What are the best games like Monster Train?

The best games like Monster Train are Slay the Spire, Balatro, Eador: Imperium. Each was selected based on gameplay similarity, genre, atmosphere, and player reviews.

What games are similar to Monster Train?

Games similar to Monster Train include Slay the Spire, Balatro, Eador: Imperium. These alternatives share similar Role-playing (RPG) and Strategy elements.

Games Like

Monster Train

Find the best Monster Train alternatives — AI-picked and ranked by similarity.

2020

Role-playing (RPG)StrategyTurn-based strategy (TBS)IndieCard & Board Game

Fantasy

85/100

PCPS5Xbox SeriesXbox OneSwitchiOS

202085/100

Role-playing (RPG)StrategyTurn-based strategy (TBS)IndieCard & Board Game

Fantasy

Monster Train's genius lies in its relentless, multi-layered combat. Instead of a single battleground, you defend a vertical train, stacking units across several floors to fend off waves of enemies. The roguelike elements, from the randomized card draws to the evolving upgrades, keep runs fresh and force you to adapt on the fly. Its strategic depth, coupled with the constant pressure to optimize your deck, keeps you coming back for "one more run."

About Monster Train

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Hell has frozen over. Only you can protect the final burning pyre from the forces of heaven and restore the inferno. Monster Train brings a new strategic layer to roguelike deckbuilding, with three vertical playing fields to defend. Includes the released updates Wild Mutations and Friends & Foes! No playthrough is ever the same, it’s a fresh challenge every time. You’ll never play the same deck twice!

Top 3 Alternatives to Monster Train

Rating

Critic & community

Match

Recommendation strength

92%

Slay the Spire

2019 · Strategy

Like Monster Train, you build a deck and battle through escalating challenges, but Slay the Spire's branching paths and character-specific card pools create even more replayable strategic depth.

Why recommended

Core gameplay centers on strategic deck-building and turn-based combat, requiring careful resource management and tactical planning to overcome each encounter.
Criteria — Singleplayer experience with a clear progression through procedurally generated levels, offering a focused and replayable strategic challenge.
Character-specific card pools and unlockable relics create strong build variety and strategic depth, encouraging experimentation across multiple runs.

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Slay the Spire

2019 · Strategy · Card & Board Game · RPG

Rating

90/100

92%Match

Like Monster Train, you build a deck and battle through escalating challenges, but Slay the Spire's branching paths and character-specific card pools create even more replayable strategic depth.

Why recommended

Core gameplay centers on strategic deck-building and turn-based combat, requiring careful resource management and tactical planning to overcome each encounter.
Criteria — Singleplayer experience with a clear progression through procedurally generated levels, offering a focused and replayable strategic challenge.
Character-specific card pools and unlockable relics create strong build variety and strategic depth, encouraging experimentation across multiple runs.

View Details Watch Trailer More Like This

Rating

Critic & community

Match

Recommendation strength

85%

Balatro

2024 · Strategy

If Monster Train's strategic card play hooked you, Balatro's poker-based roguelite offers a similar blend of luck, skill, and escalating complexity, but with a unique twist.

Why recommended

The core gameplay loop revolves around building poker hands to earn chips and overcome enemy blinds, offering a strategic card-based experience.
Criteria — Singleplayer experience with a clear progression through procedurally generated levels, offering a focused and replayable strategic challenge.
A wide variety of joker cards and deck-building options create strong build variety and strategic depth, encouraging experimentation across multiple runs.

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Balatro

2024 · Strategy · Card & Board Game

Rating

82/100

85%Match

If Monster Train's strategic card play hooked you, Balatro's poker-based roguelite offers a similar blend of luck, skill, and escalating complexity, but with a unique twist.

Why recommended

The core gameplay loop revolves around building poker hands to earn chips and overcome enemy blinds, offering a strategic card-based experience.
Criteria — Singleplayer experience with a clear progression through procedurally generated levels, offering a focused and replayable strategic challenge.
A wide variety of joker cards and deck-building options create strong build variety and strategic depth, encouraging experimentation across multiple runs.

View Details Watch Trailer More Like This

Rating

Critic & community

Match

Recommendation strength

78%

Eador: Imperium

2013 · Strategy

Trade the train for a hex grid — Eador's blend of turn-based strategy and RPG elements offers a similar sense of strategic depth and tactical decision-making, but with a broader scope.

Why recommended

Engaging turn-based strategy with a focus on tactical battles, resource management, and empire building.
Criteria — Singleplayer experience with a clear progression through procedurally generated levels, offering a focused and replayable strategic challenge.
RPG elements such as character leveling and skill trees add depth to the strategic gameplay experience, encouraging experimentation across multiple runs.

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Eador: Imperium

2013 · Strategy · RPG · Indie

Rating

75/100

78%Match

Trade the train for a hex grid — Eador's blend of turn-based strategy and RPG elements offers a similar sense of strategic depth and tactical decision-making, but with a broader scope.

Why recommended

Engaging turn-based strategy with a focus on tactical battles, resource management, and empire building.
Criteria — Singleplayer experience with a clear progression through procedurally generated levels, offering a focused and replayable strategic challenge.
RPG elements such as character leveling and skill trees add depth to the strategic gameplay experience, encouraging experimentation across multiple runs.

View Details Watch Trailer More Like This