Buffalo is often considered when partial shade matters, but no natural turf thrives without enough light. Airflow, moisture, soil and foot traffic also need to be considered across the whole lawn.
This page compares commonly considered options. The suitable available turf is confirmed for your property and quote rather than promised for every lawn.
Not always. Recovery is useful, but sunlight, soil, repeated paths, mowing and keeping pets off the new lawn at the beginning also matter.
You can create a shortlist, but the final choice should consider the soil, sunlight, surrounding edges and watering. Those details can change which option is practical for the yard.