Monster Train 2 similar games & best alternatives

Monster Train 2

Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S • 2025

Should you play it?

Monster Train returns with all new clans, new enemy factions, new challenges, new modes and more! Defend your Pyre in the classic three-tiered, vertical gameplay that made the original roguelike deckbuilder a hit.

What works
  • Deep and engaging strategic gameplay
  • Extensive content with many clans and combos
  • Quality of life improvements like undo and deployment phase
  • High replayability and meta-progression
  • Excellent soundtrack and satisfying combat
Things to keep in mind
  • Story and lore are shallow and sometimes cringeworthy
  • Art style changes are divisive and sometimes cluttered
  • Steep learning curve for new players
  • Some clans feel unbalanced or less fun
  • No multiplayer or social features

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Pyrene

  • Hadean Tactics

  • Shogun Showdown

  • Breach Wanderers

  • Vault of the Void

  • Solitairica

  • Inscryption

  • Death Howl

  • Nitro Kid
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Pyrene

  • Breach Wanderers

  • Nitro Kid
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Slipways
  • Continuation

    WARRIORS: Abyss
  • Creativity

    The Elder Scrolls®: Legends™

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).

Monster Train 2: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Creativity, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Leadership.

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 significant control over deckbuilding, card choices, and unit placement, allowing strategic decisions and personal freedom."

    Capsule for Commander Quest Commander Quest

    "Players have significant control over deck building, unit placement, and strategic decisions including deployment phase and equipment choices."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "High skill ceiling with challenging puzzles, strategic resource management, and optimization rewarded; learning curve is steep but mastery is satisfying."

    Capsule for Slipways Slipways

    "High skill ceiling with complex synergies, strategic planning, and challenging difficulty levels that reward mastery."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is primarily on personal skill improvement and individual runs rather than direct player-vs-player competition."

    Capsule for Rabbit Hole Rabbit Hole

    "Focus is primarily on personal runs and self-improvement rather than direct player-vs-player competition."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    5

    "Highly addictive with strong replayability, long runs, and meta progression encouraging habitual play and multiple sessions."

    Capsule for WARRIORS: Abyss WARRIORS: Abyss

    "Highly addictive with long play sessions, meta progression, and extensive replayability encouraging habitual play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player roguelike deckbuilder with no cooperative multiplayer elements."

    Capsule for Breach Wanderers Breach Wanderers

    "Single-player roguelike deckbuilder with no cooperative multiplayer elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    5

    "Extensive deck building, card combinations, and strategic experimentation allow for creative expression and customization."

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

    "Extensive deckbuilding, clan combinations, equipment, room cards, and pyre customization enable creative strategies."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control over others; gameplay is solo and self-directed."

    Capsule for Afterimage Afterimage

    "No evidence of exerting control over others; gameplay is solo and self-directed."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a fun, engaging distraction with immersive fantasy elements and stress-relieving gameplay."

    Capsule for Legend of Keepers: Prologue Legend of Keepers: Prologue

    "Players use the game as a distraction and stress relief with immersive fantasy and engaging gameplay."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Don't Starve Together Don't Starve Together

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

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    5

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

    Capsule for Monster Train Monster Train

    "Strong emphasis on trying new clan combos, synergies, and strategies with many mechanics to explore."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Players discover new cards, charms, and unlockables; exploration of different deck archetypes and strategies."

    Capsule for Wildfrost Wildfrost

    "Exploration of new card combinations, clan synergies, and strategic possibilities within runs."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Customization through deck building and cosmetic items allows player self-expression."

    Capsule for Faeria Faeria

    "Customization of pyres, equipment, and decks allows some self-expression, though limited to gameplay elements."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

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

    Capsule for Deck of Ashes Deck of Ashes

    "Strong fantasy theme with imaginative clans, monsters, and a hellbound train setting."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community gameplay elements; focus is on solo play."

    Capsule for Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles

    "No social or community gameplay elements; focus is on solo play."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Players learn complex mechanics, improve skills, and unlock new content over many hours."

    Capsule for Has-Been Heroes Has-Been Heroes

    "Players learn complex mechanics, improve skills, and unlock new content over time."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for The Drifter The Drifter

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for FAIRY TAIL: DUNGEONS FAIRY TAIL: DUNGEONS

    "Requires focused attention and strategic thinking throughout runs; not suited for idle play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing in gameplay."

    Capsule for Alwa's Legacy Alwa's Legacy

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing in gameplay."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; entirely single-player experience."

    Capsule for Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition

    "No leadership or group management roles; entirely single-player experience."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

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

    Capsule for Monster Train Monster Train

    "Strong meta-progression with unlocking clans, cards, pyres, and difficulty levels."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Some players find flow and satisfaction, though the game can be tense and challenging."

    Capsule for Europa Universalis IV Europa Universalis IV

    "Some players find flow and satisfaction, but the game is challenging and can be tense."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Vibrant visuals, dynamic combat animations, and varied soundtrack provide sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Yakuza: Like a Dragon Yakuza: Like a Dragon

    "Enjoyable soundtrack, visual effects, and satisfying combat animations provide sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "No social status or recognition systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

    Capsule for LocoCycle LocoCycle

    "No social status or recognition systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Includes a light fantasy story and lore, but it is minimal and not deeply immersive."

    Capsule for Faerie Solitaire Remastered Faerie Solitaire Remastered

    "Includes a story and lore, but it is secondary and not deeply immersive according to reviews."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay revolves around strategic deck building, planning, and tactical decision making."

    Capsule for Cardfight!! Vanguard Dear Days Cardfight!! Vanguard Dear Days

    "Core gameplay revolves around strategic deckbuilding, unit placement, and tactical decision-making."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Challenging encounters and risk-reward mechanics create suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Brutal Orchestra Brutal Orchestra

    "Challenging encounters and risk-reward mechanics create moments of suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Highly praised for content amount, price, and replayability; considered excellent value."

    Capsule for Replicube Replicube

    "Highly praised for content volume, replayability, and price, offering excellent value for money."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat and destruction are central, though stylized and fantasy-themed rather than graphic."

    Capsule for Heroes of Might & Magic V: Tribes of the East Heroes of Might & Magic V: Tribes of the East

    "Combat and destruction of enemies are central, though stylized and fantasy-themed."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Players must manage resources and avoid failure to survive waves of enemies."

    Capsule for Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop

    "Players must manage resources and survive waves of enemies, emphasizing threat avoidance."

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Last update: 01/06/2026