Summary

  • Zoeti offers new gameplay using playing cards.
  • Ancient Gods: Deckbuilding RPG for gacha game fans.
  • Night of the Full Moon provides a spooky journey format.

Deck builders are a great choice for iOS games, especially those that make use of roguelike or roguelite elements. Slay the Spire remains one of the most well-known and influential deck builders in the gaming space. Deck Builders can feel very different from one another, with Slay the Spire feeling very different from something like Balatro.

best pve deck builders
5 Best PvE Deck Builders

Deck builders are great for players looking to test their minds with some strategic gameplay. Here are the best PvE deck builders available.

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Players that have enjoyed Slay the Spire since its release in 2017 may be on the lookout for something new. The good news is that there are a lot of options to choose from, with some being more polished than others. This leads to the question of “which are the best deck builders on iOS?” And if they are worth giving a try.

8 Zoeti

Roguelike that Uses Playing Card

Zoeti
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Turn-Based Strategy
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Released
April 20, 2023
Developer(s)
Dusklight
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
Turn-Based Strategy
OpenCritic Rating
Fair

Zoeti is a roguelike that shares a lot in common with Slay the Spire. However, it also offers a lot of new features for players to explore. One such feature is its use of common playing cards to form poker hands in order to activate different abilities for the characters.

Players will form these hands from the cards available to them, with different battles offering different options. Players will also select new abilities as they progress through a run that can make a big difference.

7 Ancient Gods: Deckbuilding RPG

Gacha Fueled Deckbuilder

Ancient Gods
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Digital Card Game
Tactical
Roguelite
Deckbuilding
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Released
August 4, 2022
Developer(s)
Hexpion
Platform(s)
Android, iOS, PC
Genre(s)
Digital Card Game, Tactical, Roguelite, Deckbuilding

Some players love gacha games, and some players avoid them entirely upon hearing the word. The fights are short and rewarding, giving an explosive amount of fun early on. As one would expect, there are many different currencies for different aspects of the game.

best co op deck builders
5 Best Co-Op Deck Builders

Deck builders are typically single-player affairs, which is why these co-op deck-building games are such a breath of fresh air in the genre.

Players that only plan on playing for an hour or so a day will find plenty of fun to be had without spending any real world money.

This game goes by different names for different versions. It goes by Ancient Gods: Card Battle RPG on the Google Play Store, and simply Ancient Gods on Steam. These versions do differ, with Steam having a set price rather than being a free game.

6 Meteorfall: Journeys

Single Card Hands Can Be Fun Too

Meteorfall: Journeys
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Deckbuilding
Roguelike
Digital Card Game
Dungeon Crawler
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Released
January 24, 2018
Developer(s)
Slothwerks
Platform(s)
Android, iOS
Genre(s)
Deckbuilding, Roguelike, Digital Card Game, Dungeon Crawler

Players that enjoy having more range to a run may find what they are looking for with Meteorfall: Journeys. Players will start by picking a class, getting some cards, and then refining a powerful deck as they progress through a run.

However, players will rely more on what cards are in their deck than permanent buffs from something like a relic — this can make for more of a challenge. Players will also only deal with 1 card at a time during combat, choosing to play it or skip it to conserve resources.

5 Pirates Outlaws

High Seas Pirate Deck Builder

  • Release: March 5th, 2019
  • Developers: Fabled Game Limited
  • Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, macOS, Android, iOS

This game is perfect for players looking for a game that is similar to Slay the Spire, in the sense it offers plenty of ability cards, lots of ways to modify runs, and multiple characters. There are 16 characters, over 700 cards, and 200 reflections to discover and collect.

There are also over 60 bosses to overcome. This gives players a lot of bang for their buck. The game has in-app purchases for free version, but there are much costlier versions on Steam and Consoles that remove all micro-transactions.

4 Night of the Full Moon

Spooky but Fun World Setting

Night of the Full Moon
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Deckbuilding
Strategy
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Released
July 26, 2019
Developer(s)
Giant Games
Platform(s)
PC, iOS, Android
Genre(s)
Deckbuilding, Strategy

Night of the Full Moon has a spooky, yet funky, esthetic. Players will not see themselves on one side while enemies are on another, but instead have the sense that they are moving forward.

Players will be given options to choose from, such as visiting a tavern or facing off against an enemy. They will then address the choice before continuing to press on. This makes each run feel like they are on a journey forward, and it works really well. Runs still feel fresh and fun after copious hours of gameplay.

3 Iris and the Giant

Surprisingly Emotionally Gripping

  • Release Date: February 27th, 2020
  • Developers: Plug In Digital
  • Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

Iris and the Giant has an art style that is both simplistic and striking to look at. It has a great soundtrack and an emotional story. Some players will find themselves really immersed as they progress through a run.

The-26-Best-Mods-For-Slay-The-Spire
The 26 Best Mods For Slay The Spire

This roguelike deck-building game has plenty of content, but fans could always use more. If you want cool Slay the Spire mods, look no further.

Players can find themselves squaring off against large numbers of enemies that may seem overwhelming at first glance. However, the game gives players all the tools they need to dispatch them. Players may not get hundreds of hours of replayability, but the game makes up for it with its short but sweet story.

2 Indies' Lies

Massive Amount of Combinations

  • Release Date: September 22nd, 2021
  • Developers: Erabit Studios
  • Platforms: Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android

While Slay the Spire has players using just 1 character, Indies' Lies will let players amass a party thanks to Partners. Combining this with the multitude of runes to modify card effects makes for runs that feel unique after many hours of gameplay.

There are also multiple campaigns to play through once players feel they need a fresh change of pace from trying to overcome one giving them trouble.

1 Breach Wanderers: Deckbuilder

Customisable Starting Decks

  • Release Date: June 4th, 2021
  • Developers: Baronnerie Games
  • Platforms: Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android

While Slay the Spire has set starting decks, Breach Wanderers: Deckbuilder lets players open packs to acquire new cards to modify their starting decks. This offers a lot of satisfaction in changing how your preferred character can start each run.

This allows fans to have an all-new line-up of characters and enemies to face while preserving the gameplay feel of Slay the Spire. The game is also free, so there is no harm in trying it out.

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Slay The Spire: The Best Relics For The Silent Class

From Bottled Lightning to Shuriken, Slay the Spire has some incredible relics to use with the Silent class.