Welcome, Dear Reader, to my long-in-the-making article about the best roguelike deckbuilders, as played by little ol’ me. This article is to be expanded upon forevermore, so do allow for the fact that it will never be as comprehensive as either you or I would like. I do try my best, though!
The first half of the article is dedicated to the big two three; those games that, in my opinion, stand out from the ever-growing crowd of roguelike deckbuilders out there. In particular, this article is intended for people who have played Slay the Spire and who are looking for something new to play.
After that, and after a bit about my other favourite deckbuilder, it’s honourable mentions and the best of the rest.
Before we get to the good stuff, however, I want to point you in the direction of my guide to the best roguelike games and share a quick bit of housekeeping.
What is deckbuilding?
A deckbuilder is a game that combines card-based gameplay and deckbuilding, where you must collect the best cards and then take them into battle against other players. The genre started in tabletop gaming with games such as Dominion and Pokémon TCG, before eventually coming to the realm of video games.
A roguelike deckbuilder is much the same, but with roguelike procedural generation to keep things fresh and unpredictable. It turns out that these elements go together quite wonderfully, and the popularity of Slay the Spire, in particular, now means we’ve got a wide range of top-quality and highly replayable tactical deckbuilding games to choose from.
These deckbuilders are usually about collecting powerful cards (or dice) that synergise together, and then using them as efficiently as possible to beat the opponent or situation in front of you. Often with a bit of luck thrown in for good measure. There is often some variation on that, but more often than not, that definition holds true.
Slay the Spire: The Ultimate Deckbuilder
Mega Crit | Android, iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
The reference in the world of roguelike deckbuilders. Many would say it’s the best. You’ve probably already played it, but just in case you haven’t, this is a great place to start your journey.
Slay the Spire is not the flashiest deckbuilder I’ve encountered, but thanks to its painterly art style, it still looks great. It also boasts a strong science fantasy theme, which is reflected in the abilities you unlock along your journey. There is a huge array of cards, and they work together in really interesting ways. On top of that, you can tweak your build with a number of relics, although some of them come with significant drawbacks – it’s a finely tuned balancing act.
In terms of availability, you can play Slay the Spire on pretty much everything. There are versions of the game on PC and console, as well as on mobile platforms. It’s a great fit on Steam Deck or even a mobile tablet, if you’ve got one of those. The mod scene on PC is also healthy, but honestly, you could still play vanilla for hundreds of hours.
Read More: Check out our Slay the Spire review!
Slay the Spire 2 | Mega Crit | PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
I think, in time, Slay the Spire 2 will outright replace the first game on this page, but for now, with this sequel still in Early Access, I think it needs its own separate entry alongside its more polished predecessor.
Slay the Spire 2 is essentially more of the same, but when you’re the best in the business, I can absolutely see why Mega Crit decided to expand on the formula of the first game rather than rework it. Three characters return alongside two new ones (The Necrobinder and The Regent), and there’s a co-op mode now, if you’ve got the friends for it.
There’s more to add, including a lot of polish in certain areas of the game, but I already love Slay the Spire 2 and, honestly, I really can’t see myself going back to the original. That’s why I’m including both here, at least until this one is properly finished and all platforms.
Read More: You’ll find my EA Impressions of Slay the Spire 2 here!
Balatro | LocalThunk | Android, iOS, PC (Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series
My personal favourite, Balatro, is a fusion of poker-themed deckbuilding and solitaire-like replayability. While it helps to have a basic understanding of poker hands, it’s not essential, as you will pick things up quickly enough. In other words: don’t be put off by the theme if you’re not a card shark – you’ll be just fine.
The aim of the game is to pull off crazy combos with the cards you’re dealt, using jokers to change the value of the cards in clever ways. There are multiple decks to unlock, each with several difficulty levels that include restrictions that change the dynamic and give you new wrinkles to overcome. There are also twenty different challenge modes to work through, and these can get fiendishly difficult before the end (I’m currently stumped on Golden Needle).
It’s on the more mechanical side of things when compared to Slay the Spire, but there’s tremendous depth here; the game-changing Joker cards are super interesting to unlock and then experiment with. I’ve put hundreds of hours into this one already, and I’ve still not completed everything.
