Trials of Fire similar games & best alternatives

Trials of Fire

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2021

Should you play it?

A Tactical, Deck-Building Roguelite. Choose 3 Heroes and adventure into a post-Cataclysmic wasteland. Engage enemies in a unique meld of card-play and tactical, positional combat. Level up and scavenge what you can to customise your decks and build a party to take on any challenge!

What works
  • Deep and challenging tactical combat
  • Unique deckbuilding tied to equipment
  • High replayability with multiple campaigns and unlocks
  • Well-balanced difficulty progression
  • Immersive fantasy setting and lore
Things to keep in mind
  • Limited content variety and map exploration
  • Some ui clunkiness and presentation roughness
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features
  • Steep learning curve for new players
  • Graphics and audio are functional but not flashy

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Vivid Knight

  • Hadean Tactics

  • Shogun Showdown

  • Vault of the Void

  • Abalon: Roguelike Tactics CCG

  • Pyrene

  • Banners of Ruin

  • Breach Wanderers

  • Deepest Chamber: Resurrection
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Abalon: Roguelike Tactics CCG

  • Pyrene

  • Breach Wanderers
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Fantasy

    Fae Tactics
  • Strategy

    Death Howl
  • Autonomy

    Flamebreak

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).

Trials of Fire: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Expression, 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 choose from randomized characters, weapons, and skills each run, allowing freedom in playstyle and strategic decisions on the overworld map."

    Capsule for Flamebreak Flamebreak

    "Players freely choose party composition, equipment, and path on the overworld map, with many strategic decisions and customization options."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game offers challenging tactical combat requiring skillful positioning, resource management, and strategic use of abilities."

    Capsule for Halfway Halfway

    "The game offers challenging tactical combat requiring skillful positioning, resource management, and deckbuilding mastery."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is mainly on cooperative or solo play and personal progression rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Abyssus Abyssus

    "Focus is primarily on solo play and personal progression; leaderboards and daily challenges exist but are not central."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "High replay value with many unlockables, upgrades, and multiple game modes encouraging habitual play."

    Capsule for Zombie Party Zombie Party

    "High replay value with multiple campaigns, unlockables, and difficulty levels encouraging habitual play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -4

    "Gameplay is single-player focused with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

    Capsule for Insaniquarium Deluxe Insaniquarium Deluxe

    "Gameplay is single-player focused with no multiplayer or cooperative modes."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Players create and customize decks with many card combinations and unique class mechanics."

    Capsule for 月圆之夜 (Night of Full Moon) 月圆之夜 (Night of Full Moon)

    "Players create unique decks via equipment and class cards, and customize party builds and strategies."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of dominance or power imposition over others."

    Capsule for Reverse: 1999 Reverse: 1999

    "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of dominance or power imposition over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Provides a fantasy setting and immersive tactical gameplay that serves as a strong escape from real life."

    Capsule for Solasta: Crown of the Magister Solasta: Crown of the Magister

    "Provides immersive fantasy tactical RPG experience that offers escape from real life through engaging gameplay."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for Deep Rock Galactic Deep Rock Galactic

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

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Encourages trying new deck builds, strategies, and adapting to changing challenges."

    Capsule for Out Of Hands Out Of Hands

    "Encourages trying new party combinations, equipment, and deck strategies to adapt to challenges."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Open world map with many side quests and exploration points encourages discovery."

    Capsule for Pit People® Pit People®

    "Overworld map exploration with points of interest and side quests encourages discovery within a limited area."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Players customize characters and party composition; some cosmetic options and portraits available."

    Capsule for Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

    "Players can customize party composition and equipment; also can upload custom portraits for characters."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Set in a magical post-apocalyptic world with fantasy creatures, magic, and imaginative story elements."

    Capsule for Fae Tactics Fae Tactics

    "Set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world with mythical creatures and RPG elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -4

    "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social or community interaction."

    Capsule for Batman™: Arkham Knight Batman™: Arkham Knight

    "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social or community interaction."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Strong emphasis on learning combat mechanics, improving skills, and developing character builds over time."

    Capsule for Punch Club 2: Fast Forward Punch Club 2: Fast Forward

    "Strong emphasis on learning tactical combat, deckbuilding, and character progression."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

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

    Capsule for CODE VEIN CODE VEIN

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during combat and progression; not a casual idle game."

    Capsule for Nightmare Reaper Nightmare Reaper

    "Requires focused attention during tactical combat and decision making; not a casual idle game."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; solo play focus."

    Capsule for Until You Fall Until You Fall

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing; solo play focus."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players direct a party of three characters, managing their actions and strategies."

    Capsule for RESONANCE OF FATE™/END OF ETERNITY™ 4K/HD EDITION RESONANCE OF FATE™/END OF ETERNITY™ 4K/HD EDITION

    "Players lead a party of three characters, making strategic decisions and managing resources."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Strong progression through unlocking characters, cards, and difficulty modifiers."

    Capsule for One Step From Eden One Step From Eden

    "Strong progression through unlocking cards, equipment, characters, and difficulty levels."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "While tactical, the game can be tense and challenging, with some moments of flow."

    Capsule for Kriegsfront Tactics - Prologue Kriegsfront Tactics - Prologue

    "Offers moments of flow but overall challenging and tense tactical gameplay."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visual and auditory effects are functional and atmospheric but not highly stimulating or flashy."

    Capsule for GemCraft - Chasing Shadows GemCraft - Chasing Shadows

    "Visual and audio effects are functional and effective but not highly stimulating or flashy."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "Limited social recognition; achievements and leaderboards exist but are not prominent motivators."

    Capsule for On A Roll 3D On A Roll 3D

    "Limited social recognition; achievements and leaderboards exist but are not prominent motivators."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Contains light story elements and lore that add flavor but are not deeply immersive or central."

    Capsule for Scritchy Scratchy Scritchy Scratchy

    "Contains lore and narrative elements that add flavor but story is not deeply immersive or central."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "High emphasis on tactical positioning, deckbuilding, resource management, and problem solving."

    Capsule for Death Howl Death Howl

    "Requires careful planning, tactical positioning, resource management, and deckbuilding strategy."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Tense and suspenseful battles with risk and reward dynamics create moments of thrill and excitement."

    Capsule for Library Of Ruina Library Of Ruina

    "Tense tactical battles and risk-reward exploration create suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report good value for price with many hours of engaging gameplay and replayability."

    Capsule for Block'hood Block'hood

    "Players report good value for price with many hours of engaging gameplay and replayability."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat involves tactical battles with attacks and abilities; violence is stylized and part of fantasy warfare."

    Capsule for Sword of Convallaria Sword of Convallaria

    "Combat involves attacks and damage in a fantasy tactical setting; violence is stylized and strategic."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Players must manage resources, avoid defeat, and survive challenging encounters."

    Capsule for Heroes of Steel RPG Heroes of Steel RPG

    "Players must manage resources, stamina, and positioning to survive challenging encounters."

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Last update: 01/06/2026