Games Like Slay the Spire 2 - 12 Best Roguelike Deckbuilders to Play Next

Quick Answer: The three strongest landing spots after Slay the Spire 2 are Slay the Spire, the complete, battle-tested original from the same studio; Monster Train 2, the vertical multi-floor deckbuilder that feels closest to a spiritual successor; and Balatro, the poker-hand roguelike that turns engine-building into pure score-chasing addiction.

Why These Games #

Slay the Spire 2 launched into Early Access in 2026 and immediately became one of the most-played deckbuilders around, but "Early Access" is the load-bearing word: content is still arriving, balance is in flux, and some characters and acts are unfinished. That makes a curated list of alternatives genuinely useful right now.

We rank against three pillars: build-a-deck-as-you-go roguelike runs (you draft your deck card by card during a single playthrough); deep synergy and engine-building with high replayability (combos that snowball into a self-powering machine); and tight tactical single-combat decisions (every turn is a small puzzle). Every pick hits at least two.

Rather than dumping algorithmically "similar" titles, we start with the lineage — the original Slay the Spire — then walk the genre's branches: vertical and lane-based variants, the Balatro-style high-score offshoot, narrative-driven deckbuilders, co-op and party games, and positioning-based tactics. Because Slay the Spire 2 is still cooking, several picks below are simply more finished experiences today.

Top Picks #

1. Slay the Spire #

GAMIVO€4.61Steam €4.61価格を見る →

The genre-defining original from Mega Crit (2019). You climb a branching tower, drafting cards after each fight to forge a deck that can survive escalating elites and bosses. While Slay the Spire 2 is in Early Access, this is the complete, battle-tested experience with four finished characters and endless modifiers.

• Similar because: Same studio, same core loop of build-a-deck-as-you-go runs, deep synergies, and turn-by-turn tactical combat.
• Different because: It is fully finished and balanced where the sequel is still adding content, and the art and characters are first-generation.
• Best for: Anyone who wants the polished, complete version of exactly what Slay the Spire 2 is doing.

2. Monster Train 2 #

Eneba€8.78Steam €8.78価格を見る →

Shiny Shoe's 2025 sequel is a vertical deckbuilder: you defend a pyre (your health core) across stacked battle floors as waves climb toward it. Mixing two clans for hybrid decks creates outrageous synergies, and it earned wide acclaim as the closest thing to a spiritual successor.

• Similar because: Run-based deckbuilding, ferocious engine-building, and escalating boss fights that reward synergy hunting.
• Different because: Combat is vertical across multiple lanes and floors rather than a single one-on-one duel, and you place units as well as play cards.
• Best for: Slay the Spire fans craving more spatial, multi-front combat with huge build variety.

3. Balatro #

Eneba€5.46Steam €5.46価格を見る →

LocalThunk's 2024 phenomenon is a poker-hand roguelike deckbuilder. You play poker hands to beat score thresholds, then stack Jokers (passive cards that warp the rules) into absurd multipliers. Cheap, instantly accessible, and bottomlessly deep, it spawned its own sub-genre.

• Similar because: Each run builds an escalating engine of synergies, and high replayability comes from chasing wildly different builds.
• Different because: It uses a poker framework and a single-player score chase instead of enemy combat and a branching map.
• Best for: Players who love the synergy-snowball high of Slay the Spire and want a pick-up-anywhere score chaser.

4. Inscryption #

Eneba€4.20Steam €4.20価格を見る →

Daniel Mullins' 2021 cult hit is a narrative genre-bender. It opens as a sinister cabin card game, then peels back into an escape-room and ARG-flavored meta-mystery (a layered puzzle that breaks the fourth wall). The deckbuilding is real; the storytelling is the hook.

• Similar because: Tense single-table card combat and clever synergy decisions sit at its heart.
• Different because: It is a tightly authored story-first experience with twists, not an endlessly repeatable roguelike grind.
• Best for: Players who want deckbuilding wrapped in an unforgettable narrative.

5. Monster Train #

Eneba€2.60Steam €2.60価格を見る →

The 2020 original from Shiny Shoe established the three-lane vertical-defense formula: hold a hellbound train across stacked floors while demonic waves push toward your pyre. Still excellent, deeply replayable, and cheaper than the sequel if you want to test the waters.

