Deck building is relatively young as a genre in gaming, with the first deck-building game being launched in 2008. In the little over a decade it has existed, though, many awesome titles have come out and even expanded upon its core.
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These days, you are no longer restricted to tabletop if you want to explore this genre.Steam, well-known for being the largest distribution platform for digital PC games, carries many deck-building games that offer great experiences and even cross over with other styles. Here are some of the best titles to kick off your deck-building journey on the platform.
10Monster Train
Monster Trainis a great roguelike deck builder to get into whether you are new to the genre or already have many other games under your belt. The narrative is pretty simple, as you must reignite the flames of Hell while defending the Pyre atop your train on your way there.
To change things up, Monster Train gives you a vertical playing field. Your train has four floors, so you need to be strategic about how you manage your deck and combine different combos for simultaneous battles. Each run is exciting to take on and you may while away the hours on your nifty little train of abominations.
9Loop Hero
As the name suggests,Loop Herohas you stuck in a loop. If you want any chance of survival, you must create a journey that your hero can traverse with relative safety. What makes the deck-building aspect of this game so interesting is that you use your cards to build your path or “loop” and dictate what sort of dangers, resources, and world your hero will face.
The concept of putting your hero through endless loops is actually quite macabre in nature, but it’s hard to stop once you’ve got a rhythm and strategy down. Whether this ends well and rebuilds the world depends entirely on you.
8I Was A Teenage Exocolonist
I Was A Teenage Exocolonistis largely a narrative RPG that makes use of deck-building mechanics to help you make choices during your encounters. Your choices matter and dictate the ending you will get, so it’s worth being mindful of your hand.
There is so much to discover in this game, and you aren’t necessarily required to focus on combat alone. It mixes genres well and ends up being just as great as a deck builder as it is a life sim. Finally, playing this is a real treat to the eyes as it featuresgorgeous hand-drawn graphics.
7Inscryption
Inscryptionis eerie, dark, and compelling. It stands out with a defined art style and keeps you hooked with how it introduces its narrative and gameplay. The game has awesome boss fights, too, but its overall mystery and narrative are what will drive you to keep going.
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Its roguelike deck-building elements are also simple to learn but feel deeply tied to the narrative. One of the great things about Inscryption is how it makes you care about the cards you are setting up in a way that’s more than just strategic for a win.
6Gwent
Gwentmay have started out as an enjoyablein-game card gameforThe Witcher 3, but it has since gone on to become a standalone game you can enjoy. It’s free on Steam, and you can feasibly get all the cards in-game without spending money. The microtransactions that exist are just there if you don’t have the time or patience.
Gwent is an enjoyable card game whether or not you playedThe Witcher, with its own lore being quite easy to digest. There’s a variety of ways to play, but it all boils down to your own tactics. This is what makes building your own deck are a real treat in this game.
5Across The Obelisk
Across The Obeliskis a great co-op deck-building game, though you’re able to also play it solo. It’s an expansive game with plenty of heroes and cards to consider, so it’s a lot to take in and really encourages going for more than one run.
The party-based deck building is the main aspect that drives this game, and can be either an advantage or detriment based on how you play. The sheer number of builds you can play around with makes up for some of the flaws in the game’s design, and it still ends up being one the best adventures in the genre.
4Potionomics
So, you want to run a potion shop.Potionomicsis a great simulator that is more than just deck building as you join tournaments, manage a shop, and sow the seeds of romance.
While it’s generally a cute game that is charming and sweet, there is a time crunch that makes the game feel more challenging. Every run comes with deadlines, and there is a looming final day. This just makes it all the more important for you to manage your time and pickthe best cards.
3Slay The Spire
Slay the Spireis arguably the game that popularized or, at the very least, started the resurgence of good deck builders in modern digital gaming. On top of its tight deck-building mechanics, it’s also one of the best roguelikes you can play.
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The main goal of this game is, you guessed it, to slay the spire. That may seem simplistic, but serves the game well and actually hides a pretty intricate gameplay experience that is well-balanced and intuitive. Whether you’re looking for your first game in the genre or trying to find a title that will revitalize your love for it, Slay the Spire is a great choice.
2Library Of Ruina
Library of Ruina is actually a sequel to Lobotomy Corporation, though you can dive into it without playing the former. Of course, the experience is much better if you’re coming from the first game, but Ruina gives enough exposition that you won’t be confused if you jump straight to it.
This game deals with some heavy themes, but it masterfully uses its deck-building mechanics and story to full effect. It manages to be more than just an engaging card game as one of themost underrated stories on Steam. From both a storytelling and gameplay standpoint, this game is punishing but rewarding.
1Griftlands
InGriftlands, the character you pick will dictate the deck you have at your disposal. It also changes the story you can play and the places you explore. The setting and art style already make this a fun game to get into, but it also makes a lot of cool choices that switch up the gameplay in a compelling way.
Social interactions and combat have their own cards, but how you use each can impact the other. On top of its already enjoyable mechanics, what really makes Griftlands worth picking up is its solid writing, likable characters, and delightful art style.
