Summary
The deck-building genreis a relatively minor niche that nonetheless has some major hits behind it. Tactically-minded fans flock to these games to build the perfect strategy and assemble a deck that can rise to any challenge. Many of these titles range widely in complexity, giving players ample opportunity to test their skills at different challenge levels.
That said, deck-building games can often be quite time-consuming, as playersanalyze multiple different card optionsto perfect their strategy. Fans who need a quicker experience can turn tothese next games for a deck-building thrill that won’t eat up too much time.
TheprolificSteamWorldfranchisehas delivered a wide range of indie experiences, catering to fans of all manner of genres.SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamechis the franchise’s first RPG offering, putting fans in charge of a plucky band of robots out to save the world. The turn-based combat is enhanced by a deck assembled from unique cards for each character in the party, ensuring that each turn is unique.
Fans have plenty of control over the characters in their party and which cards are in their deck. This makesSteamWorld Questa uniquely flexible RPG where encounters can play out in wildly different ways. Likewise, it’s an easy game for fans to jump in and out of whenever they want to mess around with their party composition.
There are very few IPs that dominate the current media environment like Marvel does. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an almost inescapable presence in the film industry, and the brand’s many iconic superheroes are constant presences in the gaming industry as well.Marvel SNAPcelebrates this massive influence by giving these legendary heroes a chance to compete in multiplayer card battles.
As the name suggests,this competitive card battleremphasizes quick, snappy battles. Matches generally go by in a flash, lasting only a couple of minutes, and the mechanics are simple enough that fans can get the hang of them relatively quickly. This makes it ideal for card game fans on the go.
7Peglin
Pachinko Plays
Peglinis a unique type of deck-builder. The game’s primary form of gameplay is a simulation of pachinko; players must launch orbs into a collection of pegs, progressing through the game’s roguelike encounters based on which pegs they’re able to hit on the way down. As fans go through the game, however, they’ll still construct a deck of powerups that will influence their odds on the board.
The roguelike nature of this game, paired with its simplistic pachinko gameplay, keeps runs quick and light. This lets players hop in and out whenever they have the time to blast away some pegs.
In a relatively crowded genre of deck-building roguelikes,Cobalt Corestands out due to its charming art style and unique premise. The game stars a crew of anthropomorphic animals stranded deep in space and caught in a mysterious time loop. In order to survive and break the loop, players must assemble a deck of cards to help them guide their spacecraft andsurvive fierce battles with hostile ships.
Each of the humanoid animals that players can choose from brings their own distinct catalog of cards representing their specialties on board the ship. Players can only have three crewmates in each run, meaning that each run will be distinct, and players are encouraged to jump in again and again in order to test out new strategies.
The card game Gwent has been a facet of theTheWitcherfranchise for some time, dating back to the original novels that started it all. The success of theplayable version introduced inThe Witcher 3prompted a standalone spinoff in the form ofGwent: The Witcher Card Game. This PvP card battler gives fans the chance to play this iconic in-fiction pastime to their heart’s content.
InGwent,players compete for crafting materials to build new cards and perfect their decks. Matches are relatively quick, capping at around thirty minutes, giving players a chance to fit in a quick round of this iconic card game whenever they have a spare moment.
As the title suggests, much ofDicey Dungeons’gameplay revolves around dice, but there’s more than enough deck-building in the game to satisfy more tactical fans. As players journey through the game’s procedural dungeons, they will assemble a collection of equipment and abilities, each of which can be activated by the placement of different dice. The value of the die then determines the effect of the card.
The game relies heavily on randomness, as can be seen from the title’s central mechanic. This means that no two runs will ever play out the same way, and players can hop intoDicey Dungeonswhenever they’d like in order to try something new.
Griftlandsgoes above and beyond with its deck-building elements. The game is a sci-fi roguelike with RPG trappings, allowing fans to build up their mercenary’s skills and abilities as they go. However,Griftlands' card game mechanics go beyond simply battling creatures and foes.
Players have two separate decks inGriftlands;one deck is used for combat situations, but the other comes into play when they navigate dialogue and negotiation. This gives players two major resources to keep track of during a run, adding a new layer of depth to the experience. Luckily, as with many roguelikes, runs remain relatively short, keeping things fresh no matter how much time fans have to devote to the game.
Balatrotook the world by storm in 2024, earning a surprise Game of the Year nomination at the Game Awards. This bizarre deck-building roguelike puts a wild spin on poker with a wide variety of special cards and rules, ensuring that no two runs are anywhere near the same.
Thanks to the game’s port to mobile devices, fans canplayBalatrowhenever and whereverthey’d like, no matter how much time they have to devote to it. And since the game is regularly getting DLC updates bringing in new cards from other games and franchises, there’s always a reason to dive back in.
The iconicSlay the Spiremay not have been the first deck-building roguelike ever created, but it was undeniably the most influential. To this day, it’s still held up as a paragon of the genre, and with over 730 cards split across the game’s four playable characters, fans will have to sink a lot of hours to try out every possible strategy.
Luckily, while individual runs can take a fair amount of time, they rarely last more than an hour. Furthermore, players can save and quit out of a run whenever they need, letting them go at their own pace as they discover all the many complexities and hidden treasures ofSlay the Spire.
