Duelyst II similar games & best alternatives

Duelyst II

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac • 2022

Should you play it?

Choose your faction, construct your deck and put your strategy to the test in the evolution of the ultimate collectible tactics game.

What works
  • Unique blend of tactical board and card game mechanics
  • High skill ceiling and strategic depth
  • Beautiful pixel art and animations
  • Fair free-to-play progression
  • Active and friendly community with developer support
Things to keep in mind
  • Small player base causing matchmaking issues
  • Slow content updates and development progress
  • Steep learning curve challenging for new players
  • Some balance issues among factions and cards
  • Monetization model can feel grindy or pay-to-win

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Cards and Castles 2

  • War of Omens Card Game

  • MARVEL SNAP

  • Fairytale Fables

  • SOVL: Fantasy Warfare

  • Evolution Board Game

  • Prismata

  • Skill Legends Royale

  • Warriors: Rise to Glory
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Fairytale Fables

  • Evolution Board Game

  • Pacer
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Erannorth Chronicles
  • Strategy

    Combat Mission Black Sea
  • Autonomy

    Shogun Showdown: Prologue

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

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

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

Duelyst II: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Story, Intimacy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Fellowship, Story, Fantasy.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have freedom to plan moves, choose weapons, and build decks with strategic options, indicating high control over actions."

    Capsule for Shogun Showdown: Prologue Shogun Showdown: Prologue

    "Players have freedom to build decks, choose factions, and make tactical decisions on a grid-based board, indicating high control over actions."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "The game features a steep learning curve with complex mechanics and requires skillful deckbuilding and tactical combat to succeed."

    Capsule for Erannorth Chronicles Erannorth Chronicles

    "The game demands skillful deckbuilding, positioning, and tactical play with a steep learning curve and high skill ceiling."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    4

    "Strong focus on ranked ladder, tournaments, and PvP matches with matchmaking and player rankings."

    Capsule for The Elder Scrolls®: Legends™ The Elder Scrolls®: Legends™

    "Strong focus on ranked ladder, competitive matches, and skill-based matchmaking with leaderboards and tournaments."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Some players invest many hours grinding and building, but others find content limited and quit early."

    Capsule for Islet Online Islet Online

    "Players invest hundreds of hours, but the small player base and slow content updates may limit long-term habitual play for some."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay is primarily 1v1 competitive; no evidence of cooperative or team-based modes currently."

    Capsule for Phobies Phobies

    "Gameplay is primarily 1v1 competitive; limited evidence of cooperative or team-based modes."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Extensive deckbuilding options, faction combinations, and tactical board positioning allow creative strategic expression."

    Capsule for Cards and Castles 2 Cards and Castles 2

    "Extensive deckbuilding and strategic positioning allow creative expression in playstyle and tactics."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -2

    "Competitive but community is friendly; no evidence of toxic or dominating behavior."

    Capsule for Marble It Up! Ultra Marble It Up! Ultra

    "Competitive but community described as friendly and supportive; no strong evidence of dominance or toxic behavior."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a distraction and stress relief, enjoying its immersive and challenging experience."

    Capsule for Boson X Boson X

    "Players use the game as a relaxing and engaging distraction, with some reviews noting stress relief and immersion."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Sid Meier's Civilization® V Sid Meier's Civilization® V

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different factions, maps, and strategies; opportunity cards and asymmetric starts encourage experimentation."

    Capsule for Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim

    "Players explore different decks, factions, and strategies, with ongoing balance changes encouraging experimentation."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    1

    "Some discovery in unlocking new cards and fighting styles, but limited open-world or environment exploration."

    Capsule for Martial Arts Brutality Martial Arts Brutality

    "Some discovery in deckbuilding and tactical options, but limited exploration of new areas or secrets."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Customization mainly through modding and choosing generals; limited in-game avatar personalization."

    Capsule for Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour

    "Customization mainly through deck choices and some cosmetic options; generals have limited unique abilities."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Strong fantasy elements with magical skills, mythical characters, and imaginative combat."

    Capsule for Soulstone Survivors: Prologue Soulstone Survivors: Prologue

    "Strong fantasy elements with factions, lore, pixel art characters, and imaginative tactical combat."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    2

    "Active but small community with social interaction on Discord and multiplayer, though mostly competitive."

    Capsule for Distance Distance

    "Active but small community with Discord engagement and social interaction, though gameplay is mostly solo."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills in deck building, timing, and strategy; learning curve noted but rewarding."

    Capsule for Minion Masters Minion Masters

    "Players develop skills in strategy, deckbuilding, and tactical play; learning curve is steep but rewarding."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of physical activity or health-related gameplay; typical sedentary gaming."

    Capsule for Arco Arco

    "No evidence of physical activity or health-related gameplay; typical sedentary gaming."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and strategic thinking; not designed for idle or background play."

    Capsule for SUPERHOT SUPERHOT

    "Requires focused attention and strategic thinking; not designed for idle or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Social interactions are mostly surface-level competitive play; limited evidence of close relationship building."

    Capsule for Evolution Board Game Evolution Board Game

    "Social interactions are mostly surface-level competitive matches; limited evidence of close relationships."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -3

    "No evidence of leadership roles; players participate individually without group management or authority."

    Capsule for FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves

    "No evidence of leadership roles; players participate individually without managing groups."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Strong progression through card collection, leveling, crafting, and unlocking new decks and game modes."

    Capsule for Mythgard Mythgard

    "Strong progression through card collection, deck building, leveling factions, and unlocking content."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Many players find the game relaxing and enjoyable despite some frustrations."

    Capsule for Restaurant Empire II Restaurant Empire II

    "Some players find the game relaxing and enjoyable despite its strategic depth and occasional frustration."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable pixel art, animations, and sound design provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    Capsule for Planet Centauri Planet Centauri

    "Enjoyable pixel art, animations, and sound design provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    3

    "Ranked ladder and competitive play provide social recognition and status among players."

    Capsule for KARDS - The WW2 Card Game KARDS - The WW2 Card Game

    "Competitive ladder and rankings provide social recognition and status among players."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Some lore and backstory elements present, but narrative is not the main focus; gameplay is task-oriented."

    Capsule for Paranormal Cleanup Paranormal Cleanup

    "Some lore and faction backstory exist, but narrative is not a primary focus of gameplay."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay revolves around deep strategic thinking, problem solving, and tactical planning."

    Capsule for Combat Mission Black Sea Combat Mission Black Sea

    "Core gameplay revolves around deep strategic thinking, planning, and tactical problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Tense battles and competitive matches provide excitement and suspense."

    Capsule for SpellForce 3 Versus Edition SpellForce 3 Versus Edition

    "Competitive matches create suspense and excitement, though pace is moderate and not overly tense."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    2

    "Free-to-play friendly with generous rewards; some complaints about monetization but overall perceived as fair value."

    Capsule for OverField OverField

    "Free-to-play friendly with reasonable progression; some complaints about monetization but generally fair."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    1

    "Combat involves fantasy battles and attacks, but violence is stylized and not graphic."

    Capsule for VALKYRIE CONNECT VALKYRIE CONNECT

    "Combat involves fantasy battles and destruction, but stylized and not graphic; focus on tactical combat."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must avoid defeat by managing resources and tactical positioning."

    Capsule for Praetorians Praetorians

    "Players must avoid defeat by managing resources and positioning, emphasizing survival of the general."

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Last update: 01/06/2026