• Similar because: Run-based deckbuilding with rampant engine-building and tactical combat decisions every turn.
• Different because: Vertical, multi-floor lane defense replaces the one-on-one duels, and the clan system drives the build variety.
• Best for: Budget-minded fans who want the vertical-deckbuilder blueprint before upgrading to the sequel.

6. Cobalt Core #

Kinguin€2.67-86%Steam €2.67価格を見る →

Rocket Rat Games' 2023 gem is a sci-fi ship-vs-ship lane deckbuilder. Crew members each contribute cards to your deck, and you dodge incoming fire by shifting your ship's position on a horizontal track. Runs are tight (around an hour) and wrapped in a charming time-loop story.

• Similar because: You draft a deck across a roguelike run and chase crew-based synergies in tactical, turn-based duels.
• Different because: Positioning on a lane and timing your dodges matter as much as the cards you play.
• Best for: Players who want a snappy, story-rich run with a positioning twist.

7. Wildfrost #

Eneba€3.93Steam €3.93価格を見る →

Deadpan Games and Chucklefish's 2023 release is a lane-based tactical deckbuilder. You deploy companions and time counters (cards tick down to act on a clock) to assemble fragile, fast-firing engines. The art is adorable; the difficulty is genuinely brutal.

• Similar because: Roguelike runs built on precise synergy and engine-building, with combat that rewards tactical reads.
• Different because: Timing-based lane combat with a turn clock replaces classic energy-and-block dueling, and it punishes mistakes hard.
• Best for: Synergy lovers who want a cute exterior wrapped around a serious tactical challenge.

8. Griftlands #

GAMIVO€0.60Steam €0.60価格を見る →

Klei's 2021 roguelike hands you two decks: one for fighting and a separate one for negotiation (talking your way through conflicts). A choice-driven branching story ties it together, with memorable characters and relationships that shift run to run.

• Similar because: Build-a-deck-as-you-go runs with strong synergies and tactical, turn-based encounters.
• Different because: The dual fight-and-negotiation deck system and authored, branching narrative set it well apart from a pure combat climb.
• Best for: Players who want deckbuilding plus a characterful story and dialogue-driven choices.

9. Across the Obelisk #

Eneba€2.42Steam €2.42価格を見る →

Dreamsite Games' 2022 deckbuilder is built for the couch and the group chat. You control a party of four heroes, each with their own deck, across a branching world map, and it shines in online co-op where friends split the heroes between them.

• Similar because: Roguelike runs with deep multi-deck synergies and tactical combat against escalating bosses.
• Different because: It is party-based co-op with four simultaneous heroes rather than a solo single-character climb.
• Best for: Groups who want to build and theorycraft a deckbuilder together.

10. Vault of the Void #

Kinguin€6.05-52%Steam €6.05価格を見る →

Spider Nest Games' 2021 roguelike is a deck-sculpting deep dive. Between fights you can freely edit your deck — adding, removing, and upgrading cards with unusual generosity — which makes builds feel deliberate rather than luck-gated. The focus is pure combat depth.

• Similar because: Build-a-deck-as-you-go runs, demanding synergy construction, and tight turn-by-turn combat decisions.
• Different because: Mid-run deck editing and exceptionally generous customization reduce the RNG and reward planning over draft luck.
• Best for: Theorycrafters who want maximum control over their deck and deep combat math.

11. Roguebook #

GOG€1.03-90%Steam €1.03価格を見る →

Abrakam's 2021 deckbuilder pairs two heroes in a shared formation (front and back positions matter), and you explore by revealing a hex board with limited ink. Designed with input from Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield, it leans into combo-rich combat.

• Similar because: Roguelike runs with rich synergy and engine-building and tactical combat against escalating foes.
• Different because: You manage two heroes in formation at once and physically explore and uncover a hex map between fights.
• Best for: Players who want a two-hero combo puzzle with an exploration layer.

12. Fights in Tight Spaces #

GAMIVO€3.12Steam €3.12価格を見る →

Ground Shatter's 2021 release is a card-driven tactical brawler on a grid. You play cards to move, strike, and knock back enemies into hazards and each other, and the action resolves into stylish, John Wick-style fight choreography. Positioning is everything.

• Similar because: Build-a-deck-as-you-go roguelike runs powered by card synergies and razor-sharp tactical decisions.
• Different because: Combat plays out on a positioning grid where movement and knockbacks matter as much as raw damage.
• Best for: Players who want deckbuilding fused with chess-like grid tactics and cinematic flair.

