fix for games involving bunnies and ice getting stuck, a fix for algae and port interactions, and a fix for adding players to Pass and Play.