This study reviews and elucidates the dwell sensitivity behavior and mechanisms controlling deformation and failure under high-temperature low cycle fatigue (HTLCF) of a range of materials. Dwell sensitivity maps were constructed utilizing normalized cycle ratio (NCR) and strain levels. The trends identified are summarized as follows:•Dwell cycles were beneficial to the creep–fatigue resistance only in isolated cases for copper alloys; AMZIRC and NARaloy-Z, and superalloys; PWA 1480 and MA 754 an (ODS) alloy.•Solders (96.5 Pb–3.5 Sn and 37 Pb–63 Sn), copper alloys; AMZIRC and NARaloy-Z, low alloy steels; 1 Cr-Mo-V, 1.25 Cr-Mo and 9 Cr-1 Mo, stainless steels; SS 304, SS 304L, SS 316, and SS 316L, superalloys; Mar M 002, Rene 80, Inconel 617, IN 100, PWA 1480 and MA 754 were observed to be tensile dwell sensitive.•Low alloy steel 2.25 Cr-Mo, titanium alloys Ti-6 Al-4V and IMI 829 and superalloys Mar M 002 below 1040°C, Waspaloy and Rene 95 were found to be compressive dwell sensitive.An attempt has been made to predict the dwell sensitivity fatigue behavior empirically relating the strength ratios with ductility ratios. It was proposed that when the ductility ratio was equal to the strength ratio, compressive dwell sensitivity occurred and for unequal conditions, tensile dwell sensitivity occurred. These factors were determined and dwell sensitivity predicted.The mechanisms controlling deformation and failure are categorized as follows:•Each cycle type produced deformation in either transgranular (TG), mixed, or intergranular (IG) mode. Cyclic softening resulted in IG deformation as the stresses reduced. Grain boundary sliding, cavity formation and oxidation damage interact and lower life faster than TG modes, in which striations were observed.•Depending upon the cycle time, stresses, and temperature, deformation in terms of precipitation, slip patterns, carbides, depletion of chromium carbides, Cr-Mo clusters etc. occurred. These resulted in IG corrosion, oxidation and creep–fatigue interactions causing additional damage.•Dynamic strain aging occurred depending upon the microstructure, temperature and material composition. Precipitates developed which enhanced HTLCF resistance, however, other competition mechanisms under dwell conditions are not known.The dwell sensitivity behavior and mechanisms controlling deformation and failure of numerous materials are summarized in this paper.