As far as I’m concerned, Slay the Spire and Balatro are the very best deckbuilders out there, either roguelike or otherwise. That said, MegaCrit and LocalThunk aren’t the only excellent developers making games based on deckbuilding.
Games like Slay the Spire
Cobalt Core | Rocket Rat Games | PC (Mac, Win), Switch
If you’re a science fiction aficionado, then put Cobalt Core right at the top of your list of deckbuilders to try. This charming little space battler has you stuck in a time loop and trying to solve the mystery about what’s happening to you. That means a slowly emerging story, epic turn-based space battles, and a wonderfully realised and immersive setting.
There is tons of nuance baked into the combat system thanks to impressive item variety and a range of ship configurations, and it’s all wrapped up with a clever narrative layer that delivers enough to keep you returning for just another run.
Cobalt Core is also one of the more platform-shy games on this list and is currently only available on PC and Nintendo Switch. It’d be a great fit on the Switch, I think; I spent most of my time playing the game on a Steam Deck, reclined on the sofa. Proper cosy.
Monster Train 2 | Shiny Shoe | PC (Win), PS5, Switch, Xbox Series
Monster Train 2 is a wonderful elaboration of its predecessor that I think the vast majority of people will appreciate as an improvement. The essence of the original returns, with Shiny Shoe’s signature three-tiered battleground, but this time there are several changes that really mix things up and, in my opinion, take things to the next level.
There are now five factions in the game, each with its own decks and multiple strategies, and you can interchange them for even greater variety. The other changes include new items and game-changing rooms, plus a new placement phase that lets you set-up your defences ahead of the first wave.
Pyrene | Two Tiny Dice | PC (Mac, Win)
Not only does Pyrene boast a really interesting Basque setting, but the gameplay is also quite different to anything else on this list. You move from card to card, resolving battles, picking up items, and then ending the turn/round when you can’t move, at which point any empty spaces are dealt new cards, and you go again.
The storytelling in Pyrene truly sets it apart, and I love how Two Tiny Dice has managed to weave the narrative into the gameplay. Read my Pyrene review here if you need more persuading.
Moonsigil Atlas | Snake Tower Games | PC (Lin, Win)
I think that the deckbuilder part of Moonsigil Atlas is pretty good, with distinct characters and well-balanced decks for each one to explore. However, there’s a really smart hook that elevates this for me, and that is how your cards represent shapes that you must fit on an astrological board when you want to play them. Read my Moonsigil Atlas review for more details on how this novel gameplay twist works.
Griftlands | Klei | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
Klei’s entry on this list is typically atypical. The indie studio has crafted a deckbuilder where your words need to be just as sharp as your weapons, which makes for a refreshing change. The emergent sci-fi storytelling that is drawn out from this unique blend of ingredients, coupled with Klei’s trademark visual flair, means that Griftlands is perfect for anyone looking for something where personality means just as much as the numbers game.
Inscryption | Daniel Mullins Games | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
The spookiest game on this list, and by some margin. Inscryption is a wickedly clever card game that draws you into its world like no other. The evocative sense of place is reinforced as you play through tense battles against your AI-controlled adversary, sacrificing cards and then upgrading them in order to deal big damage and weigh the literal scales in your favour. If what you’re after is sinister immersion, look no further. That said, if you would in fact like to look further, this round-up of great horror roguelikes should see you right.
Dicey Dungeons | Terry Cavanagh | Android, iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
Super Hexagon is one of the greatest arcade puzzle games ever made, and its creator followed that with Dicey Dungeons, an utterly charming deckbuilder with crisp graphics, great tunes, and giant walking dice that are on a mission to take down Lady Luck herself. It’s one of the more straightforward games on this list and thus an ideal entry point into the genre.
