When comparing Pixel Defenders Puzzle vs Hoplite, the Slant community recommends Hoplite for most people. In the question“What are the best one handed Android games?” Hoplite is ranked 7th while Pixel Defenders Puzzle is ranked 43rd. The most important reason people chose Hoplite is:
You must plan your movements and attacks, paying attention to all enemy positions and their attacks. This makes for a game that the player can pore over their options, for as long as they like, which can be pretty enveloping.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Able to be played offline
Pixel Defenders Puzzle allows for the user to play while there is no internet connection, making for a good game to play when there is none.
Pro More strategy than a regular match 3 title
Pixel Defenders Puzzle asks for quite a bit of strategy from the player creating a much deeper game than what is expected from the outlook.
Pro Endless mode for casual play
There is an optional endless mode that removes the enemies from play which makes the gameplay a lot more casual though a bit pointless.
Pro Deep gameplay that harkens back to chess or other grid based games, where planning and strategy take a front seat
You must plan your movements and attacks, paying attention to all enemy positions and their attacks. This makes for a game that the player can pore over their options, for as long as they like, which can be pretty enveloping.
Pro Easy to understand the rules as any pertinent info is relayed before a move decision is needed
Someone called it "Chess, the roguelike". You have all the information before you move, every time. Enemies follow a simple ruleset, with no variation. There is almost no randomness. You know that you will die the turn before you do, and you will die because you painted yourself into a corner.
Pro Great replay value thanks to the roguelike random generation
There is a good list of achievements, which creates a high replay value. It encourages the user to play very differently in subsequent replays. Which is great for keeping the game fresh.
Pro Can be played at your own pace thanks to the turn based nature of the title
Hoplite is a turn based game, making for something that people can take their time with, deciding on their strategy for each move.
Pro Extended gameplay when you finish the title, with the fun but difficult game+ gameplay mode
Starting on level 16, the altars get replaced by a portal. The player has the choice to "win" the game by exiting through the portal, or to ignore the portal on that level and venture deeper, aiming for higher scores on progressively more difficult floors. This is great for those that enjoy more challenge and extra content past the regular ending.
Pro Well-balanced
Other, more popular, mobile roguelikes are far too random. A lot of people associate roguelikes with randomness, but a lot of effort goes into making sure that they provide consistently winnable games. When you lose a game it should be because you did something dumb, not because the RNG didn't deign it today. Hoplite nails this.
Pro Large assortment of enemies keeps the gameplay and strategies required fresh
There is a wide array of enemies to encounter and fight, which keeps encounters fresh as well as the strategies needed.
Cons
Con Pixel art limits needed information
The pixel art used in game can be nice to look at but it does limit how much information can be utilized on screen. This leaves players to tap on all enemies to find out there stats, which are needed to make informed moves in game.
Con Short game
Hoplite does not take that long to complete as it can be finished in an average playthrough in around an hour.