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Monster Train similar games & best alternatives

Monster Train

PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 • 2020

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Quick resume

Monster Train is a strategic roguelike deck building game with a twist. Set on a train to hell, you’ll use tactical decision making to defend multiple vertical battlegrounds. With real time competitive multiplayer and endless replayability, Monster Train is always on time.

Global score

96/100

Genres

Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Role-playing (RPG), Indie, Card & Board Game

Similar games

    Pros

    • Highly replayable with diverse clan combinations
    • Strategic depth and creative deck building
    • Accessible yet challenging difficulty curve
    • Engaging fantasy theme and music
    • Strong progression and unlock systems

    Cons

    • Limited narrative and story depth
    • Some rng frustration at higher difficulties
    • Visual style may not appeal to all
    • Minimal multiplayer and social features
    • Repetitive map structure

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Story, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence, Survival, Fantasy.

    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 significant control over deck building, card upgrades, and strategic decisions during runs, including choosing clans and customizing cards."

    • Competence
      4

      "The game offers a challenging skill curve with strategic depth in deck building and combat, rewarding effective play and mastery."

    • Competition
      1

      "While there is a multiplayer mode and leaderboards, most play is focused on individual runs and personal progression."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Highly replayable with hundreds of hours reported, daily challenges, and progression systems that encourage habitual play."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Gameplay is primarily single-player focused with minimal cooperative elements; multiplayer modes are limited and not central."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Strong emphasis on creative deck building, card upgrades, and combining clans to experiment with strategies."

    • Domination
      -3

      "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of power imposition or trash talk in reviews."

    • Escapism
      5

      "Players use the game for stress relief, distraction, and immersive fantasy experiences, including personal emotional support."

    • Expectation
      -4

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

    • Experimenting
      5

      "Encourages trying new clan combinations, card synergies, and strategies with each run."

    • Exploration
      1

      "Some exploration of new card combinations and challenges, but map and environment are relatively fixed."

    • Expression
      2

      "Players can customize decks and upgrade cards, but limited cosmetic or avatar personalization."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Strong fantasy theme with demons, angels, and imaginative settings inspired by hell and mythology."

    • Fellowship
      -3

      "Mostly solo play with limited social or community interaction beyond optional challenges."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills in deck building, strategy, and game mechanics over time with a learning curve."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention during runs; not suited for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Minimal social interaction or emotional connection with others; primarily individual experience."

    • Leadership
      -4

      "No evidence of leadership roles; players act independently without managing others."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong progression through unlocking cards, clans, upgrades, and difficulty levels."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Provides flow and tension release, though some difficulty spikes can cause frustration."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Enjoyable visuals and music provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

    • Status
      1

      "Some recognition through achievements and leaderboards, but mostly individual focus."

    • Story
      -2

      "Minimal narrative; story is light and mostly background flavor rather than immersive plot."

    • Strategy
      5

      "High strategic depth in deck building, unit placement, and resource management."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Tension and excitement from challenging runs and boss fights, with risk and reward dynamics."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report high value for time invested with extensive content and replayability."

    • Violence
      3

      "Combat involves defeating enemies with spells and units; fantasy violence is a core mechanic."

    • Survival
      4

      "Players must manage threats and resources to protect the pyre and survive through runs."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026