Summary
- Deck-builders require more than standard mechanics to stand out in a saturated genre.
- Shogun Showdown, Monster Train, and Griftlands offer unique deck-building experiences.
- Slay The Spire, Balatro, and Wildfrost provide fun gameplay with innovative mechanics.
Deck-builders are a unique genre of game with an inherent element of player expression, allowing players to make frequent decisions that have an immediate impact on gameplay. This can be fun in of itself, but in an increasingly saturated genre, it takes more than standard mechanics to make a deck-builder stand out.
These titles often feature unique structures or fun twists on the usual deck-building gameplay that fans have come to know, but some are simply so well-refined that they're worth playing in their own right. From the RPG deck-building of Griftlands to the tile-based gameplay of Shogun Showdown, there's something here for everyone.
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8 Shogun Showdown
Action-Packed Deck-Building
Shogun Showdown
- Released
- September 5, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, Roguelike
Shogun Showdown is a tile-based roguelike deck-builder that tasks players with battling enemies on a single axis. In the game, players use a variety of simple tiles to maneuver left and right, dodging attacks and enacting powerful combos to defeat waves of foes.
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By tasking players with controlling a moving character, Shogun Showdown is able to provide fast-paced gameplay. This pairs nicely with the readability of the game's tiles, which allow players to focus more on the action and less on the nitty-gritty of card text.
7 Monster Train
A Tower-Defense Deck-Builder
Monster Train
- Released
- May 21, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Alcohol Reference
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Deckbuilding
Monster Train is an innovative combination of tower-defense and roguelike deck-builder, tasking players with defending a multi-layered train from waves of diverse enemies. The tiered structure of the tower defense is a particular strength, providing a steadily rising tension for each encounter.
The way that card play interacts with the tower defense mechanics is also consistently fun, and facilitates a broad range of strategies. This is only furthered by an assortment of factions, each with their own unique strengths.
6 Griftlands
Stylish RPG Deck-Building
Griftlands
- Released
- July 11, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Indie Games, Adventure, Strategy
Griftlands is a unique deck-builder that makes ample use of RPG mechanics, providing players with an immersive and alien world to interact with. The game itself centers around a dual combat system that allows players to fight or negotiate with their enemies, both of which use separate customizable decks.
This allows for a great deal of player expression, making Griftlands one of the most freeing deck-builders on the market. Players looking for a gameplay-focused experience may tire of the character dialogue and narrative threads, but Griftlands has a unique flavor that's worth trying.
5 Slay The Spire
A Modern Classic
Slay the Spire
- Released
- January 23, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Tobacco Reference
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Deckbuilding
Slay The Spire is simple fun, supported by intricate mechanics. Offering tight, streamlined deck-building mechanics, Slay The Spire excels with its quickly-ramping pace, practically throwing cards at players until they've had enough. Yet, this title remains challenging, and sports plenty of replay value with its unique playable characters and customizable difficulty.
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Gameplay is tremendously intuitive, offering a steady loop that champions creative thinking and clever synergies, and the addition of a node-based map allows for an extra layer of choice. Somewhat of a North Star in the deck-building genre, Slay The Spire is a classic experience, and it's the perfect place to start.
4 Balatro
Accessible & Tactile Fun
Balatro
- Released
- February 20, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Digital Card Game, Roguelike
Balatro stands out in the deck-building space for its innovative use of classic poker hands, offering immediate accessibility that allows for instant fun. The game's slick user-interface and satisfying player feedback also lend themselves to instant gratification, but Balatro's gameplay maintains serious staying power.
Balatro works to provide players with a fun-first experience that's at first more akin to a toy than a game, but it remains both diverse and strategic. This is thanks to the clever warping of standard poker cards, offering creative ideas at every turn that mash the age-old table game with typical roguelike deck-builder mechanics.
3 Cobalt Core
Atmospheric Spaceship Battles
Cobalt Core
- Released
- November 8, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Digital Card Game
From its chunky, bright, and colorful pixel-art, to its soothing soundtrack and buoyant charm, Cobalt Core is an immediately joyful experience. There's plenty of fun to be had bouncing along to its various tunes and enjoying its nostalgic visuals, but Cobalt Core also excels with its riveting spaceship battles.
Combining deck-building with tactical movements on a single axis, Cobalt Core's gameplay manages to provide a fresh but intuitive experience. In the game, players control their spaceship through a customizable deck, which represents three distinct crew members chosen at the start of each run. It's breezy, tactical, and tremendously upbeat, offering a lightweight experience that's wonderfully refreshing.
2 Wildfrost
A Charming Cartoon Deck-Builder
Wildfrost
- Released
- April 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- Digital Card Game, Strategy, Roguelike
Wildfrost is a distinctive roguelike deck-builder not only for its charming cartoon art-style, but for its innovative gameplay. In the game, players do battle with various whimsical enemies on snowy battlefields, simultaneously working to protect their leader from death.
To do this, players are given access to a variety of companions, cards, charms, and relics. This generosity and diversity of tools allows for a great deal of creativity and expression, making for a tremendously strategic experience. The unique turn system, tactile UI, and stylish visuals are just icing on the cake.
1 Dune: Imperium
A Diverse Sandbox Of Strategy
Dune: Imperium
- Released
- March 13, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Deckbuilding, Board Game
Though its dense combination of tabletop game mechanics may take a bit of learning, this digital adaptation of Dune: Imperium offers a slick and satisfying strategy experience. Combining worker-placement and deck-building with a unique card system, Dune: Imperium's diverse board offers a complex arena for strategic thinking.
Adding to the experience is a great variety of cards and board spaces that allow for a multitude of strategies, further supported by an assortment of playable leaders. These leaders each offer their own unique strengths, allowing each match to feel unique from the last.
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