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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

    Motivations

    • 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, card upgrades, and strategic decisions during runs, including choosing clans and customizing cards."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      4

      "The game has a steep learning curve with strategic depth, requiring skillful play and deck building to succeed."

      Capsule for Spellweaver Spellweaver

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

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      1

      "Includes multiplayer and leaderboards, but many players focus on single-player and personal progression."

      Capsule for Divinity: Dragon Commander Divinity: Dragon Commander

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

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      5

      "Highly replayable with hundreds of hours logged by players, encouraging long-term engagement and habitual play."

      Capsule for Dominions 4: Thrones of Ascension Dominions 4: Thrones of Ascension

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

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      -4

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

      Capsule for Microcivilization Microcivilization

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

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      4

      "Deck building and ability customization encourage creative experimentation with builds and strategies."

      Capsule for Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot Slime 3K: Rise Against Despot

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

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -3

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

      Capsule for Rift of the NecroDancer Rift of the NecroDancer

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

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      5

      "Players use the game for stress relief, emotional release, and distraction from real life."

      Capsule for Teardown Teardown

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

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

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

      Capsule for FOUNDRY FOUNDRY

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

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      5

      "Encourages trying new builds, synergies, and strategies with a vast card pool and many character options."

      Capsule for Erannorth Chronicles Erannorth Chronicles

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

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      1

      "Some discovery of new cards and mechanics occurs, but environment is limited and mostly familiar."

      Capsule for This Ain’t Even Poker, Ya Joker This Ain’t Even Poker, Ya Joker

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

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      2

      "Some customization of decks and character builds, but limited cosmetic or avatar personalization."

      Capsule for Tainted Grail: Conquest Tainted Grail: Conquest

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

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      4

      "Strong fantasy theme with supernatural elements, demons, and mystical story."

      Capsule for Contract With The Devil Contract With The Devil

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

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -3

      "Mostly solo play with limited social/community interaction."

      Capsule for Paradiddle Paradiddle

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

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      4

      "Players develop skills in deckbuilding, strategy, and learn game mechanics over time."

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

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

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

      Capsule for 9th Dawn III 9th Dawn III

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity elements."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

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

      Capsule for Runestone Keeper Runestone Keeper

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

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -4

      "Minimal social interaction or emotional connection with others."

      Capsule for JDM: Japanese Drift Master JDM: Japanese Drift Master

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

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -4

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

      Capsule for Castlevania Dominus Collection Castlevania Dominus Collection

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

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      5

      "Strong progression through unlocking cards, equipment, characters, and upgrades."

      Capsule for Knights in Tight Spaces Knights in Tight Spaces

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

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      3

      "Offers flow and satisfaction through balanced challenge and progression, though some difficulty spikes cause tension."

      Capsule for Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition) Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition)

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

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      3

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

      Capsule for Sound Slide Sound Slide

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

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      1

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

      Capsule for Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time

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

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      -2

      "Minimal narrative; story is simple and mostly serves as backdrop rather than immersive plot."

      Capsule for Squirreltopia Squirreltopia

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

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      5

      "High strategic depth in deck building, resource management, and cooperative planning."

      Capsule for Space Food Truck Space Food Truck

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

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      3

      "Tension from challenging levels and boss fights provides excitement and thrill."

      Capsule for Aaero Aaero

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

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

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

      Capsule for Total War: SHOGUN 2 Total War: SHOGUN 2

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

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      3

      "Combat involves fighting monsters and bosses with spells and weapons; fantasy violence is central."

      Capsule for DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake

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

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      4

      "Players must manage resources and avoid threats to survive."

      Capsule for Approaching Infinity Approaching Infinity

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

    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.

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 30/04/2026