Comparison Table #

Game	Similar Because	Different Because	Best For
Slay the Spire	Same studio, same build-a-deck climb and synergy loop	Fully finished and balanced vs the EA sequel	The complete version of STS2's formula
Monster Train 2	Run-based deckbuilding with ferocious engine-building	Vertical multi-floor lane combat, unit placement	Spatial, multi-front synergy hunting
Balatro	Escalating synergy engine, huge replayability	Poker framework and solo score chase, no enemies	Pick-up-anywhere score addiction
Inscryption	Tense single-table card combat and synergies	Story-first, authored twists, not endless runs	Deckbuilding inside a great narrative
Monster Train	Run-based deckbuilding, big engine-building	Vertical three-lane defense, cheaper	Budget intro to vertical deckbuilders
Cobalt Core	Deck drafting and crew synergies in tight runs	Lane positioning and dodge timing	Snappy, story-rich runs with a twist
Wildfrost	Roguelike synergy engines, tactical reads	Timing-clock lane combat, brutal difficulty	Cute exterior, serious challenge
Griftlands	Build-a-deck runs with synergies and tactics	Dual fight/negotiation decks, branching story	Deckbuilding plus characterful narrative
Across the Obelisk	Run-based multi-deck synergy and tactical combat	Four-hero party co-op, not solo	Playing a deckbuilder with friends
Vault of the Void	Build-a-deck runs, demanding synergy, tight combat	Mid-run deck editing, low RNG	Theorycrafters who want full control
Roguebook	Synergy-rich runs and tactical escalation	Two-hero formation plus hex-map exploration	Two-hero combo puzzles with exploration
Fights in Tight Spaces	Build-a-deck runs, card synergies, sharp tactics	Positioning grid, movement and knockbacks	Deckbuilding fused with grid tactics

Filters #

• Closest to Slay the Spire: Slay the Spire, Monster Train 2, and Vault of the Void deliver the most familiar build-and-climb feel.
• Lane / vertical defense: Monster Train 2, Monster Train, Cobalt Core, and Wildfrost spread combat across lanes and floors.
• Narrative-driven: Inscryption and Griftlands put story front and center.
• Co-op / party: Across the Obelisk is the standout for playing with friends.
• Positioning-based tactics: Fights in Tight Spaces and Roguebook make where you stand as important as what you draw.

FAQ #

What should I play right after Slay the Spire 2? #

If you want the most seamless continuation, start with Monster Train 2, which keeps the run-based deckbuilding and engine-building you love while adding vertical, multi-floor combat. For something that feels almost identical in shape, Vault of the Void offers a familiar build-and-climb loop with even more deck control. And if you somehow skipped it, Slay the Spire itself remains the gold standard and the most natural next step.

Is the original Slay the Spire worth it while the sequel is in Early Access? #

Absolutely. Slay the Spire 2 is still adding characters, balancing acts, and patching frequently in Early Access, so the original Slay the Spire is the more complete, polished package today. It has years of refinement, four finished characters, a daily climb, and endless ascension modifiers. Many players run both: the sequel for fresh mechanics, the original when they want a fully finished, predictable experience with no rough edges.

Which of these run well on Steam Deck? #

Deckbuilders are a natural fit for handheld play, and most picks here are comfortable on Steam Deck. Slay the Spire, Balatro, and Monster Train 2 are all excellent fits thanks to simple inputs and quick sessions. Balatro in particular is ideal for short bursts. Always check a game's current Deck verification status on its store page before buying, since ratings change over time.

Is Balatro "really like" Slay the Spire? #

It depends on what you love about Slay the Spire. Balatro shares the addictive heart of the genre: drafting an engine across a run, then watching synergies snowball into game-breaking combos. What it drops is enemy combat and a branching map; instead you play poker hands against rising score thresholds. If your favorite part of Slay the Spire is the synergy-building rush, Balatro nails it. If you specifically want turn-based fights, look to Monster Train 2 instead.

What is the best starting pick for newcomers to the genre? #

For total newcomers, Balatro is the gentlest on-ramp: it is cheap, instantly understandable if you know poker, and forgiving while still teaching synergy thinking. From there, Slay the Spire is the definitive next step and the genre's clearest teacher of deckbuilding fundamentals. If you want something story-led to ease in, Inscryption carries you with its narrative while quietly teaching card combat.