Card based video games just aren’t as big a talking point around my circle, and I think I see why. Maybe it’s because of their lackluster presentation? They’re tactical based gameplay? Not sure, but they can be fun. I just picked up [Inscryption](https://youtu.be/0EggCm5i0mY) the other day and I can feel the tactical juices flowing as soon as I started the first tutorial battle. I realized that if I continued with it I could get addicted, and I already had Xenoblade 3 holding me hostage as is. I’ll get to you one day Inscryption, just not quite today.
Some other games I own that happen to also contain some form of card based gameplay are Bravely Default 2, Clubhouse Games 51, and… Splatoon 3 cuz of that tabletop card mode. Some others I don’t own but are notable examples are Final Fantasy 8, the Voice of Cards series (how did it become a series so quick), and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (too bad it couldn’t be native).
Edit: Okay so apparently Slay the Spire is a popular pick around these parts when it comes to deck building games. I’ve heard good things but also worry that it might not be suitable for beginners?
by Asad_Farooqui
31 Comments
Loop hero is a fun game with a deck building element.
Card games are very much my thing and I’ll pretty much try all the possibilities:
– Slay the Spire: this is the GOAT deckbuilder out there, incredible depth, great progression and replayability.
– Monster Train: another classic with a Tower Defense twist and deployable units.
– Griftlands: one of my personal choices for lesser known deckbuilders. I love having Negotiations and Battles.
This ones would be my personal recommendations, I also have played a lot of Magic, LoR and Pokemon CCGs but they’re still not available on the Switch. I didn’t enjoy the CCGs on Switch either.
I believe Card based games are very niche and the more slow cerebral gameplay only appeals to a few. But if they do appeal to you then welcome to the club, it’s a truly fascinating genre!
Slay the spire, amazing
Slay the Spire has become one of my favorite games ever and I’m not even into those types of games
haven’t seen it mentioned yet, but do check out Nowhere Prophet. One step from Eden is technically a card game as well.
Slay the spire. I chuck on my fav beats and go to town for hours with this one!
I’ll 5th Slay the Spire
Slay the spire is a masterpiece
Faeria is neat. Very much MTG
Slay the Spire, Dicey Dungeons
This may be considered a spoiler about Inscryption gameplay but I will say it in the least spoiler way possible:
>! It has an ending. It’s not endless like slay the spire. You won’t get addicted !<
Slay the Spire is the best one you can get. Followed by Monster Train probably. Loop Hero is cool too. But if you have to pick one – Slay the Spire all day every day.
Banners of Ruin
Maybe not exactly the same, but Steamworld Quest has similar card based gameplay in a linear RPG setting.
Yeah, I’m also looking for one like hearthstone or gwent, if anyone could recommend similar?
There is a reason everybody is saying Slay The Spire, many reasons actually.
The only reason I can think of not to start with Slay The Spire as your first deck builder is that others after it won’t seem nearly as good.
Wait wait wait, OP, I am BEGGING you to finish Inscryption. Whatever you think that game has for you, it’s so much more. I won’t spoil it, but…oh man please keep playing it. Please.
Thronebreaker is great, and you don’t have to have played Witcher to get it. A pretty nice story with some weighty options.
Slay the Spire is great, too. But, man, is it hard!
Slay the Spire is what got me into the genre. Such a good game. Monster Train is a close second.
Slay the Spire is one of the best deck builders out there, don’t let the simple presentation keep you down.
Monster Train is it’s more complicated cousin but it’s still a great game once you understand the loop and all the pieces.
If you want a story card game Steamworld: Hand of Gilgamech is a cute game, not as good as I would have liked though.
Also Bravely Default 2 has a card game? Is it like FF10s?
One Step From Eden and Slay the Spire. Both are great!
I’ll throw in Yugioh master duel just to differentiate the comments a bit. It’s not for everyone but their is a LOT of cards for unique deck building, and it’s free to play friendly
Voice of cards I think has a demo on Switch.
In the first video for the nintendo “inside the house of indies” event on YouTube, the first game they show us is one called Floppy Knights. Looks pretty neat. Might be worth checking out 🙂
Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle is a mashup of Hearthstone and Japanese high school anime. The deck building card gameplay is excellent and that’s what you spend the most time doing.
I loved the Pokémon Trading Card game for the Gameboy and I hope Nintendo makes a new Pokémon TCG for the Switch.
Yugioh masterduel
Foretales ?
Hand of Fate 2 (amazing soundtrack as well).
In the order of my personal preference:
Deckbuilding Roguelites:
– Nowhere Prophet
– Dungeon Top
– Slay The Spire
– Griftlands
– Monster Train
– Inscryption (beat the story to play roguelite dlc)
– Dicey Dungeons
– Iris and the GIant
– Roguebook
CCGs/TCGs:
– Thronebreaker: The Witcher’s tales
– Cardpocalypse
– Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle
– Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution
Digital Board games:
– Armello
– ForeTales
– Root
– Everdell
– Wingspan
I know it’s late and beating a dead horse. But slay the Spire is one of the greatest games of all time, deck builder or not.