Battle Carnival vs Strife
Battle Carnival
Battle Carnival is a unique MMO shooter game that attempts to combine the strategy that goes into character-switching in character-based shooters like Overwatch with the somewhat arcade-like gameplay that the fans of the age-old yet iconic franchise, Counter Strike, might be very familiar with. Featuring 7 early access characters that you can access right from the start, the game puts a lot of emphasis on the roles these characters can play and how by switching some of them up, your team may be able to counter the enemy's lineup. Of course, knowing how to aim is still a crucial skill needed in any MMO shooter.The game provides 2 game modes at the moment - Demolition and Domination. Demolition is the clear favorite since the 5-vs-5 matches there are usually pretty fast-paced - 3 mins per round and the game can be won simply by winning 5 rounds. Domination, however, is slower-paced and features the "capture and hold the area" gameplay. It's a 6-vs-6 match that can last up to 12 minutes or so. The maps are all very well-designed with multiple flanking and outflanking routes, though some may complain that the maps are confusing and "maze-like".
Battle Carnival is currently in early access and as such, the game does have plenty of problems that need to be fixed, areas that need improving and of course, more features and content that need to be released. The player population is a bit on the low end as well. Regardless, the game does seem to have a potential to fill a niche that buy-to-play shooters have hogged and with changes, it can be better. In the meantime though, you might still want to give the game a try, just so you can let the developers know about your feedback and help them turn the game into a game you'd want to stick around in.
Strife
Strife is a MOBA that balances both its casual and competitive aspects perfectly, despite containing quite a number of standard MOBA fare. The game is an easy game to pick up and thus, is really newbie-friendly. Not to mention, the skill ceiling in the game is lower than that of more competitive MOBAs, further increasing its approachability to players new to the MOBA genre. Furthermore, despite the smaller hero pool, the crafting and pet systems made the heroes in the game so much more customizable and diverse. The shared gold system in Strife also allows for a generally more stress-free match, particularly for the support class and carries.If you would like a break from the overly-intense and sometimes toxic matches in DotA 2 or LoL, perhaps you could consider Strife as a good casual alternative! Dominate the enemy and carry your team to victory in Strife today!