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Deck of Ashes similar games & best alternatives

Deck of Ashes

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2020

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Quick resume

Deck of Ashes is an adventure game with tactical card combat. One character at a time, lead the cast of antiheroes on a quest for redemption. Explore the cursed fantasy world and hunt down powerful cards. Forge a unique Battle Deck, and crush your foes! Can you rid the world of the Ash Curse?

Global score

72/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Card & Board Game

Similar games

    Pros

    • Unique deckbuilding mechanics
    • Engaging dark fantasy art and atmosphere
    • Deep strategic gameplay
    • Active and responsive developers
    • High replayability and content

    Cons

    • Early access bugs and balance issues
    • Slow pacing and long runs
    • Some grind and resource management tedium
    • Limited social or multiplayer features
    • Ui and animation responsiveness need improvement

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Relaxation, Survival, Violence, Fellowship. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Status, Sensation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have freedom to explore the map, choose battles and resources, and build decks with many options and strategies."

    • Competence
      3

      "Game offers strategic deckbuilding and resource management challenges with skillful play rewarded, though some players find it grindy or slow."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on solo play and personal progression without ranked or direct player versus player competition."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Many players report long play sessions, high replayability, and motivation to keep playing despite difficulty and grind."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative multiplayer or teamwork elements."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Players create and customize decks with many card combinations and build archetypes; crafting and upgrading add creative depth."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control over others; interactions are individual and balanced."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Dark fantasy setting and immersive gameplay provide strong escape from real life stresses."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation; no obligation or external pressure noted."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Players try different deck builds, characters, and strategies; game encourages exploration of mechanics and combos."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Map exploration with random layouts and dungeons offers discovery, though some find map movement slow or repetitive."

    • Expression
      3

      "Customization through deck building and character traits allows personal expression, though cosmetic options are limited."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strong dark fantasy theme with imaginative monsters, story, and setting."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community gameplay elements; strictly single-player."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills in deckbuilding and strategy; unlock new cards and upgrades over time."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; some players note long sessions and potential for unhealthy habits."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and strategic thinking; not suitable for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social or emotional relationship building in gameplay."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles; solo play only."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong progression through unlocking cards, upgrades, traits, and resources; players build stronger decks over time."

    • Relaxation
      -2

      "Game has tension and challenge; some players find it stressful or slow rather than relaxing."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Visuals and sound are praised but some find animations slow; overall sensory stimulation is moderate."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems present."

    • Story
      3

      "Light but engaging narrative with character backstories and plot; some players find it simple or underdeveloped."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Requires planning, resource management, and tactical deckbuilding; strategic depth appreciated by players."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Some suspense from resource scarcity and boss fights; tension from RNG elements."

    • Value
      3

      "Good value for price with many hours of content; some complaints about grind and early access bugs."

    • Violence
      2

      "Combat involves defeating monsters with attacks and damage; violence is stylized and fantasy-based."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must manage health and resources to survive battles and progress; permadeath and setbacks present."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026