Loop Hero | Four Quarters | Android, iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), Switch, Xbox
I love it when a roguelike game does a good job of incorporating the genre’s repetitive nature into the story itself. Loop Hero is one of the best at this; it has you operating in a space between time and reality, where you must rebuild the world around you. Players follow a looping path, and along the way, you play cards that manifest as buildings that affect your journey, with an array of enemies that must be bested in combat. There’s also a campfire where you can rest; stopping there resets your progress and undoes the loop you’ve built, but it lets you keep all the resources you’ve bagged in that run. These can then be spent upgrading your base of operations. Innovative and excellent.
Shogun Showdown | Roboatino | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
This delightful little game blends cute-yet-brutal samurai combat with tactical puzzles and deckbuilding elements. Every new showdown is a minimalist challenge just waiting to be worked out, but if you don’t make the right moves, you can always just reboot and go again, thanks to the bite-sized run times. The controls are super simple, and it feels like it should be a breeze, but there’s actually a compelling challenge built into it, and it’s one of the best deckbuilders on this list. There’s a Shogun Showdown review right here if you’d like to read the justification behind my stance.
Ring of Pain | Simon Boxer, Twice Different | PC (Mac, Win), Switch, Xbox
The rotisserie chicken of roguelike deckbuilders, this one takes place on a ring that you turn left and right in order to access the cards in either direction. Each round takes place on one ring, although they get larger as time goes on, with more cards added. In one round, you might need to sneak past the first card, if you can, then fight another, before you get to some loot and then hit the exit card. Leaving via the exit will take you to the next procedurally generated ring and a whole new level of pain.
Knock on the Coffin Lid | RedBoon | PC (Mac, Win), PS5, Xbox Series
After reviewing Knock on the Coffin Lid following its exit from Early Access, adding it to this toplist felt like the right thing to do. What KotCL does better than nearly every game mentioned here (apart from Cobalt Core) is weave a compelling story into its rinse and repeat gameplay loop. The stunning grimdark fantasy setting, the different playable characters, and the complex web of interconnected story beats ensure that while KotCL isn’t the strongest game from a mechanical perspective, it’s still one of the most memorable.
Vault of the Void | Spider Nest Games | Android, iOS, PC (Mac, Win)
With a huge deck of cards that can be enhanced in different ways, as well as hundreds of artefacts to add extra spice, Vault of the Void is a card game for those who prefer limited amounts of RNG. This is one of the titles that I’ve discovered while researching for this article, and I’m sure that I’ll keep coming back to it for a long time to come. Not only does it have incredible depth, but it also looks fantastic with high-quality production values that had me instantly impressed. It recently launched on mobile platforms, too.
Hand of Fate 2 | Defiant Development | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
If you’re after a roguelike deckbuilder with extreme polish, look no further than Hand of Fate 2. I’ve not played the original, so I’ve no comment on which game is better, but I can say that this sequel has much-refined visuals and the combat looks like a significant upgrade. And when I say combat, I don’t mean throwing down cards. In HoF2, when you get into scrapes, you’re transported to the battlefield and must take control of your character and dish out the damage yourself.
Fights in Tight Spaces | Ground Shatter | PC (Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
Another stylish entry on this list is Fights in Tight Spaces, which uses shade and colour to great effect in its depiction of close-quarters combat. This turn-based brawler is all about playing the right cards at the right time to control the flow of combat. Your enemies are clumsy henchmen, and oftentimes you’ll be able to use them against each other. Then, once you’ve done beating the crud out of a room full of baddies, you can watch a cinematic replay of how it all went down.
Lonestar | Math Tide | PC (Mac, Win)
There’s a lot going on in Lonestar, a game about playing as a bounty hunter, but nearly all of it revolves around excellent space battles. You cards are components that you position on your ship, and the aim of the game is to fine-tune every aspect of your build in order to knock your opponent out of the game. It’s part FTL, part Cobalt Core, part Elite, and that’s enough to counter the fact that the mechanics are not always explained well. Here’s my review of the final 1.0 build, if this sounds like your cup of tea.
StarVaders | Pengonauts | PC (Win)
Turn-based tactics perfectly intersect with roguelike deckbuilding in StarVaders, one of the freshest games of 2025. The fun twist that elevates this is the Space Invaders-inspired march of your enemies, who descend from above in their relentless quest to destroy. You’ll need to balance your heat levels, avoid impending doom, and use every trick in your growing arsenal if you’re going to survive this one.
