Dead games have a strange allure for me. I’m not ready to let go of titles that were once incredibly popular, and that’s why Dota Underlords still captivates me.
Remember Auto Chess?
Valve’s Dota Underlords was born from the Dota Auto Chess mod that took off in January 2019, capturing the gaming community’s imagination for a year or two during the autobattler craze.
These strategy games allow you to draft units, position them on a board, and forge synergies based on their classes, origins, or other traits. The heroes fight automatically. You enhance their power by collecting duplicates offered from a shared pool of units during matches. Items that you acquire every few rounds similarly strengthen your heroes, but that’s the extent of your direct involvement in battles. It’s a strategy game where you set the stage and let your units battle it out as per the script.
Dota Underlords launched in June 2019, just before League of Legends released Teamfight Tactics, and a couple of months after the original Dota Auto Chess transformed into a standalone title with its own generic characters. Many other developers, like Tencent with Chess Rush, couldn’t replicate the success.
You might say that Dota Underlords has also stumbled. From a peak of 111,000 concurrent players in July 2019, it plummeted to fewer than 15,000 by December. Notably, Valve hasn’t rolled out an update since November 2020. We’ve seen no new content, balance tweaks, or stability patches. It’s misleading to suggest Valve placed the game in maintenance mode, as that implies they were doing something to ensure its longevity. Rather, Dota Underlords appears to have been abandoned.
Why do they keep going?
Yet, despite its status, over 1,000 players are consistently logged into Dota Underlords on Steam, not counting mobile users. What gives? Why are players sticking with a game that Valve has seemingly left behind?
My theory, reflecting on my return to the game in 2025, is that the abandonment has ironically become a selling point. Dota Underlords has remained remarkably stable for years. Unlike Teamfight Tactics, the only major autobattler that survived the 2019 hype, Dota Underlords offers a predictable environment. There’s no pressure from time-sensitive battle passes or seasonal cosmetics that might vanish. The characters and gameplay have remained constant—no balance changes or rotations that alter unit dynamics.
After investing time in Dota Underlords, mastering its nuances becomes truly enjoyable. All the knowledge amassed over the years remains relevant. This lack of new developments actually allows players to dive deeper into strategy and development, sharpening their skills over time.
Interestingly, Dota fans don’t necessarily keep Underlords thriving because its gameplay deviates significantly from the MOBA genre. For those not familiar with Dota, returning players will find that powerful characters like Kunkka and Tidehunter still dominate. The familiarity is comforting; you can step away for months and return to a game that feels just as you left it.
Dota Underlords serves as a testament that not all online games need to follow a live-service model. It’s possible for a game to sustain itself without constant updates, especially when it comes from a large company like Valve, though I’m not clear on how profitable this title remains for them.
However, I’d only suggest diving into Dota Underlords today if you value a game that remains unchanging. If you’re after something vibrant with ongoing development, then Teamfight Tactics is a better choice.
What are the main reasons Dota Underlords retains its players despite being seemingly abandoned? For many, it offers a unique static experience, allowing players to deeply explore strategies without the pressure of constant changes.
Has the lack of updates actually helped Dota Underlords survive? Yes, many players find comfort in its stability, creating an engaging environment that fosters long-term strategy development.
What type of gameplay can new players expect from Dota Underlords? Newcomers can anticipate a straightforward, strategic experience where the focus is on unit placement and synergies rather than frequent changes.
Is it worth playing Dota Underlords in 2025? If you’re seeking a stable experience without the need for constant content refreshes, then Dota Underlords may suit you perfectly.
Ultimately, keep exploring what gaming has to offer. For more insights and related content, visit Moyens I/O.