Monster Train

It's been a long time coming to PS5, but Monster Train has been worth the wait. This roguelike card battler is sure to win over fans of the likes of Slay the Spire, but with its own unique twists on the formula, it feels unlike any other game in the genre. Suffice to say, this is one we're going to be coming back to, time and time again.

It would be easy to dismiss a game like Monster Train as nothing more than yet another entry into the ever-increasing deck-building genre upon first glance, but after just a short while playing it, its various complexities begin to reveal themselves, making for deep gameplay that keeps you coming back for just one more run. Much like the best puzzle or strategy games, Monster Train excels in being insanely addictive, all while being easy to learn yet hard to master. Shiny Shoe should be commended on this labor of love, an absolute gem where controlling the forces of Hell feels like a blast of ...

Monster Train is a ticket to dozens – if not hundreds – of hours of challenging and surprising roguelike deckbuilding runs, thanks in large part to its mechanically diverse set of decks and the way they interact with each other when combined in different ways. This spin on the idea appears similar to the also-outstanding Slay The Spire at first, but aside from some basic concepts and a similar (but not derivative) cartoonish art style for its large cast of monsters, it’s a radically different game. One where learning the ins and outs of its strategies is constantly rewarding.

I was surprised to realize that I’d already played Monster Train for 15 hours before I began to write this review, and I wasn’t even halfway finished with unlocking everything. The randomization of the relics, cards, and other elements of the game keep it fresh and fun long after you’ve beaten the game a few (dozen) times. If you are a fan of card battlers, this is a must have.

Monster Train has an addictive gameplay loop and tons of replayability, but needs a little bit of balancing

Monster Train is an excellent title that shamelessly apes from my previous favorite in the genre: Slay the Spire. If you liked the Game Pass title at all, then know that this one is even better in every single facet. It features some of the best diversity in the genre to date and is worth giving a try even if you are not normally a rogue-like deck-building fan. With its turn-based nature, Monster Train is my go-to xCloud phone streaming game. It is available now on Xbox One, Series X|S, xCloud for Android, and Windows 10.

If you like deckbuilding games, you are probably familiar with Slay the Spire. Further, I’ll make a bold prediction that you loved Slay the Spire too, because I don’t think I’ve met a single person that didn’t like that game. Roguelites and deckbuilders just feel like they were meant to be together, don’t you think? Well, If you agree, I think you might have a great time Shiny Shoe’s Monster Train too!

Monster Train is a very unique take on the Slay the Spire formula, with great writing and art direction and gameplay that invites you back for many more rides.

Monster Train is not the first game of it’s kind. I noted in my beta impressions article the deck-building rogue-like was definitely reminiscent to me of at least one other game in this genre, Slay the Spire. While the basic concept is something familiar, the more I play Monster Train the more I’m convinced it’s the best iteration of this style that I’ve seen so far.