Blue Prince | Dogubomb | PC (Win), PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2
Blue Prince isn’t just a clever play on words about the ever-changing arrangement of a house you just inherited… This first-person puzzle adventure is also a card game of sorts, where you must draw from a growing deck of rooms and then arrange them on your blueprint in a way that you can then navigate through them from a first-person perspective. If that sounds confusing, you haven’t seen anything yet, as this is one of the most brain-melting puzzle games of recent years, and it’s a must-play if you remember games like Myst with fondness. Check out our review for a more comprehensive exploration of this enigmatic mish-mash of ingredients.
Into the Restless Ruins | Ant Workshop | PC (Win), PS5, Switch, Xbox Series
Another game that fuses different genres together is Into the Restless Ruins, which is an intriguing blend of dungeon-crafting, auto-attacking, and deck-building. While cloaked in Scottish lore, players are invited to build a dungeon using the cards in hand, and then explore it on foot, going deeper each time as enemies swarm, and your light dwindles into darkness. That might sound stressful, but this is actually one of the more zen deckbuilders out there. Here’s Kieran’s review, if you’d like to know more!
Dogpile | Studio Folly, Toot Games, Foot | PC (Mac, Win)
There’s a whole bunch of whimsy in Dogpile, but if you like merge mechanics and a bit of gentle silliness, then I think you might enjoy this one. You spend the whole time trying to match up good doggos and imbue them with special abilities to keep you in the game longer. I really enjoyed this over the holidays when I needed to play something light and breezy, as you will discover in this little feature right here!
Luck Be a Landlord | Trampoline Tales | Android, iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
This entry is deckbuilder-adjacent as it’s more about assembling a collection of cards/tiles for a slot machine, which then react with each other every time you pull on the lever. You must build a collection of cards that synergise well together, but it’s not an exact science. That sounds RNG-heavy; however, you’ll quickly start to see patterns and formulate strategies to inform your decision-making. Here’s my review, if you want to know about this wonderful one-armed bandit.
Fogpiercer | Mad Cookies Studio | PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
What I like the most about Fogpiercer is how close it gets you to the action. You build a train out of different carriages, and this determines the cards that could come into play during that run. The action takes place on a moving battlefield, with Mad Max-inspired vehicles taking their places on a grid and taking shots at you before moving around and finding new positions. You’ve got to manage this fluid battlefield, deal lots of damage, and avoid taking too many hits by moving back and forth on the track.
Dungeon Clawler | Stray Fawn Studio | Android, iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
I just went back and played the 1.0 version of Dungeon Clawler, and I’m super impressed by how far Stray Fawn has taken the game since my first look. This claw machine roguelike is cute, absurd, and full of whimsy as you take your little rabbit friend, missing his lucky foot, on a journey into dungeons where combat is settled via the items you draw from a claw machine. It doesn’t make sense, but it doesn’t need to because this is good, clean fun. If you’re after a physics-based deckbuilder, I recommend this one and…
Peglin | Red Nexus Games | Android, iOS, PC (Mac, Win), Switch
Peglin borrows heavily from classic pachinko, and if you ever played and enjoyed Peggle, I suspect you’ll have a good time here. Your deck in Peggle isn’t a hand of cards, but rather a bag of magic balls. These balls each have game-changing properties, and you must use the growing range of tools at your disposal to hit elusive targets and reach higher scores. The whole thing is wrapped up in a cute, fantasy wrapper, and I have fun with it every time I boot it up.
SpellRogue | Guidelight Games | PC (Win)
I’m wrapping up this little guide with a recommendation to check out SpellRogue, a highly polished fusion of deckbuilding and dice-rolling. There are four different characters, each with their own play-styles to master, with multiple decks and artefacts to unlock. Each round of combat is another chance to roll the numbers you need to activate the cards in your hand, so there is a fair degree of RNG involved, but if you can make peace with that, there is plenty to like elsewhere. Here’s a review of the 1.0 build, if you’d like to know a bit more!
That is all for now, but I’ll be back with more deckbuilders and games like Slay the Spire and Balatro soon!
