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When a video- or tabletop game theoretically has no time limit (due to infinitely renewable resources so nobody can be "starved out"), there is often some kind of endgame mechanic that is overwhelmingly powerful and can win the match even if the players are otherwise completely deadlocked. It's usually only available if the game has gone on for a very long time (compared to whatever is "average" for that game).
I'm not sure that it's Game-Breaker, because although it is strong, there are usually ways to win earlier. And although Purposely Overpowered seems close, it kind of seems to be talking about something else.
Some examples:
- Total Annihilation: Building enough nukes or artillery cannons essentially has no counter and will bombard a player to dust no matter how well they've turtled up. Possibly also mega-units like the Krogoth. All of this costs enormous amounts of resources.
- Little-known video game Etherium: There are two stalemate breakers. The first involves overwhelmingly powerful mega units (technically has counters). The second is building surface-to-orbit missile launchers that constantly bombard the enemy fleet and eventually forces them to flee (takes time, but the only counter is destroying the launchers).
- Minion Masters does not have a hard time limit per match, but it's very rare to go beyond 7 or 8 minutes as a player is likely to achieve Mana Frenzy and win through overwhelming firepower, even if the players were equally matched. (It's not a Game-Breaker because it's just as possible to win in under 2 minutes.)
- League of Legends: In an otherwise stalemated match where both sides max out on equipment, the deciding factor might just be the Baron Nashor and/or Aspect of the Dragon buffs, both of which involve risk and time, but also give overwhelming advantages.
Edited by KD