What is deckbuilding?
A deckbuilder is a game that combines card-based gameplay and deckbuilding, where you must collect the best cards and then take them into battle against other players. The genre started in tabletop gaming with games such as Dominion and Pokémon TCG, before eventually coming to the realm of video games.
A roguelike deckbuilder is much the same, but with roguelike procedural generation to keep things fresh and unpredictable. It turns out that these elements go together quite wonderfully, and the popularity of Slay the Spire, in particular, now means we’ve got a wide range of top-quality and highly replayable tactical deckbuilding games to choose from.
These deckbuilders are usually about collecting powerful cards (or dice) that synergise together, and then using them as efficiently as possible to beat the opponent or situation in front of you. Often with a bit of luck thrown in for good measure. There is often some variation on that, but more often than not, that definition holds true.
Mega Crit | Android, iOS, PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Xbox
The reference in the world of roguelike deckbuilders. Many would say it’s the best. You’ve probably already played it, but just in case you haven’t, this is a great place to start your journey.
Slay the Spire is not the flashiest deckbuilder I’ve encountered, but thanks to its painterly art style, it still looks great. It also boasts a strong science fantasy theme, which is reflected in the abilities you unlock along your journey. There is a huge array of cards, and they work together in really interesting ways. On top of that, you can tweak your build with a number of relics, although some of them come with significant drawbacks – it’s a finely tuned balancing act.
Read More: Check out our Slay the Spire review!
Slay the Spire 2 | Mega Crit | PC (Lin, Mac, Win)
I think, in time, Slay the Spire 2 will outright replace the first game on this page, but for now, with this sequel still in Early Access, I think it needs its own separate entry alongside its more polished predecessor.
Slay the Spire 2 is essentially more of the same, but when you’re the best in the business, I can absolutely see why Mega Crit decided to expand on the formula of the first game rather than rework it. Three characters return alongside two new ones (The Necrobinder and The Regent), and there’s a co-op mode now, if you’ve got the friends for it.
There’s more to add, including a lot of polish in certain areas of the game, but I already love Slay the Spire 2 and, honestly, I really can’t see myself going back to the original. That’s why I’m including both here, at least until this one is properly finished and all platforms.
Read More: You’ll find my EA Impressions of Slay the Spire 2 here!
Balatro | LocalThunk | Android, iOS, PC (Mac, Win), PS, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series
My personal favourite, Balatro, is a fusion of poker-themed deckbuilding and solitaire-like replayability. While it helps to have a basic understanding of poker hands, it’s not essential, as you will pick things up quickly enough. In other words: don’t be put off by the theme if you’re not a card shark – you’ll be just fine.
The aim of the game is to pull off crazy combos with the cards you’re dealt, using jokers to change the value of the cards in clever ways. There are multiple decks to unlock, each with several difficulty levels that include restrictions that change the dynamic and give you new wrinkles to overcome. There are also twenty different challenge modes to work through, and these can get fiendishly difficult before the end (I’m currently stumped on Golden Needle).
It’s on the more mechanical side of things when compared to Slay the Spire, but there’s tremendous depth here; the game-changing Joker cards are super interesting to unlock and then experiment with. I’ve put hundreds of hours into this one already, and I’ve still not completed everything.
As far as I’m concerned, Slay the Spire and Balatro are the very best deckbuilders out there, either roguelike or otherwise. That said, MegaCrit and LocalThunk aren’t the only excellent developers making games based on deckbuilding.
