Monster Train 2

"No two runs are the same" is an oft-spoken line in reference to roguelikes, and it has perhaps never been more true than with Monster Train 2. With five new Clans, new card types, and a side mode of dimensional challenges, every run is distinct, but combat never becomes less satisfying. Despite some cutscenes that leave much to be desired, Shiny Shoe has crafted one of my favorite roguelikes of the year so far, improving on the previous title in every way.

Monster Train returns with all new clans, new enemy factions, new challenges, new modes and more! Defend your Pyre in the classic three-tiered, vertical gameplay that made the original roguelike deckbuilder a hit. PC version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

Sometimes, games sound deranged when you explain them, but when they come together so elegantly in gameplay, it’s almost impossible to sound sane about them, especially when they’re so good you want to rave like a lunatic. To start from the beginning, you have a train full of dragons and demons and fairies and mad scientists and mushroom people and you’re trying to storm Heaven (like, THE Heaven) and fight angels and LISTEN HERE INDIE ROGUELIKE DECKBUILDERS DON’T NEED TO MAKE A LOT ...

Let's hope the conductor doesn't come through because Monster Train 2 is a truly first class ride through deckbuilder roguelike heaven. I'm already going off the rails with all the possibilities these smart evolutions to the rules and cards on offer bring, each run teasing me to chase new ways to to master the rails. I'm well and truly on board.

Developer Shiny Shoe first released Monster Train back in 2020. Dropped in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown, the deckbuilding roguelite rapidly found an audience of card enthusiasts and Slay the Spire-style adventure seekers. The game continues to draw players to this day, but Shiny Shoe's runaway train has reached its next stop and that stop is Sequel City. Monster Train 2 doesn't do a lot to change an already successful formula, but some tweaks to the exterior, a few new features, and some extra room along the caboose make this a train worth riding.

Running A Train

Monster Train 2 is a great expansion for the ideas and mechanics of the previous game, with tons of replayability baked in to provide hours upon hours of fun. It’s worth going off the rails on this crazy train.

As sequels go, this is what I hoped to see after playing a lot of Monster Train on my Switch and PC- more Monster Train. And the devs really proved their creativity in this game, coming up with some truly mind-bending card combinations, and a fun story that holds the chaos together. I’ve played quite a bit of the game, and I can tell that I still have tons of cards to unlock. I anticipate that Monster Train 2 stays in my rotation for a good long time.

Monster Train 2 is a very fun roguelite. It manages to balance the genre with elements from tower defense games and deckbuilders while still being cohesive. The story, while simple, is engaging and has its own unique flair compared to similar titles. Plus, the moment-to-moment gameplay is exciting and filled with numerous opportunities to experiment with different playstyles. While the game might be a bit daunting due to its difficulty and lack of accessibility for newcomers, if you're a fan ...

If you’re not really a fan of deckbuilders, this game is not going to change your mind. But if you like them but often find them kind of disappointing, I think Monster Train 2 is going to be a real winner. It doesn’t do anything I’ve never seen before, but all the things it does that I have seen before are things it does really well. And that’s worthy of praise.

An effective expansion of the original’s deck-building roguelite structure, that adds lots of enjoyable new features and becomes one of the few games to rival Slay The Spire.

Monster Train 2 is a solid upgrade over what was already an excellent roguelike deckbuilder. New features, new character classes, new cards and a new story all make the experience richer and deeper than ever before.