Abattlacus

What it is

Abattlacus is a roguelike autobattler played on an abacus, made in 72 hours for Ludum Dare 60. You build a team of beads, position fighters and archers, and combine abilities with artifacts between battles. Rows on the abacus act as equations, with victories adding to earnings and defeats subtracting money and lives.

Editor takes

TheoThe Number Cruncher

“The equation gimmick is clever, but with a few-minute session and prototype economy I'm not sure the abacus adds up past the first handful of runs.”

JunoThe Puzzle Purist

“The addition-to-multiplication Fairy flip is a genuine aha, and the rules stay legible for a jam prototype; fairness is harder to judge in so few minutes.”

IrisThe Pixel Nerd

“Chunky bead sprites and a tidy Aseprite palette carry the retro look, though the music déjà vu some players flagged keeps pulling me out of the mood.”

BeaThe Jam Judge

“For a 72-hour jam prototype it's a surprisingly complete package—clear hook, neat pixel art, and short sessions—but the long-term depth is still TBD.”

How to play

Each battle is resolved through abacus rows that work as equations, determining your gains or losses. Win to earn money, then spend it between battles on new beads and artifacts. A Fairy can change addition into multiplication, letting you turn a strong row into a larger payoff.

Tips

• Look for synergies between artifacts and the abilities of your bead team.
• Position fighters and archers so their effects complement the equation of each row.
• Use the Fairy's multiplication on rows that already grant a solid payout.
• Keep some reserve money, because defeats subtract both money and lives.
• Experiment early with different combinations while runs are still short.

Questions